Tag: gory

Spoiler-Free Review of “PRIMATE” in Theaters: Bonkers & Bananas in the Best Possible Way!

“Something’s wrong with Ben…”

PRIMATE released in theaters on January 9th 2026. The horror film stars Johnny Sequoyah, Victoria Wyant, Jessica Alexander, Gia Hunter, and Troy Kotsur. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

Lucy travels to her home in Hawaii with her friends for their summer vacation, but after their pet chimpanzee gets infected with rabies, they are forced to work together to survive before he kills them all one by one.

Here is the trailer:

PRIMATE is a wild ride from start to finish featuring some outrageous and gruesome moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Lots of well-placed gore.

In a lot of ways, this movie felt like a solid slasher to me. Sure, the killer was a chimp, but it still essentially had that slasher feel to it, keeping me on the edge of my seat. The gore was really over-the-top and disturbing, which worked well here. This movie really went for it without holding back and I think it paid off ultimately.

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Fast watch with little fluff.

This movie was just about 90 minutes, which is the perfect length for slasher films in my opinion. There was minimal set-up and the majority of the movie focused on the girls trying to escape, which made this such an entertaining popcorn watch. Sure, it was silly at times, but the horror genre is off to a promising start for 2026 with this entry. More please!

PS: that house in Hawaii was to die for…literally!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Minimal investment in the characters.

Other than Lucy, I was not really too impressed with the other characters here and I didn’t care who lived or died. I guess that doesn’t always matter in a slasher film like this where you can ultimately root for the killer, but it seemed like we glossed over a few moments that could have made me invest a little more here in what happened to everyone.

I’m also a huge animal lover so while this movie was silly and fun, I’m never really a fan of anything bad happening to animals so there’s that (Yes, I get that this was a guy dressed in a suit, but still the concept bothered me).

I do have to point out that there was a puppy in the movie theater near the front row. I hope she wasn’t too traumatized by all of this!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount Pictures

I’m in!!!

PRIMATE is a solid slasher filled to the brim with extreme gore and mindless fun. This was a blast to watch in the movie theater!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on PRIMATE in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Carved” on Hulu: This Pumpkin’s Had Enough…

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“It killed them all!”

Carved released on Hulu on October 21st 2024. The horror comedy film (based on the short of the same name) stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Corey Fogelmanis, Carla Jimenez, Elvis Nolasco, and DJ Qualls. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

A group must work together to survive the attacks of a vengeful pumpkin in a historical reenactment village on Halloween.

Here is the trailer:

Carved is completely ridiculous, but it does have some campy and gory moments to appreciate. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Gory fun!

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of gore in this one. It was over-the-top and ridiculous, but it was also very entertaining. The practical effects were impressive as well. There was one scene in this movie that was so well done. My jaw dropped. It was campy and extreme and I loved every second of it. More please!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Recognizable cast.

I love DJ Qualls and he was so great in this and an absolute scene stealer. The Mick’s Carla Jimenez was wonderful as well and I thought that everyone played their part well. Normally I don’t care about characters in films like this, but this group of survivors had some redeeming qualities, which made me root for some of them more than the killer pumpkin. Well…at least a few of them.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Loses steam as the movie continues…

I get why this was originally a short. The idea is a lot of fun, but it seemed like the writers didn’t really know what to do with this at a certain point. This movie excelled when it was filled with bonkers madness. It started to take itself a little too seriously by the time we got toward the end and it lost some of its magic as a result.

The ending didn’t have the pop I was really looking for. It was fine and I had a good time, but I think we could have done a little better here to really seal the deal.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

Carved is completely bonkers, but it’s also a lot of fun!

As long as you manage your expectations on this one, you’ll have a good time.

I personally feel that Slotherhouse did a better job in the horror comedy department with its insane premise, but Carved was decent enough for a quick Halloween watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Carved (2024) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

 

Spoiler-Free Review of “Terrifier 2” in Theaters and on Demand: Blood, Guts and Gore Galore

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“It’s just a costume…”

Terrifier 2 released in theaters on October 6th 2022. The horror film stars Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, and Elliott Fullam. It runs for approximately two hours and eighteen minutes.

Picking up right where we left off in the first Terrifier film, Art the Clown is back and ready to have some bloody fun while terrorizing his victims, setting his sights on Sienna and her younger brother.

Here is the trailer:

Terrifier 2 may be the goriest film I have ever watched with even more twisted moments than the first film. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

Art the Clown is back and better than ever…

If you came for gore-filled violence, you’re in the right place. I didn’t think Art the Clown could get any more extreme, but he goes all out in the sequel and doesn’t hold back.

I also appreciated that this film took the time to flesh out its characters more this time around and it expanded the world of Art the Clown, giving the film more intention. I’m not sure I needed too many layers, but it helped me connect to the other characters more.

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

All hail, Sienna!

I recently watched Terrifier for the first time and I was rooting for a particular character to make it and was crushed when we got an alternative Final girl instead. Even though this was a different approach, I felt like we didn’t spend enough time on her to really root for her or care about what happened to her.

In Terrifier 2, we are blessed with the introduction of Sienna, who was the BEST part of this movie for me. I loved the choice of costume and the symbolism behind it. She was fierce and absolutely electric on screen. I LOVED HER!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

Way too long…

I like my horror films to be about 90 minutes. While the film did a good job of holding my attention in a disturbing way, I still don’t think it was necessary to have a runtime well over two hours. There were plenty of scenes that could have been cut out.

Also as a warning, the gore in this film is extreme. I suggest watching it on an empty stomach. If you’re not a fan of gore and violence, steer clear of this movie…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Cinedigm

I’m in!!!

Shocking, disturbing, and bloody entertaining!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Terrifier 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “American Horror Stories” Drive In on FX on Hulu: Let’s All Go to the Movies!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Fear is the ticket…”

American Horror Stories released its third episode, “Drive In” on July 22nd 2021. The episode is available to watch on FX on Hulu. Episode three stars Rhenzy Feliz, Madison Bailey, Naomi Grossman, Adrienne Barbeau, and John Carroll Lynch.

A young couple decide to head to a present day showing of a brutal horror film called “Rabbit Rabbit,” that was the site of a bloody massacre back in 1986. After several warning signs are presented, things go horribly wrong…

Here is the trailer:

American Horror Stories: Drive In brings us back to the movies, as we witness horror off and on the screen. However, does the episode pack enough of a punch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Drive In Nostalgia.

Drive In theaters don’t really get enough attention, but they have been making a comeback. Thinking back to films like Grease, it always seemed like the Drive In was the place to be and I immediately felt like I was being reeled into this story even more because of this clever setting.

Gory and brutal!

Wow, this film did not hold back. There was a lot of gore in this entry and there were a few scenes that had my stomach turning. You’ll know when you see it…trust me.

The episode did a great job of presenting us with horror on and off the screen as it showed us what would happen if a horror movie came to life right before our eyes. I was completely horrified by what was happening and I thought the two main stars did a good job of holding our attention.

And those guest stars were fantastic!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

I wanted more!

I was honestly really intrigued by the original massacre in 1986 and wanted to see more about this. Since these episodes are anthology style, we only get a certain amount of time to devote to each one, but AHS does a great job of circling back to potential stories so hopefully we will see more in the future. I really enjoyed this episode, but it felt a little bit too short and I wanted to witness more of the story.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

I’m in!

This episode was gory, brutal, and a lot of fun. It seamlessly balanced Drive In movie nostalgia with skin-crawling horror. So far I have been really pleased with all three episodes and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on American Horror Stories in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

My new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!