Spoiler-Free Review of “Never Let Go” on Demand: Halle Berry’s Latest Thriller Has Its Ups and Downs…

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

“If the evil touches you, it makes you do bad things…”

Never Let Go released in theaters on September 20th 2024 and is now available to watch on Demand as of October 11th 2024. The psychological thriller horror film stars Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, and Anthony B. Jenkins. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A mother and two sons live alone in the woods when an evil takes over the world. The only way to survive is to stay connected to their house at all times to stop the evil from reaching them, but when one of the sons begins to question if the evil is real or not, their lives are put in danger.

Here is the trailer:

Never Let Go has some creepy and shocking moments built in to its plot, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Welcome back to horror, Halle Berry!

I loved her in the film, Gothika and it was great to see her in another horror film. Halle Berry is such an exceptional actress and she always puts forth a believable and compelling energy, elevating whatever project she’s in. I thought she was terrific in this one.

The actors who played her sons did a solid job as well and I was very pleased to discover that Percy Daggs IV is the son of Percy Daggs III (Wallace from Veronica Mars). The talent definitely runs in the family!

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Keeps you guessing.

While I’m still not sure how I feel about a lot of the reveals, this film definitely kept me guessing. I was intrigued to find out more and there were lots of twists and turns along the way. There were some creepy moments working in this film’s favor. It didn’t scare me at all and a lot felt watered down, but the overall vibe was certainly interesting.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

Super slow pacing.

This was frustrating because this film had so much potential. It felt like it was three hours long. Everything just really dragged.

I also had so many unanswered questions by the time I got to the end of the film. I’m fine with the ending, but we were given several pieces of the puzzle early on that were never addressed.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Lionsgate Films

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Never Let Go is excruciatingly slow, but it does throw in a few twists to keep us invested. Plus, Halle Berry gives it her all, which we always LOVE to see!

I personally liked Arcadian a lot better, which had a similar vibe, but there were a few sprinkles of potential here.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Never Let Go in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

Scream Hunt Halloween

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 “The Guilty” on Netflix: “The Call” with a Male Dispatcher

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

“What is the address of your emergency?”

The Guilty released on September 24th 2021. The crime thriller film is currently available to watch on Netflix. It is a remake of the 2018 Danish film, Den Skyldige. The Guilty stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keough, Ethan Hawke and Adrian Martinez. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A demoted police officer works at a 911 call dispatch desk when he gets an emergency phone call from an abducted woman who needs his help.

Here is the trailer:

The Guilty is extremely intense and effective with its simple formula, but does it do enough to separate itself from The Call? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Guilty Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Edge-of-your-seat intensity.

This movie had me completely invested in it from start to finish. We were given bits and pieces of the puzzle and a few twists that I was not expecting as well. If you enjoy crime thrillers, you will feel right at home with this one. The vibe instantly reminded me of The Call in a good way. Even though there were a lot of similarities, I thought that the film was able to branch away from the premise and present us with something new and really thought-provoking as well.

A worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal.

In The Call, Halle Berry’s character eventually moved away from the call dispatch setting, but Jake Gyllenhaal’s character Joe does not do this. Rather, we see everything through his perspective. The phone calls we witness allow us to work everything through very much like Gyllenhaal’s character.

The entire movie basically revolves around him and I never minded this because I thought that he played the role to perfection. He held my attention the entire time and I thought the emotional investment of the character was truly moving.

The Cons:

The Guilty Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Not your average crime thriller…

This is not really a con and I think that the film did a good job of embracing its simple approach, but if you are looking for a crime thriller to lead you all over the map, you won’t get there the traditional way. I still think that you should give this film a try even if you are looking for something with a bit more action because it manages to capture your attention (just in a different way).

So am I in or out?

The Guilty Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

This movie really captured my full attention with its simple and honest approach. There was so much unsettling intensity and I was so impressed with the layered performance I witnessed. I highly recommend this movie!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Watching Girl Number Thirteen

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!

**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!

5 Guilty Pleasure Thrillers to Enjoy while Staying at Home

Happy Throwback Thursday! Staying at home has really allowed me to enjoy a lot of new television series and movies. However, there are some old favorites that I wanted to return to. Netflix has recently been releasing some guilty pleasure Lifetime-like thrillers such as Secret Obsession and Dangerous Lies, which really got me thinking about some of my own personal favorite guilty pleasure thrillers.

While nothing compares to watching these films for the very first time, there is this rush I get whenever I watch them. Sure, some of them are somewhat predictable and have outrageous plots, but that’s why I love them. They are the perfect films to binge-watch staying at home while enjoying a nice glass of wine and a snack…or two.

Either way, these films will certainly provide you with some edge of your seat tension to shake things up while staying at home. Please note spoilers have been left out for your convenience. Enjoy!

My top 5 Guilty Pleasure Thriller films of all time are:

5

Red Eye

Red Eye
Image courtesy of HBO

Released in 2005, Red Eye stars Rachel McAdams and Cillian Murphy and is directed by Wes Craven. A lot of people forget about this movie, but I actually saw it in theaters and loved it!

Synopsis: Hotel manager, Lisa boards a plane and sits next to a charming stranger. Things seem to be going well until the stranger reveals that he has an ulterior motive for sitting with her. The plane ride is filled with unexpected twists and turns.

I have probably seen this movie over twenty times and while I know the plot very well now, I just can’t stop watching it. It’s over the top sometimes and predictable in certain moments, but the film pulls you in and brings you back to those edge of your seat moments without skipping a beat.

Where to watch: HBO demand

4

Sleeping with the Enemy

Sleeping with the enemy
Image courtesy of STARZ

Released in 1991, this film stars Julia Roberts and Patrick Bergin. Before I had cable TV, this movie was always on as the Saturday night movie on The WB. I used to watch it all the time because I didn’t really have many other options, but I quickly became obsessed. It’s actually one of my mom’s favorite movies and I still think twice about keeping my towels in order. Watch out for that music…

Synopsis: An abused wife fakes her own death and tries to start her life over, but her husband attempts to track her down to make her life a living hell.

Where to watch: STARZ demand

3

A Perfect Getaway

Perfect Getaway
Image courtesy of STARZ

Released in 2009, A Perfect Getaway stars Milla Jovovich and Steve Zahn. This thriller has one of the best twists I have ever witnessed. Sure, I know the twist now, but I still love watching this movie. It has some really great stars in it, including Timothy Olyphant and Chris Hemsworth! Plus, the movie takes place in Hawaii! You can’t get much better than a vacation trip gone wrong when you’re stuck staying at home.

Synopsis: A newly married couple travel on their honeymoon in Hawaii, but quickly realize that they may be hiking with a dangerous threat. Secrets are revealed and their survival is put to the test.

Where to watch: STARZ demand

2

The Call

The Call Halle Berry
Image courtesy of Amazon Prime

Released in 2003, The Call stars Halle Berry and Abigail Breslin. I absolutely adore this movie! I have probably seen it more than all the others on this list and Halle Berry is beyond amazing as 911 operator, Jordan. This movie screams guilty pleasure thriller. It is fast paced and has a shocking ending that will leave you completely satisfied.

Synopsis: After a young woman meets her demise while on the phone with 911, Jordan is traumatized. She sticks to training new 911 operators, but when a similar call comes through from a young woman, she is forced to push her demons aside in order to try and save her before history repeats itself.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime with add on, VUDU, FANDANGONOW

1

Double Jeopardy

Double Jeopardy Movie
Image courtesy of STARZ

Released in 1999, Double Jeopardy stars Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. This is my go-to movie and probably the one that first got me interested in this guilty pleasure thriller genre. While there are certainly a lot of movies that fall into this category, there’s really nothing like Double Jeopardy. It stands in a class of its own and always will for me.

Synopsis: You can’t be convicted for the same crime twice. Ashley Judd’s character, Libby, eventually learns this when she is wrongfully convicted for the murder of her husband. After being released, she tries to track down her son and starts to learn that she may have been intentionally framed for her crime. Libby decides to get revenge while her parole officer tries to stop her.

Where to watch: STARZ demand

Which guilty pleasure thriller films do YOU enjoy most? 

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts on these movies and your favorites in the comments section below. Thank you so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

Main promo smaller

A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now!

PLAY IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek 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!

Do you love horror series? Of course you do! Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon. It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!