Spoiler-Free Review of “It’s a Wonderful Knife” in Theaters: A Delightful Holiday Horror Entry that Slays with Slasher Cheer

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

“That night still haunts me…”

It’s a Wonderful Knife released in theaters on November 10th 2023. The slasher-horror film stars Jane Widdop, Jessica McLeod, Joel McHale, Katharine Isabelle, and Justin Long. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-seven minutes.

One year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, Winnie wishes that she was never born, bringing her into an alternate reality where the killer has returned and her family doesn’t remember who she is.

Here is the trailer:

It’s a Wonderful Knife is utterly charming with some inventive kills and a cast worth cheering for. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

This cast KILLED it!

OK, Justin Long can do no wrong for me and he was bonkers and brilliant in this one! I was super excited to see Katharine Isabelle and Joel McHale in this one too and thought they both did a great job.

Our main two leads had fantastic chemistry together, making the heartfelt moments of this film a lot more believable.

Solid balance of brutal kills and heartwarming moments.

This is a holiday film after all…

The kills delivered for the most part. I just wish there were more of them, but you’ll get some bloody moments to enjoy. I personally think the opening scene featured the best ones.

I really liked the development of characters and friendship here and appreciated the heartwarming moments, reminding me of films like Happy Death Day and Freaky while still channeling It’s a Wonderful Life in a clever way.

The Cons:

A few pacing issues and some odd choices with dialogue…

This film was on the shorter side, but I thought it needed a severe energy boost in the middle of it. There were some scenes between characters that could have been cut out and while I did find myself laughing out loud at some things (Katharine Isabelle mostly), some of the dialogue felt like it was used to over-explain things to the audience, which felt odd and forced.

As I mentioned earlier, I also wanted some more kills in this one since it is coded as a slasher…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

It’s a Wonderful Knife is bloody charming with a few killer twists thrown in, making this a fun B-movie slasher that is worthy of your time.

I thoroughly enjoyed my watch and will be adding this one to my yearly holiday horror list for sure!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

IN THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, HER NIGHT FROM HELL HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN…

After working the night shift, Ashley becomes entangled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a local street gang, forcing her to come up with a plan to survive the night by turning the tables on them.

Ashley must fight for her life and take them out one by one if she wants to make it to morning…

My young adult revenge thriller comes out November 30th 2023! I hope you enjoy!

Make it Through the Night is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Totally Killer” on Prime Video: A Feel Good Slasher Flick

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

“It’s not 1987 anymore…”

Totally Killer released on Prime Video on October 6th 2023. The horror comedy film stars Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson, Liana Liberato, Lochlyn Munro, and Julie Bowen. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

The “Sweet Sixteen Killer” returns 35 years after murdering three teens around Halloween. When Jamie faces off against the killer, she winds up accidentally time traveling back to 1987, teaming up with her teenage mother to take the killer down.

Here is the trailer:

Totally Killer successfully channels vibes from Happy Death Day and The Final Girls while finding its own identity along the way, presenting us with fantastic music, welcomed references, and some bloody fun. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Kiernan Shipka and Olivia Holt are incredible!

Wow…what a team up! I honestly LOVED the entire cast and thought that even the supporting characters were a lot of fun. There were plenty of familiar faces in this one, but Kiernan Shipka and Olivia Holt stole the show.

They were both so fantastic and I hope to see them both in some more horror films soon because they kick ass and then some!

A self-aware slasher.

It’s no secret that my favorite genre is the slasher one and I love when films like this recognize what they are and just embrace their identity fully. The movie references were so much fun and they didn’t overdo them, which I was initially slightly worried about.

The music was an absolute blast and there was a good balance of dry humor and slasher fun, which worked seamlessly.

Plus, that opening scene was INCREDIBLE!!!

Please make more films like this!

The Cons:

Loses a touch of steam in the middle.

The pacing was mostly on point, but I thought that the opening and ending were the strongest parts. We fell off a little bit somewhere in the middle, but I wouldn’t say this was a major con.

I also wanted a little bit more in the slasher department. We got some decent kills, but this film definitely leaned more toward the comedy side of horror comedy.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Totally Killer is a bloody good time!

Effortless fun and a cast to die for.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Totally Killer 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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “We Have a Ghost” on Netflix: By the Numbers Family-Friendly Ghost Flick

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

“This place is a dump…”

We Have a Ghost released on Netflix on February 24th 2023. The supernatural horror-comedy film stars David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Tig Nataro, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, and Jennifer Coolidge. It runs for approximately two hours and seven minutes.

After moving into a new home, a boy and his family discover a ghost named Ernest already residing there.

Here is the trailer:

We Have a Ghost has some cute and heartfelt moments, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fun idea.

Similar to Casper, this film takes on a family-friendly approach to the haunted house/ghost genre with some magical and sweet moments. I was super hyped about this film because it was directed by Christopher Landon, who brought us films like Freaky and Happy Death Day.

Landon’s films sometimes channel past films in a new and effective way while bringing us moments of pure brilliance in the horror comedy genre. I was all for a slightly different approach with the family-friendly entry here, but I’m not sure that it ever quite found its way despite having a cute plot.

Great cast!

I couldn’t have been more pleased with this cast although I’m still scratching my head over the decision to bench their star player…

There will be no spoilers in this review, but you’ll see what I mean.

Jennifer Coolidge’s part also seemed silly and pointless…

Either way, it was fun to see some familiar faces and I thought that Jahi Di’Allo Winston did a great job with his role.

The Cons:

Jam-packed with too much…

I think that this film would have been better if it had just focused on the main plot and stuck with it. It had some heartfelt moments, but these would have translated better without all the excess fluff.

This movie was way too long and a lot of the humor felt forced and exhausting. There was nothing original about this film and while it was certainly watchable, it wasn’t anything special, which is a shame.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Some spooky fun moments and an entertaining cast, but I just wanted so much more from this film.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Fear of Rain” on Hulu: Disturbia meets Unsane

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

“There was a man chasing me…”

Fear of Rain originally released back in February 2021 but it is now available to stream on Hulu. The psychological thriller film stars Madison Iseman, Katherine Heigl, Israel Broussard, and Harry Connick Jr. It is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes long.

A young girl named Rain is dealing with schizophrenia, which causes her to have violent and vivid hallucinations. After returning home from the hospital, she meets a boy named Caleb and teams up with him to spy on her neighbor, who she suspects may have kidnapped a young girl. Rain struggles with what is real as everyone around her begins to doubt her, but she refuses to stop until she uncovers the truth.

Here is the trailer:

Fear of Rain has a very familiar plot, but it does have a great cast and some edge-of-your-seat moments to keep you guessing. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Solid performances.

Madison Iseman was wonderful in the new Jumanji movies and I am really excited that she is going to be starring in the I Know What You Did Last Summer series coming out in October. This was my opportunity to witness her test out her horror/thriller skills and she did a great job and was very believable.

I also loved seeing Happy Death Day’s Israel Broussard in this film. I think he may get typecast for being the charming nerd who takes care of erratic blonde girls, but if it works, it works.

Decent twists and reveals.

I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists and reveals. This is one of those movies where you almost have to take the gamble to see if the pay-off is worth it in the end. For me, it was and while some things were predictable, others threw me off guard completely which is a good thing.

The Cons:

Campy special effects…

This film decided to tackle mental illnesses and while some of the hallucinations and dreams worked, others did not translate well. I thought they were cheesy and over-the-top and it took away some of the edge of this film, which was thrilling without all of this thrown in.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I’ve seen this type of movie before but I genuinely like psychological thrillers with creepy neighbors. The formula just works somehow. I thought that the cast did enough to keep me invested and there were some reveals sprinkled in that threw me for a loop. If you enjoy films like Unsane and Disturbia, you will enjoy this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fear of Rain 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 “Freaky” on demand: The Slasher Version of “The Hot Chick” is lots of fun

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

“Having balls sucks.”

Freaky was released on November 13th 2020. The film stars Vince Vaughn, Kathryn Newton, Celeste O’Connor, and Misha Osherovich. The film runs for approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.

After four teens are brutally murdered by a serial killer, wallflower Millie winds up being chased by the very same killer the next day. After being wounded by a ritualistic weapon, they end up switching bodies the next morning. And so the Freaky Friday fun begins…

Here is the trailer:

Freaky has been done before in several comedy films, but Blumhouse cleverly adds in some slasher gore to liven this plot up. Does the killer idea work out or does it fall flat? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse Productions

Vince Vaughn is the best part of the movie.

I felt a lot of nostalgia for “The Hot Chick” with Rob Schneider during this film, but in a very good way. Vince Vaughn was laugh out loud funny and his bond with Millie’s two best friends was amazing. I thought that they all played good parts and the chemistry between them all was believable and a lot of fun.

Gory and inventive kills.

The comedy was there, but I was a little worried that the kills would be glossed over, but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of violent gore present in this film. This allowed the film to truly embrace its horror/slasher side with flair.

The Cons:

The wallflower act.

I know Kathryn Newton from Supernatural and I was really excited to see her in this role, but I’m not sure that I really bought the shy, nerdy girl vibe. We’ve seen this in a lot of teen movies and all of a sudden the girl takes off her glasses and something magical happens. I think that Kathryn did a great job once she was playing the serial killer, but I wanted a little bit more from her before that. Either way, I’m a fan.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This movie was a lot of fun. It nailed the horror comedy vibe and actually brought us a lot of gore too which was great. If you enjoyed Happy Death Day and Ready or Not, this is another great film to add to your watch-list. Enjoy!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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!

Reliving the Same Day in Movies and Television: I’m totally having Déjà vu right now!

“Oh yeah, it means someone’s thinking about you while they’re masturbating. I get it six times a day.” (Danielle in Happy Death Day)

Reliving the same day again and again may seem overused in film and television, but somehow it still works, bringing new and inventive material our way without ever feeling stale and overdone.

So, what is it about Déjà vu?

After recently watching and thoroughly enjoying the rom-com movie, Palm Springs on Hulu, I started to think about how many movies and television shows center around Déjà vu. Not to mention that some of our favorite television series of all time tend to have at least one episode dealing with some kind of time loop or Déjà vu.

While Groundhog Day still remains as the movie I automatically think about when it comes to Déjà vu, Happy Death Day certainly made a splash and proved that horror comedies can flourish using this theme. There has to be an element of comedy or the concept can become a little repetitive…pun intended.

Some television series also took a stab at Déjà vu, but they were short-lived.

Remember shows like Tru Calling and Day Break?

No? I’ll remind you because they were actually pretty fantastic and addicting, but they did not last very long. Tru Calling (starring Eliza Dushku) was canceled after the short second season and Day Break (starring Taye Diggs) only got one season.

Netflix’s Russian Doll also explored this concept more recently.

But let’s not also forget some of our favorite television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, and Supernatural. They have some pretty amazing stand-out episodes featuring the concept of a time loop or reliving the same day. Honestly, this list goes on and on and I’m sure that if you take a look back at some of your favorite shows, you will most likely find an episode that deals with some kind of time travel or Déjà vu.

Here are my standout episodes:

Supernatural

Episode “Mystery Spot” (Season 3, episode 11).

Sam continues to relive the same day over and over as Dean dies. He must find a way to save him before time runs out.

Buffy Life Serial — Images courtesy of Hulu

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Episode “Life Serial” (Season 6, episode 5).

Buffy attempts to find a job, but ends up stuck in a time loop while working at the Magic Box. This brought us some welcomed comedy for sure.

Charmed

Episode “Déjà Vu All Over Again” (Season 1, episode 22).

Phoebe realizes that she is repeating the same day over and over again. She must figure out a way to save her sisters from a demon, but a new threat is thrown her way at the end of each day.

So the theme of Déjà vu still works, but why? You would think that this would become overdone and yet I find myself enjoying this theme more and more. I think it’s because it allows us to discover something new each time.

Either the character needs to learn a lesson, a life needs to be saved, a sacrifice has to be made, or we have to start looking at something or someone differently than we used to. Maybe it’s even ourselves. I personally welcome this theme and I will always go into it with an open mind, but I think that in order for it to continue to be successful, it needs to do something slightly different each time while maintaining a steady balance of humor as well.

What are YOUR thoughts on Déjà vu in movies and TV?

Feel free to post some of your favorite movies and shows centering around Déjà vu in the comments section below!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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