Spoiler-Free Review of “Last Straw” on Demand: Has Its Ups and Downs

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

“You’re working the late shift…”

Last Straw released on Demand on September 20th 2024. The horror thriller film stars Jessica Belkin, Taylor Kowalski, Joji Valley Otani, and Jeremy Sisto. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty minutes.

Nancy is working the late shift by herself at her dad’s diner when a group of masked assailants show up and begin to terrorize her.

Here is the trailer:

Last Straw is similar to films like Open 24 Hours and Hunt Her, Kill Her, but it attempts to put a spin on the home invasion genre with its twist. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The music and the setting worked.

I kind of really dug the music. At first, it felt a little distracting, but then I thought it started to compliment the vibe of this film really well. I loved the setting as well. I love thrillers that are mostly set in one place, really making you think about the character’s surroundings and how they can use them to their advantage.

Jessica Belkin was good as Nancy. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her at first, but as the movie continued, I was rooting for her more and more. She had some bad-ass and brutal moments worth noting and was very creative in some of her survival tactics, which is something I always love to see.

Throws a twist our way.

I like that this film tried to give us a different spin on the home invasion genre. I’m still not sure if the twist landed enough for me, but I do appreciate the effort. I usually prefer straightforward thrillers within this genre. Sometimes less is more, but I think this film went for it and tried to do something a little different to stand out, which is worth noting.

The Cons:

Over-complicates things…

I really wanted to love this movie, but it did go off the rails once the twist was introduced. It wasn’t bad by any means, but I think it wasted too much time on character back stories and explanation. I didn’t need to see things from all angles. I just needed to see this film through from beginning to end. The opening twenty minutes were super slow as well.

When I think back on it, there were only about thirty worthy minutes of this film. They were solid enough, but there was a lot of fluff to sift through, which was frustrating.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Last Straw over-complicates things with its twist, but it does have a few brutal moments worth sticking around for.

I just wanted something more here, but it was decent enough for a quick movie of the week.

If you like this genre, I’d recommend watching Alone (2020), Open 24 Hours, and Hunt Her, Kill Her first.

I hope you enjoyed the review and please feel free to share your thoughts on Last Straw in the comments section!

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 is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Make it Through the Night is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Strangers: Chapter 1” in Theaters: What was the point?

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

“Why are you doing this to us?”

The Strangers: Chapter 1 released in theaters on May 17th 2024. The slasher horror film stars Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

After their car breaks down in a small town in Oregon, a young couple is forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. They are soon terrorized by three masked strangers with no motive, as they desperately try to survive the night.

Here is the trailer:

The Strangers: Chapter 1 continues the violent franchise with this latest reboot, but does it do enough to separate itself from the original film? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Look out for Madelaine Petsch!

I bought my ticket for her and she served with all she had! I’m a huge fan of hers from Riverdale and I think that she is a Scream Queen in the making for sure. I hope to see her cast in more roles soon. She was the best part of this movie and gave it all she had. Plus, I loved her nail polish color!

Froy Gutierrez wasn’t bad either and I thought they were believable as a couple for the most part.

There were a few suspenseful moments sprinkled in. I liked the scenes in the woods, which had an eerie vibe.

The pros stop here though…

The Cons:

Follows the original film VERBATIM!

I just did my re-watch of the 2008 film as well as The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) and I couldn’t believe that this film followed the original one almost exactly. I’m fine with this being a reboot, but give us something new here! This was so incredibly frustrating to watch on screen and it dissolved any potential moments of suspense and tension because I already knew what was going to happen.

I’m not sure why we went in this direction and I have no idea why we need two more of these films if this is what we’re doing?

We can do a lot better here…

Dumb decisions!

As much as I like both of these actors, their characters made some of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen in a horror film. My favorite film of the franchise is The Strangers: Prey at Night because it’s fun and campy. But I will give The Strangers (2008) credit for creating a realistic and horrifying nightmare that still haunts me to this day. That feeling of authenticity was missing from this reboot and a lot of that came from the dumb decisions made by these characters.

There were so many opportunities to run or find a weapon and for some reason they wanted to have a precious moment together or just stare at the door willing the intruders to go away. Really? Do you think that’s going to work?

The ending felt so watered down and I could care less about the set-up at the end for the next film. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO TAMARA IS! Sigh…

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Look, I’m in for Madelaine Petsch, but she deserved a MUCH better film here and so did the audience.

The Strangers: Chapter 1 wasn’t horrible, but it was a pointless remake that had very little to say, which was beyond disappointing. I really hope that the next two films do something different.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Strangers: Chapter 1 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…

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 “No One Will Save You” on Hulu: Riveting Sci-Fi Horror Flick

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

“I’m sorry…”

No One Will Save You released on Hulu on September 22nd 2023. The sci-fi horror-thriller film stars Kaitlyn Dever. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-three minutes.

Brynn lives alone, isolated from the rest of her town, but her world is turned upside down when alien intruders arrive one night and break into her home.

Here is the trailer:

No One Will Save You is gripping and intense, featuring an out of this world performance by Kaitlyn Dever. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Kaitlyn Dever is beyond brilliant!

I’m already a huge fan of hers and loved her in both Unbelievable and Booksmart. However, she takes things to a new level in No One Will Save You, showing off her incredible range as an actress. She was so believable in this and my heart was pounding with every expression she made and every breath she took. When an actress can make you feel like you’re right there along with them, that’s saying something.

I’m so beyond impressed and can’t wait to see her in more horror entries because she was INCREDIBLE!

Intense AF!

I’m not usually the biggest fan of the sci-fi genre. That being said, this film changed my mind and then some. The level of intensity in this film was off the charts. It captivated me the entire time and I couldn’t look away. It was that good!

I was also so impressed that all of this was accomplished with minimal dialogue. We’ve seen that done in other movies before, but this one managed to do it in such an organic way, making us truly believe that this was all happening before our eyes. The reactions and emotions portrayed were just so real, driving the thrilling moments that much more.

The Cons:

Confusing at times…

I personally like when a movie is left open for interpretation and by the time I got to the end of this one, I was confused, but it also sparked an interest within me to really think about what had just transpired and what the ending meant.

If you’re looking for something clear cut, you won’t get that here. I’m sure there will be some mixed thoughts on the ending, but this will most likely come down to preference.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

No One Will Save You is an absorbing and insane watch that will stay with you long after it’s over.

If you enjoy home invasion thrillers and sci-fi, this is the perfect mash-up for you.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on No One Will Save You 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 “Motion Detected” on Demand: Silly Tech-Horror Film

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

“We just needed a change of scenery…”

Motion Detected released on May 19th 2023 on Demand. The tech horror film stars Katelyn MacMullen, Carlo Mendez, Roland Buck III, and Bob Clendenin. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty minutes.

After escaping a home invasion, a couple moves into a new house to get a fresh start with a brand new security system called Diablo Controls…

Here is the trailer:

Motion Detected brings us yet another tech horror entry, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The house is the best part of the movie…

I felt like I was watching an extended version of an HGTV show featuring a couple with a high budget. This smart house was a dream and so pretty! I found myself focusing on the color schemes and amenities a lot more than the film. This was a great setting, but unfortunately the pros stop here…

The Cons:

Cringe-worthy dialogue and performances…

Some of it was beyond bad. I really struggled to get through this one. It was only an hour and twenty minutes, but I felt like I was watching it for over three hours. The performances did not help at all. I thought the neighbors did a much better job than the leads. This script needed so much more. It was similar to I’ll Be Watching starring Eliza Taylor, but that film was a lot better…

Ridiculous and not scary at all.

I’m not sure why someone would move into a house with a security system called Diablo Controls…especially when they escaped a killer/home invader literally named El Diablo. But sure, let’s throw all rationality out the window and go with it.

I did and I still couldn’t appreciate anything happening in this movie. It was just so silly and over-the-top. The ending does not do the film any favors either…

So am I in or out?

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

There were really no redeeming qualities in this film other than the pretty house it was set in. I really tried to get into this, but the bad acting and silly attempts to scare the audience just didn’t work.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Don’t Breathe 2” in Theaters: A Worthy Sequel

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

“Now you’ll see what I see…”

Don’t Breathe 2 is the sequel to Sam Raimi’s Don’t Breathe, which came out in 2016. The sequel premiered in theaters on August 13th 2021. The film stars Stephen Lang, Madelyn Grace, Brendan Sexton III, and Stephanie Arcila. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

The original film was absolutely fantastic. It really nailed the suspense vibe while presenting the audience with some terrifying moments that had your heart beating right out of your chest. While the original film focused on the not so bad guys breaking in, the sequel presents us with a role reversal to switch things up.

Here is the trailer:

Don’t Breathe 2 has a lot to live up to and it’s difficult for a sequel to have the same impact with its audience since they know what to expect the second time around. Does Don’t Breathe 2 do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The role reversal works!

If you were concerned about the role reversal in the sequel, you can rest assured that it translates very well. I had my doubts as well, but I knew it would be difficult for the sequel to capture the same suspenseful feel the second time around since we knew what Norman was capable of.

In a way, the films reminded me of the first two Purge movies. The first Purge movie worked because it was this creepy home invasion story and The Purge: Anarchy moved things out into the open to show us the chaos going on beyond the four walls of someone’s home.

Don’t Breathe 2 managed to follow this successful formula so that it didn’t become stale or overdone. The suspense is still there, but in a different way, which worked in the film’s favor.

Lots of brutal violence to go around.

This film doesn’t hold anything back. I thought that it successfully balanced moments of suspense with edge-of-your-seat action that allowed us to witness some very bloody kills and attacks along the way. It wasn’t overdone, but it was extremely effective in my opinion.

The Cons:

Mixed thoughts about our anti-hero.

I can’t ignore the fact that Norman is a murderer and a rapist, but yet we are supposed to root for him in this film. That being said, the sequel did a good job of helping us change our minds somewhat, even though it can’t really change the monster he used to be. The people he is up against are despicable human beings, he’s an animal lover, and we also have the young girl he is trying to protect, which tips the scale.

Whether you love him or hate him, you’ll find yourself rooting for him during key parts. He doesn’t hold anything back in this film and his skills are pretty extraordinary. Seriously, don’t mess with this guy!

I don’t think that the slate can be wiped clean for him, but I like a good anti-hero arc to change things up.

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!

This movie was intense, brutal, and filled with edge-of-your-seat moments!

It was very entertaining and a solid sequel. It changed the tone of things quite a bit, but I thought it all worked well, allowing us to experience something new to keep us on our toes.

*There will be no spoilers in this review, but I recommend sticking around until after the ending credits.*

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Don’t Breathe 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Aftermath” on Netflix: Maybe now is not the best time to move…

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

“Give yourselves the gift of a new environment…”

Aftermath was released on August 4th 2021 on Netflix. The film stars Ashley Greene, Shawn Ashmore, Britt Baron and Freddie Basnight. It runs for approximately 1 hour and 54 minutes.

A young couple moves into a house with a bad history to give their marriage a chance, but a lot of disturbing things begin to happen once they move in.

Here is the trailer:

Aftermath is inspired by a true story, which makes this story even more terrifying. Netflix has been presenting us with a lot of horror entries lately, but is this one worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Unsettling and disturbing moments.

I thought this film did a great job of building up suspense during its creepy moments. There were some scenes that had me clenching my nails into my palms. This is one of those films that will have you looking over your shoulder, which is a good thing if you like haunted house/home invasion horror films.

Let’s just say I won’t be changing my address any time soon…

Horrifying reveal.

Sometimes reality can be even more frightening than the supernatural and I thought this film had a seamless balance that made you question everything you were seeing. The reveal was well done and just as terrifying as the rest of the movie. The pay-off is worth it in my opinion so stick around if you aren’t completely convinced during your watch.

The Cons:

Dragged out drama.

This movie was almost two hours long, which is way too long for a horror film in my opinion. I think that if the film had cut out a lot of the unnecessary drama in-between, it would have been a lot better. There was just too much of it and it weighed down the overall pace of the film.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

The creepy and terrifying moments are worth it in this film. I really was on the edge of my seat and if you are looking for a new haunted house/home invasion type of film, this one fits the bill. You just have to get through a lot of the tedious drama in-between to get to it.

Overall, this was a genuinely scary film and a decent watch if you enjoy horror films.

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

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!

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