Tag: home invasion

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:

Images courtesy of Asterlight

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:

Images courtesy of Asterlight

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?

Images courtesy of Asterlight

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 Lurking Promo

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.

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:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

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.

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

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:

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

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?

Images courtesy of Sony Pictures

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…

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!

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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:

Images courtesy of Netflix

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:

Images courtesy of Netflix

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?

Images courtesy of Netflix

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!

**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!