Tag: horror anthology series

Spoiler-Free Review of “American Horror Stories” Game Over on FX on Hulu: Made for the Fans

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

“I just want to feel the energy of the house…”

American Horror Stories released its seventh episode, “Game Over” on August 19th 2021. The season finale is available to watch on FX on Hulu. Episode seven stars Dylan McDermott, Sierra McCormick, Kaia Gerber, Mercedes Mason, Paris Jackson and Tom Lenk. The episode runs for approximately 54 minutes.

A couple prepares to spend the night in the infamous Murder House, accepting an escape the house challenge, but they quickly learn that the horror is all too real.

American Horror Stories: Game Over returns to Murder House once again as we witness the conclusion of the first season of the spin-off anthology series. Does it do enough to keep us coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Epic guest stars.

I’m always excited when Dylan McDermott shows up on AHS. He is from the first season and it only makes sense for someone to bump into him eventually at Murder House. It was really fun seeing a lot of familiar faces in this episode, giving us a sense of nostalgia.

Made for the fans.

I thought that this episode felt like a tribute to the fans in a lot of ways. The couple goes into the Murder House because they are American Horror fanatics. I thought this was a clever way to bring something new to the table while also giving us a chance to celebrate the anthology series we have come to know and love over the years.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Somewhat predictable ending…

I thought the initial reveal was a lot of fun, but as the episode continued I guessed exactly what was going to happen. The reveal was almost too obvious for me even though it was still a lot of fun. I also thought that this episode felt watered down in a lot of ways. We spent three episodes of the spin-off series devoted to Murder House and I guess I wanted something with a little more edge, but it was certainly a different take on things.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

I’m in!

The episode was a lot of fun and it gave me a Stay Alive vibe, which was entertaining. I didn’t think this episode was particularly scary in any way, but it allowed us to continue the story from earlier this season while introducing new elements to change things up.

I’m excited that American Horror Stories has been confirmed for a second season. While some episodes were stronger than others, this was an entertaining watch for me and I’m even more excited to watch American Horror Story: Double Feature now, which premieres on August 25th 2021!

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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Slasher: Flesh & Blood” Season 4 on Shudder: Knives Out with Gut-Wrenching Gore

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

“Sometimes families get complicated…”

Slasher: Flesh & Blood was released on August 12th 2021. While the first three seasons are available to stream on Netflix, season 4 is on Shudder. The first two episodes are available to stream now and the remaining ones will air weekly. There will be eight episodes in total.

The series stars Paula Brancati, Christopher Jacot, Sabrina Grdevich, Sydney Meyer, Rachael Crawford and David Cronenberg. Each episode runs for approximately 40-45 minutes.

A dysfunctional family gets together on a secluded island for a reunion, but things get complicated when they learn that the head of the family is dying. The family will compete in a series of deadly games to win the inheritance, but there is another masked killer on the loose to make things interesting.

Here is the trailer:

Slasher: Flesh & Blood has an interesting premise, reminding us of Knives Out, Harper’s Island, and Ready or Not, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

A plot that draws you in immediately.

I am a huge fan of the Slasher anthology series and even though I find some seasons stronger than others, Slasher always has a way of drawing you in right from the start. I never look at the description before I start a season because I want to be surprised and as soon as I started up season 4, I was excited about the killer family plot on a secluded island.

Let’s just hope everything else lives up to the set-up because it’s a brilliant one.

Images courtesy of Shudder

Gruesome gore.

If you’re a fan of the show, then you know you are probably going to get gratuitous sex scenes and lots and lots of stomach-turning gore. Well, season 4 is off to a great start with this. The gore is extreme and there is a scene in the second episode that had my own stomach in knots.

If you’re here for bloody slasher fun, you’re in the right place. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Unnecessary character development.

I don’t watch this show for the characters although there have been a few stand-out ones over the seasons. This group is clearly filled with ruthless, selfish people who are in for a rude and bloody awakening. So far, the first two episodes have spent a little bit too much time on character flashbacks and development.

Sure, the gory kills offset this to balance everything out, but I want to feel a more seamless connection between episodes and I’m not sure that we need the heavy character development to further the plot along.

That being said, I’m confident that Slasher will not disappoint with its future episodes. Every season has shocked me and I know that we are in for some surprises, twists, and crazy reveals.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in!

I love this series and I am so excited that it has returned. Slasher doesn’t hold back when it comes to its gruesome kills and plot twists. I’m always thrown for a loop and I can’t wait to see what reveals come our way with the new season.

The pacing needs some work, but I’m hoping that the later episodes pick up speed so we can fully enjoy the show. I’m confident that we will get there!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Slasher: Flesh & Blood 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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Spoiler-Free Review of “American Horror Stories” Rubber Wo(man) on FX on Hulu: Home, Sadistic Home

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

“Ghosts aren’t real and curses aren’t real…”

American Horror Stories premiered on FX on Hulu on July 15th 2021 with the first two episodes: “Rubber Wo(m)an” parts 1 and 2. The remaining five episodes will air weekly, leading up to the premiere of American Horror Story: Double Feature (season 10). Each episode of the spin-off anthology series runs for approximately 45-48 minutes. The first two episodes star Matt Bomer, Sierra McCormick, Gavin Creel, Paris Jackson and Kaia Gerber.

The series will present us with different stories each week connecting to the original AHS universe. The first two episodes bring us back to the beginning. A new family moves into Murder House so they can flip the house and learn that they may be in over their heads.

Here is the trailer:

American Horror Stories has the opportunity to bring us back to welcomed settings with familiar faces, but is the anthology spin-off worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Back to the beginning…

I am a big fan of American Horror Story and I love that we encounter a new setting, story, and group of characters (with familiar faces) in each season. However, some seasons are much stronger than others and often I used to wonder about what would happen next at these infamous places of horror.

Well, American Horror Stories has managed to cure my curiosity by bringing us right back to the beginning with Murder House. American Horror Story: Apocalypse managed to sprinkle in a lot from the other seasons and this is basically a snapshot version of that, as we branch off into a new story with a new set of characters in a very familiar setting.

The “Amityville Horror on Crystal Meth” is back and so is the infamous rubber suit. Scarlett moves into the house with her two dads, who are determined to fix up the house and flip it.

I absolutely loved this return to the beginning. We get to see Murder House through a new set of eyes with a new darkness emerging through its walls.

Familiar faces.

Many AHS alum have signed on for the anthology series and I was excited to see Matt Bomer star in this one. I think this helps us remember that even though this is a spin-off, it’s still a part of the AHS universe ultimately and that wouldn’t feel the same if we didn’t see some familiar cast members along the way for our journey.

I’m excited to see who else is coming back! *No spoilers here.*

A plot that draws you in.

I actually really adored the plot right from the beginning. Even though there were familiar concepts, it felt new and fresh. Scarlett was great and I loved the love story emerging in the walls, giving me some Violet and Tate nostalgia.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

Goes off the deep end a little…

In true AHS fashion, the plot does go a little bit bonkers when we get into the second episode. I thought that the first episode was stronger than the second, but things did get a little bit silly toward the end. That being said, that’s part of AHS’s campy horror charm and as a fan of the series, I have come to expect that.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of FX on Hulu

I’m in!

As a fan of the series, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this spin-off. I didn’t really know what to expect at first, but I absolutely loved it. It was really fun seeing the Easter eggs and nostalgia weaved into the plot while still managing to do something unique and different with the new story.

AHS always brings us a great balance of twisted horror and humor. It somehow just works even though it may seem slightly ridiculous at times. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my watch of the first two episodes and I’m really excited to see the stories continue!

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Monsterland” on Hulu: The Darkest Parts of Humanity

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

Monsterland is a new horror anthology television series on Hulu. It stars Kaitlyn Dever, Taylor Schilling, Nicole Beharie, and Mike Colter. The series premiered on October 2nd 2020 with eight episodes (approximately 55 minutes in length).

Based upon the short story collection, North American Lake Monsters, Monsterland reveals some deep and dark truths lurking beneath the surface. While supernatural and horror elements do play a part, the real horror lies within humanity.

Here is the trailer:

Horror anthology series are surfacing left and right and with Halloween right around the corner, you are probably in search of some good solid scares. However, Monsterland may be more of an unsettling emotional roller coaster ride rather than your typical horror series. Is Monsterland worthy of a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Incredible performances.

Kaitlyn Dever, Taylor Schilling, and Nicole Beharie really stood out for me, but there were a lot of familiar faces in each episode and I thought that each character did a great job. Since this is anthology style, each episode focuses on a new character in a different town, but every performance held up and was probably the best part of the series for me.

A different take on horror.

One thing I did appreciate in this series was the attention to the darkness embedded within humanity. Sometimes our decisions can eat away at us and while there are some cringe-worthy moments sprinkled in to each episode, the real fear is that we are the actual monsters and have to come to terms with our past and accept the consequences of our actions.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

The episodes are way too long.

The episodes are about 53 minutes in length each and they really drag at times. I think that this concept could have worked much better with 35 minute episodes. I understand the need to build up character development through a slow burn approach, but I found myself tuning out quite a bit.

Dark and depressing.

I went into this series hoping for some welcomed horror and I found myself really upset watching each episode. The episodes are emotionally unsettling, which isn’t necessarily a con, but it didn’t help with the slower pace. Other than episodes 1, 5, and 8 (the best episodes of the series for me), the rest of the episodes were dragged out and forgettable, but they did have some worthy performances that should be noted.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m about 50/50 on this one.

I appreciated the different take on horror here and I was drawn in for a few of the episodes, but I was disappointed overall and thought that the episodes were way too long. If you are looking for an anthology horror-esque show other than American Horror Story, I recommend The Haunting of Hill House (season 2 drops next week) or Hulu’s Into the Dark, which had a unique seasonal theme.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

If you have time, I would love it if you would check out my book, Dash and Seek in the link below. Thank you and I hope you enjoy!

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!

**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 “Castle Rock” Season 2 on Hulu: Lizzy Caplan as Annie Wilkes gets this Slow-Burn Horror off to a Chilling Start

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

Just in time for Halloween, Hulu has released the first three episodes of Castle Rock season 2.  I loved season 1 so much and it featured some of the most brilliant episodes on television that I have ever witnessed.

Seriously, if you haven’t seen season 1, episode 7 (The Queen) yet, I highly recommend it.  So that being said, Castle Rock season 2 has a lot to live up to, but I am excited that they are taking the anthology approach, as we get a new story with different characters.

Castle Rock is a psychological horror series on Hulu based on the characters and setting of Stephen King.  There will be 10 episodes for season 2.  Similar to the format with season 1, Hulu has released the first 3 episodes as of October 23rd 2019 and it will continue to run weekly episodes on Wednesdays.  Season 2 stars Lizzy Caplan, Tim Robbins, and Elsie Fisher.  

Season 2 follows a nurse named Annie Wilkes, based on the character of the same name in Misery.  While Castle Rock is not necessarily a prequel, it does bring us familiar elements from both Misery and Salem’s Lot. 

Annie has a lot of psychological issues and she is on the run with her teenage daughter when she arrives in Castle Rock.  Annie mostly keeps to herself, but when she goes through withdrawal from her medication, her hallucinations start to become all too real, as she finds herself doing some very bad things. 

The plot and characters certainly have a lot of potential, but will season 2 be able to hold its own?  Let’s find out!

The Pros:

Castle Rock season 2 1
Images courtesy of Hulu

Lizzy Caplan is beyond captivating as Annie Wilkes.  

Her performance will chill you to your core, disturbing you in just the right way.  Caplan absolutely nails the role and is the best part of the show so far.  She immerses herself completely in this role, bringing you wild eye stares and horrifying reactions that are so real and terrifying.

The perfect dose of psychological horror.

I love that this show brings you along for the ride, unfolding the mystery with its audience.  While a lot of the scares are psychological, there are some edge of your seat moments that remind us just how deadly an unhinged paranoid person can be.

I think it also works to the show’s advantage not following a specific plot from Stephen King, allowing familiar characters and settings to take on a life of their own, which makes this show unique and original.

The Cons:

Castle Rock season 2 2
Images courtesy of Hulu

A lot of setup.

There are a lot of elements to digest after watching the first three episodes of season 2.  You may find yourself slightly overwhelmed by this, but I had the same issue with season 1 and it ended up paying off, as other elements were revealed later on.

Slow moving at times.

Each episode is about 50-55 minutes in length and the show does move at a slow pace from time to time.  The show is more of a slow-burn psychological horror, so it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make it difficult to binge-watch all at once.  You may want to try one episode at a time, but I thought that there were enough things going on to keep your attention.

So am I in or out? 

Castle Rock season 2 3
Images courtesy of Hulu

I am in 100 percent!  Lizzy Caplan’s performance is enough to keep me invested, but I love the intertwining between the two works from Stephen King, while creating a new story that branches off into something completely different. 

After watching the first three episodes, I am excited to continue watching weekly and I think this will actually make the watch that much more entertaining, as bits and pieces of the mystery are presented.  If you haven’t started watching yet, I highly recommend it, especially if you are a Stephen King fan.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Final Chapter Blog

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice 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! 

Dark Ditties Presents ‘The Witching Hour’ (Episode 4): Spoiler-Free Review

The Witching Hour is here!

The fourth installment of Dark Ditties blends campy horror humor with some cringe-worthy terror that may seep into your own nightmares. Samantha has been dreaming about a dark and mysterious entity named Tyberius Krane. Not knowing where else to turn, Samantha seeks assistance from a tacky over-the-top paranormal investigations show called, ‘The Witching Hour.’

The mock paranormal show is on the verge of cancellation and it’s clear that they will do anything to hold on to viewers, but things take a dark and unexpected turn when a real supernatural threat emerges after meeting with Samantha.

Fans of Supernatural may thoroughly enjoy this feature length episode, which gave me a Ghostfacers nostalgia. The cast of the mock paranormal show is outrageous and silly, but that adds to the campy horror charm. It’s not all fun and games; however, as we are presented with some genuinely scary moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. Tyberius Krane will give you chills, as we dive into the mystery behind him throughout the episode.

The cast and characters are fantastic and I thought that the effects and musical score really elevated the series, bringing to life a chilling and entertaining episode of horror. While the plot may seem predictable at times, the humor sliced it with new vitality. The show brings you plenty of gore, laughs, and terrifying scares.

A fresh take on horror that is well worth the watch!

Look for Dark Ditties episodes on Amazon Prime!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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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! 

Spoiler-Free Review of “Two Sentence Horror Stories” on The CW: An Eerie Delight

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

Sometimes less is more and Two Sentence Horror Stories delivers with its short episodes, bringing us just the right amount of unnerving moments for these compelling female protagonists.  Real life horror lurks in the shadows, seeping into our doubts, which creates a unique take on psychological horror, while touching on social concerns seamlessly.  If you are looking for some chilling fun with some terrifying twists, you are in the right place!

Two Sentence Horror Stories is a horror anthology series based on the popular fan-fiction that emerged on Reddit.  Each episode is about 30 minutes in length and follows a different creepy story, somewhat similar to the approach of Hulu’s Into the Dark and The Twilight Zone reboot on CBS All Access. 

The series will feature 8 episodes for season 1 and the first 2 episodes premiered on The CW on August 8th 2019.  While I have been underwhelmed by some of the other horror anthology series currently airing, Two Sentence Horror Stories genuinely surprised me and captured my undivided attention, but will the rest of the episodes be able to measure up?  I’m hoping so!

The Pros:

Two sentence 6
Images courtesy of The CW

Genuinely satisfying twists.

I don’t know about you, but I love playing Nancy Drew when it comes to figuring out any type of mystery and I have to say that both episodes kept me guessing.  The reveals were shocking and unsettling.

Strong female protagonists.

These interesting female characters will immediately draw you in.  I absolutely love that the majority of the episodes will feature women of color and I really thought that the performances were believable and spot on.  There are so many real life dangers that women have to face and this series has successfully brought some of these social concerns to light without hitting you over the head with them like some other series.

The episodes are the perfect length and really pay tribute to where Two Sentence Horror Stories originated.

I mean, it would probably be silly to have a series based on horror stories consisting of two sentences airing for an hour, but is 30 minutes enough time to truly make an impact?  Yes!  While I have been previously bored by some other horror anthology series, I really appreciated the short length of the episodes of Two Sentence Horror Stories.  The creepy background music and the simplicity of it all just works somehow and it doesn’t drag anything out.

I also love that each episode starts off with the first sentence of the horror story and then once the twist is revealed, it ends with the second sentence, really reminding you what this show is based on and proving that something genuinely terrifying and unique doesn’t have to be long and drawn out.

The Cons:

Two sentence 7
Images courtesy of The CW

Maybe not the type of horror you are expecting.

I honestly really can’t come up with a con for this series yet, as both episode 1 (Gentleman) and episode 2 (Squirm) deliver.  The only thing I would say is if you are expecting something supernatural or a slasher gory massacre, this is not for you.  It has more of a dark psychological vibe, but the real life terror works just as effectively in my opinion.  We’ll have to see if the remaining 6 episodes can hold up to the first 2, but I have high expectations now.

So am I in or out? 

Squirm
Images courtesy of The CW

I am in 100 percent!  I have to admit that I didn’t really expect much going into this series.  The CW added it to the summer line-up, which made me hesitate slightly, but I am so glad that I gave this series a chance because it is unique, smart, and scary!  I can’t wait to watch the next episodes and I definitely recommend it!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

[twitter-follow screen_name=’TV_Fanatic_Girl’]

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Dreaming of Wonderland Series Blog

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice 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!