Spoiler-Free Review of “Skinamarink” in Theaters: Not Much Going on…

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

“Are you hiding?”

Skinamarink released in limited theaters on January 13th 2023. The film will later release on Shudder on February 2nd 2023. The experimental horror film stars Jaime Hill, Lucas Paul, Ross Paul, and Dali Rose Tetreault. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

Two young siblings wake up in the middle of the night to discover that their parents are missing and the windows and doors have disappeared mysteriously.

Here is the trailer:

Skinamarink creates a different kind of horror movie, focusing more on feelings of fear and a setting rather than a story. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Tries something different…

I’m all for filmmakers trying something unique and different with their movies. The camera effects took me a while to get used to, but I actually kind of liked them. I felt like I had stumbled upon an old security VHS tape and was trying to piece together what I was seeing.

This film had a super low budget and that was apparent, but it did actually create some genuinely creepy moments and even one that actually made me jump so there’s that.

If you’re looking for a truly horrifying found-footage film, I’m not sure that you’ll get that here, but I appreciate the effort in this one. I’m just not sure that it translated that well at all…

The Cons:

So boring!

I think there was probably at least thirty minutes of the camera following around furniture. I was bored out of my mind and I was afraid to eat my popcorn in the theater because you could literally hear a pin drop. I think that this film could have been much shorter and only given us about five minutes of that material. There were actually people that got up and left in the middle of the movie so you may want to wait until this streams on Shudder so you can fast-forward to more of the creepy stuff.

The dialogue was so muffled and I’m not sure why we got subtitles during certain moments and it was absent in others. This didn’t make it scarier for me at all. I was just struggling to hear what was going on, which was super frustrating at times.

The ending of the movie was really bizarre and while I did look up several interpretations, I can’t say that it really helped fill in the blanks at all…

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Normally I would be out on this, but I appreciate what the filmmakers tried to accomplish and I’m always supportive of any kind of Indie film. This was a really cool concept, but I’m not sure where all the hype came from. There were a few flickers of potential, but I was hoping for a lot more.

I did like that phone though…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Skinamarink 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…

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Sick” on Peacock: A Smart, Self-Aware Slasher

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

“There’s somebody in the house…”

Sick released on Peacock on January 13th 2023. Written by Scream’s Kevin Williamson, Sick is a slasher-horror film that stars Gideon Adlon, Bethlehem Million, and Dylan Sprayberry. The films runs for approximately an hour and twenty-three minutes.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a killer targets two friends quarantining at their family lake house.

Here is the trailer:

Sick channels Scream in the best way possible, giving horror fans a new slasher to be excited about. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Uses the pandemic in an effective way.

Since 2020, I have seen a number of horror films that used the pandemic in the background, attempting to give us a new horror entry in a unique setting. Some of the films really worked, but others fell flat.

Sick may be my favorite film featuring the pandemic (other than Host). I think it helped having Kevin Williamson write this, but this film was smart and funny, while still giving us plenty of slasher gore and terrifying moments to enjoy. Everything it highlighted from the pandemic was actually spot on and the premise was terrifying because people in extreme conditions can be dangerous and volatile.

Keeps it small…

This film could have featured an infamous house party (similar to Scream), but I actually really liked that there were very few characters in this. There was this isolating fear that made perfect sense during this time. Even though we didn’t know too much about our main characters, they did a great job of dominating the screen and creating some truly suspenseful moments.

The Cons:

Takes a little while to get going…

The opening scene was fantastic and really channeled Scream in a lot of ways. I loved it! There was some fluff to sit through after this, however. It wasn’t terrible, but I was really glad that things finally picked up and they didn’t slow down from there. The movie was on the shorter side so this didn’t impact the pacing too much.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The slasher genre is making a bloody comeback with this clever addition that has so much going for it. Sick is absolutely well worth the watch!

I loved it!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “House of Darkness” on Hulu: Justin Long should Steer Clear of Creepy Houses…

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

“Once upon a time…”

House of Darkness released on Hulu on January 7th 2023. The supernatural horror film stars Justin Long, Kate Bosworth, Gia Crovatin, and Lucy Walters. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-eight minutes.

After meeting a mysterious woman at a bar, Hap agrees to drive her home, which turns out to be an extravagant mansion in the middle of nowhere. After she invites him inside for drinks and conversation, things take a sinister turn.

Here is the trailer:

House of Darkness has a great cast and a killer premise, but does this slow burn film pay off in the end? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Great cast.

Justin Long is no stranger to horror films so I was super excited about him starring in this one. Kate Bosworth was fantastic as always and I thought she played her part very well. Even the supporting characters did a great job with what they were given. The performances were the best part of this film and I’m not sure that I would have kept watching this one without this cast.

Enjoyable scenery.

Even though the film was primarily shot in just a few rooms in the mansion, they had such a Gothic feel. The use of dim lighting, the fireplace, and even the furniture created a vibe that accompanied this film very well. There was very little background noise or music in this film, allowing me to concentrate on a lot of other details while the plot unfolded.

The Cons:

Serious pacing issues…

This film was just under 90 minutes long, but it felt like I was watching it FOREVER at one point. I’m all for a good slow burn, but this one desperately needed something to happen. The dialogue was awkward and excruciating at times and if it weren’t for Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, I would have turned off the movie.

Don’t get me wrong, something finally happened in the end, but I’m not sure that the payoff was that rewarding. It was predictable and could have happened much sooner…

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Justin Long and Kate Bosworth, but this film fell flat, leaving me wanting so much more, which was really disappointing.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on House of Darkness 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 “M3GAN” in Theaters: Your New Bestie has Arrived

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

“I’ll never let anything harm you…ever again…”

M3GAN released in theaters on January 6th 2023. The horror film stars Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Jen Brown, and Ronny Chieng.

After a tragedy in Cady’s life, she moves in with her Aunt Gemma, who has been working on a lifelike doll with artificial intelligence.

Here is the trailer:

M3GAN is a blast to watch with just the right balance of thrills and comedy, giving horror fans something to be excited about.

The Pros:

A doll to root for!

M3GAN can easily join the group of killer dolls from hell in horror films. She was creepy, twisted, and really entertaining to watch. I love that the film didn’t take itself too seriously at times. There were a few brutal kills in there and M3GAN’s reactions made them that much more disturbing.

Good balance.

The struggling bond between Cady and Gemma was believable and layered enough to keep the audience invested. I thought that the supporting characters were a lot of fun too, giving this film the exact right balance. The pacing was on point for the most part, leading up to an ending that was predictable, but also really satisfying in a lot of ways.

The Cons:

Reveals a little too much in the previews…

Once again, this is one of those films that I absolutely loved, but I think too much was shown in the previews so I couldn’t enjoy certain moments as much as I should have. There was also one scene in particular that I could have personally done without. The film doesn’t do anything that unique in terms of this genre, but it was still really entertaining so I’m perfectly fine with that.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

M3GAN is so much fun with plenty of creepy and twisted moments to enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on M3GAN in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rule…they can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Menu” in Theaters: Deliciously Fantastic

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

“Go with the flow…let it be magical…”

The Menu released in theaters on November 18th 2022. The dark comedy-horror film stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Fiennes, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, and John Leguizamo. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-six minutes.

A young couple travels to a remote island to experience an exclusive dinner with a renowned chef when they soon discover that the unique menu contains some shocking surprises.

Here is the trailer:

The Menu is captivating from start to finish with the perfect ingredients to satisfy your appetite. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Anya Taylor-Joy is perfection.

She is already one of my favorite actresses and she shows off her talent and range once again in The Menu. She was absolutely stunning in that lavender dress and I hope I can find something similar for my own closet!

There was a great back-and-forth between her and Ralph Fiennes, creating a unique dynamic, which was so entertaining to watch unfold on screen. She stole the show for me and then some, proving once again to be an unstoppable force in the horror genre.

Perfect balance of dark comedy and shocking thrills.

It’s not easy achieving this and I thought that this film executed this balance seamlessly. I absolutely loved the moments of dark comedy, which actually had me laughing out loud quite a few times. The pacing worked really well and I never looked at the time even once. In a lot of ways, this film had the same kind of vibe as Ready or Not, which was fantastic.

Satisfying ending.

There will be no spoilers in this review, but I was thoroughly pleased with the ending. I often watch films that are completely brilliant and then fail to stick the landing. I think this film really nailed it and carved its spot as one of my top films of the year. It’s safe to say that I will be watching this one over and over again.

The Cons:

I really don’t have any…

I loved everything about this film and I don’t have anything negative to say about it…

So am I in or out?

I’m in 100 percent!!

Twisted, savory, and a pure delight!

What are you waiting for?

Go see The Menu and bring your appetite! It’s worth every bite.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Terrifier 2” in Theaters and on Demand: Blood, Guts and Gore Galore

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

“It’s just a costume…”

Terrifier 2 released in theaters on October 6th 2022. The horror film stars Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, and Elliott Fullam. It runs for approximately two hours and eighteen minutes.

Picking up right where we left off in the first Terrifier film, Art the Clown is back and ready to have some bloody fun while terrorizing his victims, setting his sights on Sienna and her younger brother.

Here is the trailer:

Terrifier 2 may be the goriest film I have ever watched with even more twisted moments than the first film. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Art the Clown is back and better than ever…

If you came for gore-filled violence, you’re in the right place. I didn’t think Art the Clown could get any more extreme, but he goes all out in the sequel and doesn’t hold back.

I also appreciated that this film took the time to flesh out its characters more this time around and it expanded the world of Art the Clown, giving the film more intention. I’m not sure I needed too many layers, but it helped me connect to the other characters more.

All hail, Sienna!

I recently watched Terrifier for the first time and I was rooting for a particular character to make it and was crushed when we got an alternative Final girl instead. Even though this was a different approach, I felt like we didn’t spend enough time on her to really root for her or care about what happened to her.

In Terrifier 2, we are blessed with the introduction of Sienna, who was the BEST part of this movie for me. I loved the choice of costume and the symbolism behind it. She was fierce and absolutely electric on screen. I LOVED HER!

The Cons:

Way too long…

I like my horror films to be about 90 minutes. While the film did a good job of holding my attention in a disturbing way, I still don’t think it was necessary to have a runtime well over two hours. There were plenty of scenes that could have been cut out.

Also as a warning, the gore in this film is extreme. I suggest watching it on an empty stomach. If you’re not a fan of gore and violence, steer clear of this movie…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Shocking, disturbing, and bloody entertaining!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Terrifier 2 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Soft & Quiet” on Demand: Seriously messed up…

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

“I am really happy that we are finally doing this…”

Soft & Quiet premiered on Demand on November 4th 2022. The horror film stars Stefanie Estes, Olivia Luccardi, Eleanore Pienta, and Melissa Paulo. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-two minutes.

A kindergarten teacher sets up a gathering with like-minded women when an encounter with a woman from her past turns their afternoon into something catastrophic.

Here is the trailer:

Soft & Quiet is beyond disturbing, as a chain of events unravels into something truly horrific. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Completely terrifying…

I don’t know if this is more of a pro or a con. This was not an easy watch by any means and what I witnessed was truly horrific. Social horror movies are emerging more and more and this one really pushed the envelope without holding back. I didn’t know much going into this, but I was completely shocked by what I watched.

This type of horror film scares me more than other genres because it’s something that could actually happen. You never know what a person is thinking or capable of and that can be way more distressing than someone you already know wants to do you harm.

This was an uncomfortable watch, but that was sort of the point.

Impressive cinematography.

I think this film was shot in such a smart way. It almost mirrored the way everything unfolded in front of the audience, never breaking our concentration. Rather, we followed the camera and watched this horrible chain of events unfold across the screen in real time. I’ve seen too many films with messy camera work or gimmicks and this approach worked flawlessly, making this even more of a gripping watch.

The Cons:

Sensitive content.

The audience should be aware that this film depicts disturbing racial violence and pervasive language. The writer and the director really went all out with this to further the point of this film, but this will understandably be difficult for the audience to watch so just be aware of that.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

The most disturbing film I have watched all year…

I’m not sure that I could ever re-watch this film, but it was completely shocking and the director made a really strong debut.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Soft & Quiet 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 “Prey for the Devil” in Theaters: A Unique take on the Possession Genre

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

“Let me in…”

Prey for the Devil released in theaters on October 28th 2022. The horror film stars Jacqueline Byers, Christian Navarro, Colin Salmon, and Virginia Madsen. It runs for an hour and thirty-three minutes.

A nun learns how to perform an exorcism in order to protect herself from a demon from her past.

Here is the trailer:

Prey for the Devil has a fantastic lead with an intriguing story, creating compelling layers within a possession film. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Jacqueline Byers is fantastic as Sister Ann!

She is the BEST part of the movie and gave a really solid performance. I loved the character of Sister Ann. She was so interesting and really came alive on screen. I’d love to see Byers in more horror films because she really blew me away.

Christian Navarro was great as well and I liked the team-up between them.

More please!

Not your average possession film…

I thought I knew what to expect with this film, but I was pleasantly surprised that it took a different route. The history behind everything and the way this story was presented was really unique and compelling. There was a good balance of backstory and set-up along with the typical scenes you expect to see in these types of movies.

The pacing worked well and I never felt bored at all.

The Cons:

Predictable at times…

I personally feel that this film revealed too much in its trailers. I saw a lot of the scary moments coming because of this and it took away from my watch slightly. I think I would have been better off avoiding all of the trailers…

The film does lean on tropes you would expect to find in a possession movie. There are plenty of jump scares, but I actually think that a lot of them were executed in a satisfying way so this isn’t a huge con.

I saw a few of the twists and reveals coming a mile away, but I still enjoyed my watch all the same.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

An entertaining watch with plenty of twisted moments to keep you hooked until the very end.

I actually really enjoyed this film and I think it made a valiant effort at doing something different with a possession film.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

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 “Grimcutty” on Hulu: A Gen Z Teen’s Nightmare

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

“You sure you don’t have a phone?”

Grimcutty released on Hulu on October 10th 2022. The supernatural horror film stars Sara Wolfkind, Shannyn Sossamon, Usman Ally, and Alona Tal. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A teen girl is plagued by a frightening internet challenge that is manifested by the hysteria of her parents.

Here is the trailer:

Grimcutty feels very much like a cross between Slender Man and Pulse, highlighting the danger of technology and what happens when parents overreact to social media exposure. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Tries to do something different…

While this is hardly the first film I have seen about the dangers of the internet, I thought Grimcutty made a valiant effort to think outside the box with its concept. While I wouldn’t necessarily say that I was really terrified throughout my watch, I appreciated the idea behind the film and I think it executed a lot of things really well.

Some familiar faces…

Shannyn Sossamon starred in One Missed Call back in 2008 so it was nice to see her in this film. She is no stranger to a killer phone…

I thought all of the characters did a good job with what they were given. I’m not sure that anyone really stood out, but the performances were believable enough to keep me interested.

The Cons:

The Grimcutty isn’t that scary…

Sure, it’s weird looking and odd, but it didn’t frighten me the way some supernatural creatures have. Even though I preferred this film to Slender Man, the actual Slender Man is a lot scarier than this guy. If the Grimcutty was truly frightening, this film may have worked a lot better, but it was honestly laughable at times.

I also thought this film was longer than it needed to be. I didn’t need anything dragged out on this one.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

An interesting concept with some entertaining moments.

This film was actually a lot better than I thought it would be. If you enjoy films like Slender Man and pretty much any horror film involving technology, you’ll feel right at home with this one.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Halloween Ends” on Peacock: Laurie vs. Michael…place your bets!

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

“You started this…”

Halloween Ends released in theaters and on Peacock on October 14th 2022. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Kyle Richards, and Rohan Campbell. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty minutes.

Years after Michael Myers terrorized the residents of Haddonfield, a new evil emerges in town, giving Laurie a terrorizing sense of nostalgia.

Here is the trailer:

Halloween Ends should mark the end of the latest trilogy, but does it do enough to leave fans satisfied? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Solid beginning and ending.

I thought the beginning of this film was so unexpected and brutally fantastic. It really set the tone for the rest of the film. The ending was also really well done. The showdown we’ve been waiting for did not disappoint. There was also enough nostalgia weaved in without overdoing it. I wanted it to go on a little bit longer, but I thought it was satisfying enough for fans.

The gory kills don’t disappoint…

I was slightly worried that we wouldn’t get that many gory kills in this film since it took a different path, but the later attacks in the film were bloody and terrifying. I had a few favorites in particular, but it’s safe to say that I won’t be leaving my door unlocked…ever!

The Cons:

Didn’t really feel like the ending of a trilogy…

I actually liked the different story and subplot going on. Rohan Campbell was really good in this. My only issue with it was that it didn’t feel like it was the perfect fit for this trilogy. I enjoyed this film, but it felt like a standalone movie, rather than a killer ending. Don’t get me wrong, we eventually got there and things came full circle, but things just felt odd and bizarre for the majority of the movie.

I also thought that Allyson made some decisions that seemed really out of character for her. I really liked her in the other films, but it’s like she threw all of her common sense out the window…

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Halloween fans will find plenty to enjoy in the ending to this trilogy, but I had a lot of mixed thoughts on its approach and the subplots, which may have been better suited to a film separate from this trilogy…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

HAVE A KILLER HALLOWEEN…

My young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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