Tag: Maika Monroe

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” (2025) on Hulu: A Decent Enough Remake

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

“She’s pretending to be someone else…”

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (2025) released on Hulu on October 22nd 2025. A remake of the 1992 film, the horror thriller film stars Maika Monroe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Martin Starr, and Raul Castillo. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-four minutes.

An overwhelmed mom agrees to hire a nanny to look after her children, but she soon discovers she’s not who she claims to be, putting the lives of her family in danger.

Here is the trailer:

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle allows two scream queens the chance to battle it out on screen. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Two powerhouse performers!

Wow, when I saw that BOTH Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were starring in this, I was so excited. They are both so fantastic and I thought their performances really elevated this movie in so many ways. It was great seeing Maika Monroe play a darker character this time around, really showing off her range.

Obsessed!

Images courtesy of Hulu

A slow burn that pays off.

This film took a while to get going, but it kept building and building in such an eerie way and I loved the result. It was unhinged and unafraid to throw some surprising gore our way, making this a satisfying Lifetime-esque thriller to indulge in.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

A touch too long.

I think this film should have been just under 90 minutes. It dragged a little bit in the beginning and I was starting to wonder if ANYTHING would happen at all. Luckily it did, but it felt like it took forever to get there. The odd music chords used almost put me to sleep a number of times.

I also just have to say that the parents here made some really questionable choices when it came to their children. This was one of the most clueless husbands I have ever seen before on screen…

The very last reveal was silly and forced, but it kind of leaned into it’s movie of the week vibe seamlessly.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle does just enough to stand out from the original film with two Scream Queens leaving their mark.

This film actually delivered for a straight to streaming remake. It wasn’t perfect, but it had its twisted moments for sure. I was pleasantly surprised.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Hand that Rocks the Cradle 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 “LONGLEGS” in Theaters: Utterly Terrifying!

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

“Are you ready to begin?”

LONGLEGS premiered in theaters on July 12th 2024. The horror crime thriller film stars Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage, Alicia Witt, Kiernan Shipka, and Blair Underwood. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

Federal Agent Lee Harker is assigned to a case involving a serial killer, but when she discovers a personal connection to him, she realizes she must do everything in her power to stop him before he strikes again.

Here is the trailer:

Longlegs hooks its audience from the start, reeling us into an unnerving cinematic experience. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Neon

Haunting performances.

Nicolas Cage was almost unrecognizable in this role and he will be giving me some nightmares for sure. He was so twisted and terrifying. My skin is crawling just thinking about some of those moments.

Maika Monroe continues to be an unstoppable force in the horror genre. This may have been my favorite performance by her yet. She was fantastic in this role.

Alicia Witt was also incredible and I was shocked by the range of Kiernan Shipka (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).

All around, these performances were top-notch. It’s clear that they committed to these roles 100 percent and it paid off. Wow.

Images courtesy of Neon

The tension built in this movie is on another level.

I haven’t been this invested in a crime thriller since The Silence of the Lambs. There was this lingering feeling of dread that continued to slither its way in. This film was beyond intense. It was shocking and consuming and I think it will create some interesting film discussions for sure.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Neon

Predictable reveals at times.

I don’t have too many cons for this movie. I’m not saying that I needed some major twists, because I was invested in the content, but I saw some of the reveals coming a mile away. This movie is also billed as a horror thriller, but I think it was more of a crime thriller. That doesn’t take away from the raw fear it created; however, regardless of the genre.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Neon

I’m in!!!

LONGLEGS is a chilling, uncomfortable, and disturbing watch that will linger with you well after the credits roll.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on LONGLEGS 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 “The Stranger” (2024) on Hulu: A Thriller Worth Your Time!

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

“I just want to go home…”

The Stranger  originally released on Quibi as a series back in 2020, but it has now been re-cut as a feature length film, premiering on Hulu on April 15th 2024. The thriller film stars Maika Monroe, Dane DeHaan, and Avan Jogia. It runs for an hour and thirty-seven minutes.

Clare must fight to survive when she picks up a ride-share passenger from hell, who continues to stalk her through the night.

Here is the trailer:

The Stranger (2024) is fast-paced, unpredictable, and beyond intense. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Cuts right to the chase!

This film did not waste time with unnecessary fluff. It pulled the audience right in and never slowed down, making this a fast-paced and satisfying watch. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and thought this was a clever and relevant premise that still felt unique and fresh even though it originally released four years ago. I didn’t see it then and I am so happy I got to experience it now. What a rush!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Maika Monroe and Pebbles make a great team!

I’m a huge fan of Maika Monroe and thought she was beyond fantastic in this one. Even though I wanted a touch more information about her character, she was so believable and gripping in this, elevating this film that much more.

This was a small cast and everyone played their part well, but I have to say that I was absolutely loving the Yorkie named Pebbles, who was my favorite character by far!

I loved the tie-ins to The Wizard of Oz and I really appreciated that this film tried to do things a little bit differently, keeping the audience on the hook until the very end.

Keeps you guessing.

I was thoroughly impressed with the twists and turns in this entry. I would have been fine with a simple survival thriller, but the film didn’t stop there and it didn’t get too over-complicated either.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Far-fetched at times…

This wasn’t a major con for me and I basically just went with every plot twist and insane thing going on without question, but there were a few moments that seemed really unrealistic. That being said, there was enough substance here rooted in relevant fears to help me skip past this. This didn’t hinder my watch at all.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in 100 percent!!!

The Stranger features a bad-ass performance by Maika Monroe (and her little dog too) in this edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that delivers in all the right ways.

This is my kind of thriller and I absolutely loved it!

If you enjoy films like Alone (2020), No Exit, and Unseen, you’ll have a blast with this one. Trust me.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Stranger (2024) 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!

**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 “God Is a Bullet” on Demand: Blood-Filled Cult Flick has its moments

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

“You gotta tell me what you know…”

God Is a Bullet released in limited theaters on June 23rd 2023 and is now available to rent on demand as of July 25th 2023. The cult thriller film stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maika Monroe, Jamie Foxx, Karl Glusman, January Jones, and Chloe Guy. It runs for approximately two hours and thirty five minutes.

When a detective’s daughter is abducted by an evil cult, he accepts the help of a former member to track her down.

Here is the trailer:

God Is a Bullet features an exceptional cast and a killer premise, but is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Patriot Pictures

Talented cast.

This film was filled to the brim with talented actors. The performances were solid and some actors were almost unrecognizable in their roles. They really went all in here and did the best with what they were given. The chemistry between Monroe and Coster-Waldau was off the charts. I really enjoyed the dynamic between these two characters and it was the strongest part of the movie.

Images courtesy of Patriot Pictures

Violent, bloody, and an immersive concept.

The bloody violence was extreme in this, so if that’s not for you, I’d recommend steering clear. I thought it enhanced the already dark tone of this movie. The overall concept really pulled me in and it’s even more horrifying to me that this is inspired by true events.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Patriot Pictures

Way too long and failed to focus on the most intriguing plot points…

I am never a fan of movies over two hours in length and this one was no exception. Things felt very heavy and dull and the film had way too many moving pieces and characters. The magic was between our two main leads and the quest for revenge (which was the most interesting part of this movie) and yet we continued to branch off into unnecessary plot points that didn’t do this film any favors.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Patriot Pictures

I’m 50/50 on this one…

God Is a Bullet has some terrific performances worth noting, but it dragged out its plot for too long and was mostly predictable.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on God Is a Bullet 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!

**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 “Significant Other” on Paramount+: Maika Monroe Stumbles upon Something Horrifying in the Woods

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

“I haven’t been feeling like myself…”

Significant Other premiered on October 7th 2022 on Paramount+. The horror film stars Maika Monroe and Jake Lacy. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-four minutes.

Something other-worldly is lurking in the woods when a young couple goes backpacking.

Here is the trailer:

Significant Other lures us back into the woods for something creepy and sinister, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Strong leads.

Maika Monroe is quickly becoming one of my favorite horror actresses. She is just so magnetic on screen and this film was no exception. Even in the quiet moments, she still commanded every frame with perfection.

Jake Lacy did a decent job too, which was important, especially since this film featured a very small cast. I thought the film did a good job of highlighting the ups and downs of relationships in the midst of something sinister.

Creepy setting.

The woods continue to be one of the creepiest backdrops of all time for horror movies, setting the overall tone for this movie. There’s just something so terrifying about being basically trapped out in the middle of nowhere when something horrible is unleashed. The setting definitely worked in the film’s favor.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Not a fan of the reveal…

Sure, it was out there and shocking, but once I knew what was happening, I lost a lot of interest. The leads still did a great job with it, but this film took an unexpected turn that had me scratching my head. The idea was interesting, but I don’t think that it was executed that well.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m 50/50 on this one…

Significant Other was really strange and out there, but Maika Monroe saved it in a lot of ways with her believable and captivating performance. This film took a different route than I was expecting, which was slightly disappointing, but it was a quick watch and had some redeeming moments.

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

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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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