Spoiler-Free Review of “Echoes” on Netflix: A Trashy Thriller with A LOT Going On

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

“My sister is missing…”

Echoes released on Netflix on August 19th 2022. All seven episodes are available to stream now. The thriller drama series stars Michelle Monaghan, Matt Bomer, Daniel Sunjata, and Jonathan Tucker. Each episode runs for approximately 42-47 minutes.

Gina travels back to her home town to track down her missing identical twin sister, as deadly and dangerous secrets are revealed along the way that could shatter her life completely.

Here is the trailer:

Echoes has a decent Gone Girl-esque set-up and a well known cast, but its messy plot and endless twists over-complicate things. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A strong start.

I was actually really pulled into this story initially. There was a major twist at the end of the first episode and I thought the mystery was decent enough to keep me coming back for more. Michelle Monaghan put forth a valiant effort with her performance and I thought the actual premise was really interesting with lots of guilty-pleasure potential.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Annoying voice-over narration…

Gina spends a lot of time “talking” to her identical twin sister over their video diary to find out where she is and what’s going on, but I found this really distracting and annoying. I’m not a fan of voice-over narration, but they really overdid it with this one.

Images courtesy of Netflix

A really messy plot.

I’m frustrated with this show because it started off really good and I thought I had an exciting binge-watch to enjoy. As the episodes continued, things started going off the rails completely. The plot was super messy and trashy. The performances got weaker and the twists were overdone, which ruined the initial shock value from the first episode for me.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

If you’re looking for a Lifetime-esque trashy thriller, there is enough going on to make your head spin (if that’s your kind of thing). I was intrigued at first, but I started to lose interest as the episodes continued unfortunately. I think this might have worked better as a Saturday movie of the week instead.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Echoes 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 “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!

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