Spoiler-Free Review of “FUBAR” on Netflix: Spy Series Falls Flat

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

“My daughter’s in the CIA?!”

FUBAR premiered on May 25th 2023 on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The comedy-action series stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Fabiana Udenio, Fortune Feimster, and Travis Van Winkle. Each episode runs for approximately 45-55 minutes.

After announcing his retirement, a CIA operative gets dragged in for one last mission that involves a family secret.

Here is the trailer:

FUBAR has a True Lies vibe and a star that can carry almost anything, but does this series do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun cast and premise.

It’s always fantastic seeing Arnold on screen and I was thrilled that he was getting his own series that seemed like it could be the perfect balance of comedy and action. Arnold basically played another version of his characters from other movies so there’s that. We also got a familiar, but fun premise to work with.

The father/daughter relationship was strange, but developed over the series and had its share of heartwarming moments and there was an effort to bring us some comedy along with the action so that the series wouldn’t feel that heavy. 

The pros stop there, however…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Ridiculous one-liners and cringe-worthy dialogue and exchanges…

You can basically download an entire soundboard filled with Arnold quotes from his movies over the years, but this series failed to deliver any noteworthy ones, which was extremely disappointing. The dialogue was boring and forced. Many of the exchanges between the father and daughter seemed unrealistic and a lot of the humor just didn’t land for me personally.

Well, maybe there’s some good action…

Watered down action.

No…the fight scenes felt flat and boring. I get that Arnold is 75 years old now, but this film was seriously lacking in this department and tried to rely too much on tropes I have seen before in similar series and films.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

This series was watchable at times, but it played it safe and relied on humor that did not work. It’s always fun seeing Arnold on screen, but he deserved a lot more here and overall I was disappointed with my watch.

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

**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 “The Mother” on Netflix: J.Lo Stars in Netflix’s Latest Female Assassin Thriller

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

“You don’t know how bad this gets…”

The Mother premiered on Netflix on May 12th 2023. The action thriller film stars Jennifer Lopez, Omari Hardwick, Lucy Paez, and Joseph Fiennes. It runs for an hour and fifty-seven minutes.

After years of hiding from her enemies, a female assassin re-emerges when her daughter’s life is threatened.

Here is the trailer:

The Mother has lots of action-packed moments featuring a bad-ass performance by Jennifer Lopez, but does it do enough to earn a a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Starts off with a bang.

A lot of these films can give the audience way too much backstory and set-up so I was really excited when The Mother got right into things with intense action and some solid fight scenes. The pacing was decent overall and I think there was a good enough balance between the action and the heartwarming moments to make this an entertaining movie from start to finish.

Images courtesy of Netflix

J.Lo is bad-ass!

Similar to Allison Janney in Netflix’s thriller, Lou, Jennifer Lopez really put forth a valiant effort here with a believable performance. She did a lot of her own stunt training and I was honestly impressed by how well she executed everything in this movie. She was the BEST part of the movie by far and elevated it in a lot of ways.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Plays it safe…

This movie followed a by the numbers formula without ever straying off course. Sure, it was entertaining, but it needed a little bit more of an edge to set it apart. A lot of things were really predictable and I think if it had stepped away from its comfort zone just a little bit, it might have packed more of a punch.

That being said, this film fit the bill for a Netflix movie of the week. I think it would actually make a fantastic double feature alongside Jennifer Lopez’s 2002 thriller, Enough.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

If you enjoy films like Lou and Enough, there’s plenty to like in this film. Jennifer Lopez gives it her all with lots of action to keep viewers satisfied.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Mother 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 “Florida Man” on Netflix: An Entertaining Weekend Binge-Watch

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

“Tell us how it started…”

Florida Man released on Netflix on April 13th 2023 with all seven episodes available to stream now. The action-comedy series stars Édgar Ramírez, Abbey Lee, Otmara Marrero, Lex Scott Davis, Clark Gregg, and Anthony LaPaglia. Each episode runs for approximately 42-50 minutes.

A former cop works off his gambling debt by agreeing to track down a criminal’s girlfriend in Florida, which leads to a treasure hunt.

Here is the trailer:

Florida Man is a delightful mix of Out of Sight and Fool’s Gold with fun characters and a mystery that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Solid mix of genres.

I don’t typically like when a series tries to do too much, but I thought the blending of genres worked with this particular series. I loved the vibe of this show and it kept me coming back for more. The comedy and action really worked well and even the emotional moments allowed these characters a chance to truly grow and develop on screen, which made me root for them that much more.

There were some fantastic twists in this one as well.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun character dynamics.

I really loved a lot of the characters and the dynamic between them worked well for the most part. There were some random wild cards thrown in there as well, but it made this series an entertaining ride and added to the humor.

Our two leads were both fantastic on screen. I really connected to both of them for different reasons. Overall, this series took the time to develop these characters while still delivering some entertaining action, which I appreciated.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Lacking chemistry at times…

While I really loved both of the main characters on their own, the chemistry between them was lacking at times and felt a little forced. The flashbacks needed work to show a true connection.

There was also A LOT overstuffed into the middle of this series, which made it run longer than it needed to. The beginning and ending were both really strong, however.

I think maybe this series only needed to be about 5 or 6 episodes tops…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Far from perfect, but an enjoyable and satisfying ride!

If you’re looking for a good weekend binge-watch that you don’t have to concentrate too hard on, this is the show for you.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

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 rulethey 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!

**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 “Obsession” on Netflix: An Erotic Thriller with a lot of intense staring…

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

“I’d love for you both to get to know each other…”

Obsession premiered on Netflix on April 13th 2023. The UK erotic thriller series features four episodes available to stream now. It stars Richard Armitage, Charlie Murphy, and Indira Varma. Each episode runs for approximately 38-42 minutes.

A surgeon’s affair with his son’s fiancée turns into an infatuation with irreversible consequences.

Here is the trailer:

Obsession has a promising premise with a familiar leading man, but does it do enough to set itself from other erotic thrillers that have followed a similar formula? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Obsession 2023 no spoilers

Images courtesy of Netflix

A quick watch.

The limited series only has four episodes, which made it very easy to binge-watch in one sitting. The episodes were on the shorter side as well and the pacing was decent enough. There’s a lot of fluff to sit through, but at least it didn’t drag things out for too long…

Richard Armitage.

He’s the only reason why I tuned into this one and I love him in the Harlan Coben thrillers so I was hoping for the best here, but I’m not sure he got to reach his full potential in this particular series. That being said, his presence alone made this watch a little more bearable.

The Cons:

Obsession 2023 no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Weird/crazy laughable moments…

This series isn’t meant to be a comedy and yet I found myself laughing out loud at some of these manic looks between our two main characters. I get that the series was trying to create an erotic thriller based on the balance of control but this was just too over-the-top.

The series didn’t really have many “thrilling” moments either. Sure, we eventually get to a shocking moment, but by that time I was completely bored out of my skull.

There’s sex galore in this one, but the plot just felt really dry and bland. I just couldn’t get into it, which was disappointing.

So am I in or out?

Obsession 2023 no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Obsession doesn’t take as many risks as it should have with the plot, which made this a disappointing and boring watch overall.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Obsession 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 “The Night Agent” on Netflix: Non-Stop Action Thrill Ride!

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

“You reached the wrong number…”

The Night Agent premiered on Netflix on March 23rd 2023 with ten episodes available to stream now. The action-thriller series stars Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Hong Chau, Sarah Desjardins, Eve Harlow, Fola Evans-Akingbola, and D.B. Woodside. Each episode runs for approximately 48-55 minutes.

An FBI agent answers an emergency line that rarely rings when a woman calls in distress as he quickly finds himself involved in a deadly conspiracy.

Here is the trailer:

The Night Agent is the perfect show for fans of 24 and Homeland, making this an addicting and consuming watch. Does it live up to the hype? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Starts off with a bang…

Literally! And it never slows down at all. It’s not easy to nail a premiere episode and yet this series did so with perfection. There was so much action in it and it never lost momentum as the episodes continued. Wow! 

This is not my usual type of series, but once I started, I couldn’t stop watching it. It really reels you in and monopolizes your time in the best way possible!

Each episode did just enough at the end to make your head spin with fantastic twists and reveals, great chemistry between characters, and plenty of shocking moments filled with entertaining action.

What else could I ask for?

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fantastic characters to root for!

Our main leads were incredible. I really liked both of them and enjoyed the dynamic between them. It took a little while for us to unpack their layers, but we did get to that point, which I appreciated.

The supporting characters were great too since there were plenty of sub-plots in this one. I loved the villains and I even found myself rooting for characters that seemed slightly unnecessary or annoying in the beginning. Every single character played a pivotal role and added to this series.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Forced dialogue at first…

Even though there was plenty of action and thrilling moments to enjoy right away, it took me a little while to appreciate everything else going on. I think this was mostly because some of the initial dialogue felt a little too scripted and forced. The actors did the best with what they were given and this greatly improved as the episodes continued, but I did notice it.

This wasn’t a major con and it never impacted my watch. I think the series was just finding its way and luckily it got there!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 1000 percent!!!!!!

The Night Agent is one of the most well-paced and exciting shows I have watched in a long time, making it a binge-watcher’s dream and then some!

My favorite series of the year so far!

I’m so excited that this series has already been confirmed for season two and I can’t to see what’s next for The Night Agent!

I highly recommend this series even if it doesn’t seem like your type of show. It’s worth it so I’d give it a chance!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

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 rulethey 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!

**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 “Shadow and Bone” Season 2 on Netflix: The Crows Steal the Show…

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

“They’re not nightmares…it’s really happening…”

Shadow and Bone season two premiered on Netflix on March 16th 2023. The second season features eight episodes available to stream now. It stars Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renaux, Ben Barnes, Freddy Carter, and Amita Suman. Each episode runs for approximately 55-60 minutes.

Based on the popular Grisha book series, Shadow and Bone follows a Sun Summoner named Alina Starkov, who must battle against General Kirigan and his powerful army in order to protect the world.

Here is the trailer:

Shadow and Bone season two is visually stunning to watch on screen, but overstuffed to the brim with sub-plots. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A sexy villain and characters to root for against all odds…

Sure, you can put scars on his face, but General Kirigan is still very easy on the eyes and a wickedly entertaining villain. I loved him even more in season two. Alina embraced her destiny as a chosen one and wasn’t so wishy-washy this season, but my attention was stolen by the Crows, who were the most entertaining characters of the bunch and deserve their own series…

Intense battle/action sequences.

We had to sit through a lot of fluff to get to them, but this series had some worthy scenes for sure. I loved the action, but I just wanted more of it. The visuals were stunning once again and the costumes were on point. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Way too much going on…

I thought season one was jam-packed, but season two pushed the limit even further. I get that the series was trying to borrow from several of the books, but I felt like I needed to take notes to keep up with all of the sub-plots and extra characters. Honestly, it was a lot of work and I’m not sure that it was worth the effort…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

There’s plenty of moments to enjoy and lots of characters to root for, but sometimes less is more…

I preferred the first season, but I still think there’s enough here for fans of the book series to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Shadow and Bone season two 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…

Main promo smaller

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!

 

 

Spoiler-Free Review of “We Have a Ghost” on Netflix: By the Numbers Family-Friendly Ghost Flick

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

“This place is a dump…”

We Have a Ghost released on Netflix on February 24th 2023. The supernatural horror-comedy film stars David Harbour, Anthony Mackie, Tig Nataro, Jahi Di’Allo Winston, and Jennifer Coolidge. It runs for approximately two hours and seven minutes.

After moving into a new home, a boy and his family discover a ghost named Ernest already residing there.

Here is the trailer:

We Have a Ghost has some cute and heartfelt moments, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun idea.

Similar to Casper, this film takes on a family-friendly approach to the haunted house/ghost genre with some magical and sweet moments. I was super hyped about this film because it was directed by Christopher Landon, who brought us films like Freaky and Happy Death Day.

Landon’s films sometimes channel past films in a new and effective way while bringing us moments of pure brilliance in the horror comedy genre. I was all for a slightly different approach with the family-friendly entry here, but I’m not sure that it ever quite found its way despite having a cute plot.

Great cast!

I couldn’t have been more pleased with this cast although I’m still scratching my head over the decision to bench their star player…

There will be no spoilers in this review, but you’ll see what I mean.

Jennifer Coolidge’s part also seemed silly and pointless…

Either way, it was fun to see some familiar faces and I thought that Jahi Di’Allo Winston did a great job with his role.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Jam-packed with too much…

I think that this film would have been better if it had just focused on the main plot and stuck with it. It had some heartfelt moments, but these would have translated better without all the excess fluff.

This movie was way too long and a lot of the humor felt forced and exhausting. There was nothing original about this film and while it was certainly watchable, it wasn’t anything special, which is a shame.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in about 75 percent…

Some spooky fun moments and an entertaining cast, but I just wanted so much more from this film.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on We Have a Ghost 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!

**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 “The Strays” on Netflix: The Past Can’t Always Be Forgotten

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

“Is it wrong to want more?”

The Strays released on Netflix on February 22nd 2023. The social horror-thriller film stars Ashley Madekwe, Justin Salinger, Bukky Bakray, and Jorden Myrie . It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A woman’s life is turned upside down when two strangers show up in her suburban town.

Here is the trailer:

The Strays has an eerie start with a fantastic lead, but does it try to do too much? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Strays no spoilers 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Ashley Madekwe puts forth a valiant effort.

I was already a fan of hers and I thought she really portrayed this character with everything she had. She elevated this film in a lot of ways and didn’t hold back. She was very convincing and I believed her performance. 

The rest of the cast did a solid job as well with what they were given.

The Strays no spoilers 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Eerie first half.

I was drawn in right away and wanted to know more. The first half of this movie was disturbing and uncomfortable, but it kept me intrigued. The film was clearly inspired by Get Out in a lot of ways and tried to dip into the social horror genre with its plot. It was heading in the right direction for me, but then things went off the rails once we got to the second half…

The Cons:

The Strays no spoilers 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

Tries to do way too much…

Just when I thought I was completely hooked, the film took a step back and presented things from another perspective, which didn’t transition seamlessly in my opinion. It broke the eerie tone and took on a lot with its reveal. I was still interested in what was going on, but things continued to spiral out of control from here. This film was guilty of trying to jam-pack in elements from every genre, which made this a confusing watch for me.

I appreciate what it was trying to accomplish, but I’m not sure that it translated that well.

I also wasn’t a fan of the ending. Sure, it was shocking and out there, but it left me wondering what I had just really watched and if it was worth it…

So am I in or out?

The Strays no spoilers 4

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this one…

I’m in for Ashley Madekwe, but this film was really confusing and left me wanting more. I was actually really disappointed by the time I got to the end because it had so much potential in the first half, but the ultimate resolution didn’t leave me completely satisfied.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Strays 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 “Unlocked” on Netflix: Throw your phone out the window!

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

“This could happen to any one of us…”

Unlocked premiered on February 17th 2023 on Netflix. The South Korean thriller film stars Chun Woo-Hee, Im Si-wan, Park Ho-san, and Kim Hee-won. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-seven minutes.

A young woman’s life is put in immediate danger when a man steals her lost phone and uses it to track her every move.

Here is the trailer:

Unlocked is a well-paced thriller with a terrifying and realistic premise that may have you rethinking using your phone for everything. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Takes on a relevant fear…

It seems like our whole lives are on our phones and this film definitely reveals just how dangerous that can be if your phone ends up in the wrong hands. I thought that this was such a compelling plot with a few twists I didn’t see coming. If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat thrillers, you’ll find plenty here to latch on to.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Characters to root for!

It may seem like Na-mi is kind of routine and boring at first, but I actually think this enhanced the plot that much more. This can happen to ANYONE and the perpetrator may have a million random reasons for targeting you, which is that much more terrifying.

I did like Na-mi as a character and was rooting for her by the time we got to the end of the film, which was SO INTENSE! I could not stop watching it!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Some sub-plot confusion going on.

I think I might have liked this one a little better if it had focused more on the main plot. Sure, the sub-plots made sense by the time we got to the end, but it did split my focus at times. Overall, this film had solid pacing, but I think I wanted more of a straight-forward thriller to prevent my attention from wavering. Either way, this wasn’t a major con.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A thriller that will make you think twice about leaving your devices unattended!

Suspenseful and engrossing!

If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers, you’re in the right place!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Unlocked 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 is out now! 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 “Red Rose” on Netflix: YA Horror Series Delivers with Chilling Moments and a Chase Scene to Die For!

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

“Welcome to the new you…”

Red Rose originally aired on BBC Three back in August 2022, but has now released in the US on Netflix as of February 15th 2023. The series features eight episodes in total that are all currently available to stream. The British YA horror series stars Amelia Clarkson, Isis Hainsworth, Ashna Rabheru, Harry Redding, and Ellis Howard. Each episode runs for approximately 42-48 minutes.

A dangerous app threatens a group of friends and targets them one by one, as they try to uncover the mystery surrounding it before it’s too late.

Here is the trailer:

Red Rose channels films like The Ring and Unfriended in an effective way, creating a consuming mystery while presenting us with some solid YA horror content. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Not afraid to take big risks…

At first, I thought I was watching your average YA horror series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the time I got to the end of episode two. This series was not afraid to kill off main characters. It presented us with some truly twisted reveals that I absolutely loved and it did a good job of providing us with some genuinely disturbing content. 

After all, this is a horror series…

While I wouldn’t necessarily say that anything was really that terrifying, it made the YA horror genre proud and created an addicting mystery that will keep you coming back for more. 

That chase scene though…

Truly exceptional!!!!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun group of Scoobies to root for!

It took me a few episodes to warm up to them, but I really liked this group of friends and it was very easy to cheer for them. There were enough layers presented for each of the main characters and some heartwarming connections as well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A plot I’ve seen before…

This series was far from original, but it was definitely aware of that and it even made a joke later on talking about The Ring, so I can’t fault it too much here. That being said, I’ve seen plenty of films involving killer apps/technology, but I think the series did a good job trying to branch things out past this theme.

The music soundtrack was really odd for me. I personally LOVED it because those are my jams, but it seemed ill-fitting for a show set during the current time. There were also some moments that dragged a little. I wanted things to happen and loved when they did, but maybe we only really needed six episodes here…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

A solid entry to the YA horror genre with a disturbing mystery at its core.

This series wasn’t perfect, but I really enjoyed it and found it very easy to binge-watch. If you’re looking for a new horror/mystery to indulge in, you’ve found it!

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