Spoiler-Free Review of “Scream 7” in Theaters: Neve Campbell Brings the Nostalgia

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

“There SHE is…”

Scream 7 released in theaters on February 27th 2026. The seventh installment of my favorite franchise of all time gives fans a chance to see Neve Campbell on the big screen as Sidney Prescott (Evans) once again. The slasher horror film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Joel McHale, Matthew Lillard, Anna Camp, Ethan Embry, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown. The film runs for approximately an hour and fifty-six minutes.

Sidney has built a quiet life with her family in a small town, but a Ghostface threat from her past begins to target her and her teenage daughter.

Here is the trailer:

Scream 7 has a nostalgic feel to it with Kevin Williamson directing, bringing fans of the franchise plenty of Easter eggs and heartwarming moments to appreciate, but does it do enough to measure up to the other films? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Welcome back, Sidney Prescott!

Even though I absolutely loved Scream VI and it was one of my favorite entries of the franchise, there was something missing…and her name is Sidney Prescott (Evans). Well, Sidney is back as our leading lady in the seventh film and it was amazing seeing her in this role once again. She was bad-ass and resilient, reminding everyone that she is definitely not “past her prime.”

If you came to see Sidney, you’ll get plenty of her in this film.

This film did have a lot of nostalgia surrounding it and I appreciated that we finally took the time to talk about certain character deaths that were always glossed over in the previous films. I thought this was a nice touch.

Solid cast with FANTASTIC cameos!

In addition to Neve Campbell returning, we got to see several more familiar faces and I thought everyone did a great job here. The cameos were amazing and Matthew Lillard is on another level! I loved every second of it!

The newcomers did an OK job, but I think they should have been given a little bit more to do…

The Cons:

The stakes didn’t seem as high…

For some reason, this felt like such a tame entry. There were too many survivors in the end and a lot of the kills felt toned down. I just never felt any sense of real danger for our characters here.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of Sidney’s daughter. I thought she was kind of boring and her friends were even worse. Usually I invest a lot in these characters so I care more when their lives are put in danger, but that didn’t really happen here with a few exceptions.

I thought the opening sequence was solid and there was a nice balance of laughs and slasher fun, but it did feel very dialed down. The killer reveal was also just kind of meh.

That being said, I’ll always love the Scream movies and I still had a lot of fun watching this one. I guess I just wanted more.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Scream 7 gives Neve Campbell a chance to shine once again as Sidney Prescott with some bloody fun cameos to be excited about. Overall this was a tame, but entertaining popcorn watch.

This was probably one of my least favorite entries to the franchise, but I still enjoyed it.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Scream 7 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 “Dexter: Original Sin” Premiere on Paramount+ with Showtime: A Prequel with Potential

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

“I’ve experienced death so many times…”

Dexter: Original Sin premiered on December 13th 2024 on Paramount+ with Showtime. The prequel series will feature ten new episodes that will air weekly. The show stars Patrick Gibson, Molly Brown, Christina Milian, Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Michael C. Hall as the voice of Dexter. Each episode runs for approximately 52-55 minutes.

A young Dexter Morgan begins to execute the code that his father taught him, transitioning into a serial killer who punishes the guilty.

Here is the trailer:

Dexter: Original Sin gives fans another chance to learn even more about their favorite serial killer as past layers are explored and familiar characters return with new faces. Does Dexter: Original Sin do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Enough nostalgia for fans of the original series.

Hearing Michael C. Hall’s voice again is all I need to to be effortlessly transported back to one of my favorite shows of all time. It was fun hearing the same theme song as well. This may be a prequel series, but there are enough familiar moments in it to lure fans in with a decent hook.

We’re also getting the chance to explore even more aspects of Dexter’s character. We got plenty of layers in the original series, but it is interesting learning about how he first became a serial killer (although I’m not sure there is enough here for ten episodes).

I thought that most of the new cast successfully embodied the characters they are portraying and of course there are a few new characters to be excited about…Sarah Michelle Gellar’s in particular!

The Dark Passenger is as compelling as ever.

I thought I had seen my fair share of Dexter Morgan’s kills, but the first episode did a fantastic job of putting a new spin on this. The original series always had such a compelling and almost poetic feel to it and I think we can get there with the prequel series, but it needs to dig a little deeper. I’ve seen a few glimmers of it so I’m confident it will find its way through the next few episodes.

The Cons:

A few key details seem off…

Dexter always had such a vibe around it and I’m not sure that the prequel series is capturing that magic just yet. While it’s wonderful hearing Michael C. Hall’s voice, Patrick Gibson has very big shoes to fill and I’m not sure that he’s doing it. I need to see a lot more from him.

I feel like Deb’s character was completely miscast. Sure, she’s cursing a lot, but she doesn’t seem like Deb to me and I’m worried about how much time we’re going to spend on her character. Dexter’s relationship with Deb is extremely important to the series, but rescuing her from parties seems overdone and stale.

The choice of music also felt very odd. I get that the series is trying to remind us that this prequel takes place in a different era, but it seemed cheap and gimmicky, moving away from the elegant dark madness I loved in the original series.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Dexter: Original Sin has plenty of nostalgia and killer potential, but it needs to find its dark passenger in a hurry to keep things fresh and entertaining.

I think there’s enough here, but I’d like to see a lot more from this series as the episodes continue.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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 “Mean Girls” (2024) in Theaters: A New Queen Bee Has Emerged!

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

“Don’t look her in the eye…”

Mean Girls (2024) released in theaters on January 12th 2024. The musical teen comedy (inspired by the 2004 film of the same name) stars Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auliʻi Cravalho, Jaquel Spivey, Tim Meadows, and Tina Fey. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-eight minutes.

New student, Cady Heron gets invited to join The Plastics at school, but when she falls for Regina George’s ex-boyfriend, Aaron, she winds up stuck in a cruel rivalry where friendships are put to the test.

Here is the trailer:

Mean Girls is a celebration of the 2004 film, creating something different for the new generation with a musical spin while still presenting fans of the original film with enough nostalgia. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

All hail, Reneé Rapp!

She ate up every second of screen time and absolutely delivered as Regina George. This role is not easy to fill and Rachel McAdams is so iconic in it. That being said, I thought that Rapp took everything that was great about the original Regina and put a wicked spin on her portrayal, making her performance the best part of this film. I loved her in The Sex Lives of College Girls, but she broke out as an absolute star in this film. Perfection!

Satisfying nostalgia for fans of the original film.

Mean Girls is one of my favorite movies of all-time so I had high expectations for this one. While it didn’t come close to the original film, I appreciate that it didn’t try to be a lifeless remake. The musical spin made it feel like more of a celebration of the film, recognizing where it came from and giving fans a lot of memorable moments to appreciate.

There were familiar faces in this one as well, which helped me connect to the film a lot more.

The Cons:

Some characters couldn’t measure up…

While I thoroughly enjoyed Rapp’s performance, not everyone translated as well on screen. Cravalho was terrific as Janis and Jaquel Spivey was hilarious as Damian. However, I couldn’t connect with Cady, Gretchen, or Karen (despite her various attempts). They just didn’t measure up.

This was slightly problematic for me since Cady is the main character. I thought they were all talented actresses, but they didn’t stand out to me and certain moments felt very watered down because of this.

Too many songs…

I get that this is a musical, but it felt like the characters were bursting out into song every other minute, which grew tiresome at times and took away from paying homage to some other epic moments from the original film. I did enjoy some of the songs, but I think this could have been toned down slightly.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Mean Girls may not be as fetch as the original film, but Reneé Rapp dominates the screen in the best way possible, making this an entertaining watch overall.

As long as you manage your expectations, there’s still plenty to enjoy here although I’m sure there will be plenty of mixed opinions on this one.

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Haunted Mansion” (2023) in Theaters: A Haunting Good Time!

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

“There’s no such thing as ghosts…”

Haunted Mansion (2023) released in theaters on July 28th 2023. Based on the Disney ride, the remake fantasy comedy film stars LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto. It runs for approximately two hours.

After a woman and her son encounter some ghosts in their new home, they enlist the help of some spiritual experts to get rid of them.

Here is the trailer:

Haunted Mansion brings plenty of nostalgia for fans of the theme park ride while creating a delightful new story filled with spooky fun and heartwarming moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

An entertaining story with welcomed nods at the Disney ride.

I almost forgot about the 2003 version of this film starring Eddie Murphy. The new remake has nothing to do with that story (although you will see some of the same familiar ghosts floating around).

The new mystery is captivating enough and has a charm of its own. The haunted mansion ride at Disney World was always one of my favorite rides and it was really cute seeing some of those familiar characters pop up again, making this a fun tribute to that while branching off into its own mystery.

Fun characters!

We got a fantastic cast in this one and they really delivered with their characters. At first I wasn’t sure about how I felt about this group, but I quickly fell in love with them and I think they elevated this film in a lot of ways.

It was easy to root for them all and the dynamic between them was wonderful.

The Cons:

Takes a while to find its groove…

The first half of this film felt a little unsure of itself. A lot of the humor didn’t land for me and the ghosts didn’t really do too much damage so I was quickly losing interest. Luckily that changed and the second half of the film really found its magic.

I wouldn’t say that this is a perfect film by any means, but it was still an enjoyable ride and I think that was the point.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

A charming kids-friendly horror entry!

If you’re a fan of the Disney ride or in need of a quick film to watch with the kids, there are plenty of enjoyable moments in this one.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

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 “Barbie” in Theaters: A Dazzling Delight that is “Kenough” for Me!

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

“Women can be anything…”

Barbie released in theaters on July 21st 2023. The fantasy-comedy film (based on the toy by Mattel) stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Michael Cera, Will Ferrell, Kate McKinnon, and America Ferrera. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty-four minutes.

Barbie and Ken are enjoying their seemingly perfect lives in Barbie Land when Barbie begins to “malfunction,” causing them to travel to the real world to find out the source of the problem.

Here is the trailer:

Barbie is super fun, pulling us into a magical world filled with pizzazz and nostalgia. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Ryan Gosling steals the show!

I expected Margot Robbie to be flawless as Barbie and she was, but Ryan Gosling was the BEST part of this movie! He definitely understood the assignment and went all in with his portrayal of Ken. He was laugh-out-loud funny and completely charming.

The other supporting characters did a good job as well. Michael Cera was a lot of fun (I wish he got more screen time) and I thought that America Ferrera gave an honest and relatable performance.

Nails the Barbie vibe and nostalgia.

I loved the vibrant colors, fashion, and music in this film. It was spot on and it really nailed the Barbie vibe with bubble gum pop perfection. It was hard not to smile during this film. It was a blast to watch and I appreciated how much effort it put into being authentic to the history of Barbie while still having a good time.

This movie also had some empowering messages about self-worth in it and a few life lessons as well, which I did not expect. I appreciate that it tried to transcend past an idea and actually created something heartwarming and imaginative in the process.

The Cons:

Takes itself too seriously at times…

Barbie excelled when it was having saucy fun with its content and narration. While I appreciated some of the heartwarming moments, I thought it lost some of its initial magic toward the end. I still enjoyed it, but it almost felt like I started watching a completely different movie…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Playful, offbeat, and so much fun!

There’s something in it for everyone.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Barbie 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 “The Santa Clauses” on Disney+: Scott Calvin is back and brings the nostalgia!

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

“So we’re just doing home invasions now?”

The Santa Clauses premiered on Disney+ on November 16th 2022 with the first two episodes available to stream now. There will be six episodes in total that will air weekly. The holiday comedy series is a continuation of The Santa Clause films (the first film released in 1994). The series stars Tim Allen, Elizabeth Mitchell, Austin Kane, Elizabeth Allen-Dick, and Kal Penn. Each episode runs for approximately 33-35 minutes.

Scott Calvin begins to realize that he can’t be Santa Clause forever, as he searches for a suitable replacement for the job.

Here is the trailer:

The Santa Clauses has a good amount of nostalgia while creating something new with some decent humor. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Good sense of nostalgia.

Much like Hocus Pocus 2, The Santa Clauses taps into some magical nostalgia, transporting us right back to 1994 when the first film released. I was super happy to see both Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell in the series and there will be another familiar face to be excited about later on.

The newcomers (especially the elves) do a fantastic job as well, making this series a lot of fun.

The production value is pretty impressive.

When Santa traveled across the world, there were a lot more bells and whistles this time around. I don’t necessarily need a film or series to be flashy with tons of special effects, but The Santa Clauses gets an upgrade, making things feel shiny and new without losing its original magic.

Decent humor.

I think it helps that the showrunner on this worked on shows like Modern Family and 30 Rock. There is a dry humor that works really well. The series is great for kids, but it may be even better for the adults who watched the original film.

The Cons:

I’m not sure this needed to be a series…

While I’m having fun watching it, I think this series might have worked better as a film. It sort of feels like a film already and I’m not sure that the weekly release of episodes will do it any favors.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

A cute and light watch with some genuinely funny moments.

If you’re a fan of the original movie, there’s plenty to enjoy with this series.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Santa Clauses 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 “How I Met Your Father” on Hulu: Hilary Duff is back on TV

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

“I want to tell you the story of how I met your father…”

How I Met Your Father released on January 18th 2022 on Hulu with the first two episodes. The remaining eight episodes will air weekly. The sitcom is a standalone series in the same world as How I Met Your Mother. It stars Hilary Duff, Chris Lowell, Francia Raisa, Kim Cattrall, Tom Ainsley, and Josh Peck. Each episode runs for approximately 23-25 minutes.

The re-imagining of the series follows Sophie in the year 2022, as she searches for the love of her life and bonds with her group of friends.

Here is the trailer:

How I Met Your Father brings fans of the original series some nostalgia while sprinkling in some welcomed Easter eggs, but does the series do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Likeable cast.

Hilary Duff is always magnetic on screen and should thrive in this type of series and I’m a big fan of Chris Lowell from Veronica Mars as well. The other characters all seem nice enough for the most part. It’s too early to tell who my favorites will be, but I think that it’s important for us to care about these characters and so far the show is heading in the right direction with this.

Heads in a different direction.

Unlike its predecessor, HIMYF decides to shake things up and reveal potential characters who could be the “father” at the very end of the first episode. I think this is a smart approach and it will keep the audience more invested for the most part. It’s not easy steering off from the original, but it’s important for the series not to fall into the trap that so many reboots so often do.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Tries too hard to make the show relevant with today’s audience…

Tinder dates and Ubers are immediately thrown into the mix as the series tries to be relevant with a new generation. However, I thought this felt a little forced. I also think that Hilary Duff deserves a little more for her character. Sure, it’s really early, but it seems like she is defining her purpose by finding “the one,” and I couldn’t help thinking back to her character on Younger and how she placed love in the background so she could excel in her career. I get that this is a different show, but I think that Sophie could use some more “Kelsey” inspiration because she needs some layers.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent…

If you’re a fan of the original series, I think that you will find plenty of nostalgia with the new one, but I’m not sure that it is doing anything that different or unique this time around. That being said, the cast is really likable and I’m confident that Hilary Duff will shine in whatever project she is working on.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Saved by the Bell” Reboot Season 2 on Peacock TV: Major Improvements for Bayside

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

“Welcome back Bayside!”

Saved by the Bell season 2 premiered on Peacock TV on November 24th 2021 with ten new episodes available to stream now. The reboot sitcom stars Haskiri Velazquez, Mitchell Hoog, Josie Totah, John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Berkley Lauren, and Mario Lopez. Each episode runs for approximately 25-28 minutes.

Based on the original sitcom, which aired from 1989-1993, the reboot of the beloved iconic 90’s show brings us back to Bayside, as we watch a new set of characters find their own way through high school. This season features recurring roles for Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Lark Voorhies, and Tiffani Thiessen as well, bringing the gang back together again.

Here is the trailer:

Saved by the Bell season 2 has a lot of improvements to make from the first season, but does it finally find its own identity while balancing in some welcomed nostalgia for original fans of the series? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Nice to see the gang back together again.

Lisa is back in season two and we get to see more of Zack and Kelly as well this season, which was really nice to see. We rekindle some old flames, allow them to find their own lives away from high school (at least for the most part) and we even get to witness a moving tribute.

I loved all of the nostalgia once again and I thought that the references no longer felt as forced as they did in the first season. I also loved that the cast wasn’t afraid to make fun of themselves and even commented on some of the plot holes from the original series and some of their career choices later on in real life. Well played!

Stand-out character: Slater had me laughing through every episode!

Genuinely funny this time around!

One of my biggest complaints with the first season of the reboot was that the humor did not really land and it was almost painful to watch at times because of this. Season two makes a drastic change and finds its own identity with enjoyable humor. Sure, some things still feel over-the-top and silly, but that doesn’t stray too far from the original series.

I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of the episodes this time around and I also finally started to connect to the new group of characters. They got their time to shine in a good way!

The Cons:

Discusses the pandemic in a weird way…

I know that a lot of shows are trying to include the pandemic to be relevant in today’s world, but it felt really odd and forced. Some shows have been really successful with this. For example, I thought that the final season of Shameless really nailed it but Saved by the Bell could have benefited from leaving this out because it just felt out of place and awkward.

Sure, the kids are back to school after being remote for a year, but no one is wearing a mask and it just seemed like a passing thought to mention that they have been apart for a while when they could have easily just been on summer break or something.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I was on the fence about this reboot in season one, but I really enjoyed my watch of season two. There were some fantastic stand-out episodes and I think that the series finally found its identity without relying too much on the original cast members.

I thought the transitions to the original characters worked for the most part and we got a really great balance this time around!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Saved By the Bell season two 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 “Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows” on Nickelodeon: Season Two of the Revival Is Off to a Spooky Start

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

“Once you’ve been cursed, the Shadowman will come for you…”

Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows premiered on Nickelodeon on February 12th 2021. There will be six episodes in total that will air weekly. The series stars Bryce Gheisar, Malia Baker, Beatrice Kitsos, and Dominic Mariche. Each episode runs for approximately 50 minutes.

Based on the original Are You Afraid of the Dark? series that aired in the 1990’s, this revival is now on its second season. Only we get a new cast, a new location, and an entirely new mystery. The Midnight Society is ready for the case when their leader goes missing, but they may have inherited a dangerous curse in the process.

Here is the trailer:

Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows lures us in right away with an intriguing mystery and a scary villain that may actually give you some nightmares. It seems like season two has effectively found its own voice while bringing us some welcomed nostalgia along the way. Does season two do enough to keep us coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

Jumps right into the mystery.

While I enjoyed season one of the revival, there was a lot of set-up and fluff centered around the new stranger joining the Midnight Society and what that actually was. Thankfully, we skip all of that in season two and get off to a quick and chilling start.

While I’m still warming up to the new Midnight Society, I think that this was a wise decision and this anthology approach could actually allow this show to branch out even further in the future.

Welcomed nostalgia.

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

If you are a fan of the original series, then you will be pleased with season two’s efforts to pay the show some real tribute. The character of Sardo is back in the revival. While he is played by a different actor, this character is the owner of the Magic Mansion and his presence is livening up the show for sure.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

Watered down scares.

I wouldn’t say that this is necessarily a con, but this is a kids horror show and some of the scares and effects are a little cheesy. That being said, I think that the kids horror genre doesn’t get enough credit sometimes. The Shadowman is genuinely scary and there were quite a few moments that had me on the edge of my seat.

If you are looking for something truly scary, you won’t get that here, but as long as you manage your expectations, you will be pleasantly surprised.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Nickelodeon

I’m in!

This show is a lot of fun and it presented us with a spooky mystery right away without too much set-up. I’m intrigued to find out more and I may be looking over my shoulder if the Shadowman appears…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows 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 new 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 Babysitter: Killer Queen” on Netflix: They’re Back

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

“Join us and be the best version of yourself…”

The Babysitter: Killer Queen is the sequel to the brilliant horror comedy, The Babysitter, which starred Samara Weaving. The sequel was released on Netflix on September 10th 2020 and runs for an hour and forty-five minutes. It stars Judah Lewis, Emily Alyn Lind, Jenna Ortega, Bella Thorne, and Robbie Amell.

In the sequel, we catch up with Cole approximately two years after that fateful night when his babysitter and her demonic cult friends tried to have him sacrificed to the devil.

Here is the trailer:

The Babysitter: Killer Queen has a difficult job, as it is tasked with keeping up with the original film, which was just pure horror comedy fun. The sequel lacks the presence of Samara Weaving as its lead, which does give other supporting characters the chance to step into the spotlight. But does it measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Our favorite characters return!

Well, we are missing one key character, but I have to say that it was a lot of fun to see our favorite demonic cult misfits return from the dead. Sonya is back with cookies, Allison explains the difference between “fuck-me pumps” and “fuck-you pumps,” John shows off his dance moves, and Max just wants to kill people and is actually really psyched to see Cole showing some improvements since he was last here.

The humor and chemistry between these characters is pure magic. More please!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Jenna Ortega steals the show.

If you’re like me, then you may be worried that the film is missing something without Samara Weaving, but luckily Jenna Ortega steps in perfectly as the character to root for. New girl, Phoebe, is bad-ass and then some. She really gave quite the performance and I have to say that I actually preferred her to Cole.

He could really learn a thing or two from her…and perhaps he will. I loved Jenna Ortega in You season 2 and I am looking forward to seeing her in Scream 5, but she definitely delivered in this film.

A satisfying ending.

There will be no spoilers in this review, but let’s just say that you will definitely want to stick around for the end. A lot is revealed and it actually helped turn the film around for me.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Too much set-up and way too long.

The first film ran for about 85 minutes, which was the perfect length. We got a little set-up in the beginning and then we were thrown into the heart of the movie rather quickly, which kept up the fun and pace. In the sequel, the movie really drags and is much too long. We get a lot of set-up about Cole’s life in the beginning which I could have personally done without.

Flashy over-the-top scenes.

Even though the kills were outrageous in the first film, they somehow felt more raw and believable. The kills and effects in this film were way over-the-top and just felt silly at times. The magic from the first film was absent in a lot of scenes, but there were some flickers of it here and there.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m about 50/50 on this one.

I absolutely adored the first film and I had high hopes for the sequel, but it felt like the same plot in a different setting for the majority of the movie. There wasn’t anything really original about the film, but it did have its charms. While not all of the humor landed, there were some parts that were genuinely funny and I loved the chemistry between the characters.

The ending helped make this film a lot more enjoyable, but not every film should get a sequel…

That being said, there are glimmers of fun and nostalgia in this film and I think that it is worthy of a watch if you are a fan of the first film.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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