Tag: orphan

Spoiler-Free Review of “Orphan: First Kill” on Paramount+: A Bloody Entertaining Prequel

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

“She is an exceptional con artist…”

Orphan: First Kill released in theaters and on Paramount+ on August 19th 2022. The horror film stars Isabelle Fuhrman, Julia Stiles, Matthew Finlan, and Rossif Sutherland. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-eight minutes.

In the prequel to the fantastic film, Orphan (2009), we discover what happened to Esther when she first traveled to America to impersonate the missing daughter of a wealthy family.

Here is the trailer:

Orphan: First Kill tells an origin story that is bloody and brutal, reminding us just how twisted Esther can be. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

All hail Isabelle Fuhrman!

She was absolutely fantastic in the original film (which I re-watched last weekend) and she was EXCEPTIONAL in the prequel. It couldn’t have been easy for her to reprise this role so many years later and there were some workarounds behind the scenes to execute this seamlessly, but I thought she was magnetic on screen and so twisted!

Julia Stiles was really great too and I’m so glad I am seeing her in more stuff lately. If you haven’t checked out The Lake on Prime yet, she’s very entertaining in that one too. I’ve missed her and I thought she was so much fun to watch in this one! 

 
Images courtesy of Paramount+

Bloodier this time around!

The opening scene was out of this world and I loved that this film felt more bloody and violent. I really enjoyed the first film, but it mostly built up around that intense twist. This one really allowed Esther to shine in such a diabolical way and it really worked, making this a fantastic prequel.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

The twist didn’t have the same punch…

Don’t get me wrong, it was a solid twist and I really thought that the writers made a valiant effort with it to keep us entertained and invested. I liked it and thought it worked just fine, but I don’t think that anything could have measured up to the twist in the first film, which almost caused me to fall out of my seat in shock.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m in!!!

Esther is back and better than ever in this clever and twisted prequel!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Orphan: First Kill 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 “The Queen’s Gambit” on Netflix: Your Move

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

“Chess isn’t the only thing in life…”

The Queen’s Gambit is a limited series that premiered on Netflix on October 23rd 2020 with seven episodes. The series stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Harry Melling, Moses Ingram, and Marielle Heller. Each episode is approximately 50-60 minutes in length.

Based on the 1983 novel of the same name, The Queen’s Gambit follows the journey of chess prodigy orphan, Beth Harmon, who embarks on a quest to be the world’s greatest chess player. Over the years, Beth deals with addiction and grief while struggling to prove her worth in the male dominated game to earn her rightful place. The series takes place during the 1960’s.

Here is the trailer:

The Queen’s Gambit has so many defining layers that draw you into this world immediately. While female empowerment automatically comes to mind, the story that is told extends well beyond that, reminding us that even those of us with extraordinary talents can damage everything with the choices we make.

The Queen’s Gambit is filled with aesthetic appeal, a talented cast, and an inspiring story, but is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Queen's Gambit Anya Taylor-Joy

Images courtesy of Netflix

Anya Taylor-Joy is perfection.

I was already a fan of hers, but she blew me away in her portrayal of Beth Harmon. She was magnetic on screen and so convincing down to the tiniest detail. Her wardrobe was fantastic and her emotions were so raw and convincing. I think she absolutely deserves some awards in the future for this role.

A story that pulls you in from the very start.

I didn’t immediately add this show to my watch-list and it’s not normally something that I would select on my own. However, I am beyond thrilled that I took this recommendation and I quickly found myself lost in the story.

There’s something about this story that transcends its premise. It has a lot of heart and inspiration embedded in its core, but it also doesn’t hold back when it comes to the mistakes and hardships either, which made me connect to it even more.

The Queen's Gambit addiction

Images courtesy of Netflix

Important lessons that really strike a chord.

While I loved the female empowerment elements in this series, I thought that the struggle with addiction was even more vital. Spiraling out of control into addiction isn’t usually defined in one moment. It’s slow and develops over time. Perhaps it stems from a past event or something beyond our control, but when it starts to cripple and destroy the extraordinary talent that so many of us would love to covet, it’s absolutely heartbreaking to witness.

The series could have really hit us over the head with a lot of this and I thought that its approach was simple, but effective. I think that there were a lot of really important messages throughout this series that should not be ignored and when we talk about overcoming something in life, we are the only ones with the power to change it.

The Cons:

The Queen's Gambit Cons

Images courtesy of Netflix

I don’t have a single con to mention…check.

So am I in or out?

The Queen's Gambit Netflix

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 1000 percent! Checkmate!

I honestly went into this show without knowing what to expect. I thought that it might be somewhat interesting, but I was worried that I would lose interest quickly. Well, I was completely wrong and I am so glad that I started watching this show.

It was one of the best shows I have watched all year and it truly resonated with me. I recommend that you move this to the top of your watch-list even if it doesn’t seem like your cup of tea…trust me, you’ll love it!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Girl Number Thirteen Lurking Promo

 

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 new supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen releases on November 12th 2020! Available for pre-order! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

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