Tag: Paramount+

Spoiler-Free Review of “School Spirits” on Paramount+: A Charming YA Supernatural Mystery

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

“Welcome to the club…”

School Spirits released on March 9th 2023 on Paramount+ with the first three episodes available to stream now. The remaining five episodes will air weekly. The YA supernatural mystery series stars Peyton List, Kiara Pichardo, Kristian Flores, and Spencer MacPherson. Each episode runs for approximately 44-48 minutes.

Maddie winds up stuck in limbo in her high school as she attempts to investigate her own mysterious disappearance with the help of other ghosts who reside there.

Here is the trailer:

School Spirits is a delightful mix of Ghosts and Nancy Drew with a mystery that really pulls you in. Is this YA series worth your time? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Light and fun.

This series could have easily overdone it with teen drama and excess fluff, but it already managed to find the perfect balance of mystery and fun from the very start, which is not always easy to do. 

The show is filled with likable characters and I really like Maddie, which has kept me more invested in the mystery revolving around her own disappearance.

The episodes aren’t super long and the pacing has been on point for the most part, knowing just how to hook the audience at the end of each episode, reeling us back in for more.

Images courtesy of Paramount+

A solid mystery.

Sure, it may not be that original, but I’m already forming my own list of suspects and I really want to know what happened to Maddie. The time jumps were a little jarring at first, but I started to get used to them as the series progressed, giving us more clues to ponder over. I’m hoping for a shocking reveal, but it’s too early to tell how this mystery will unfold. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Weekly episodes…

I watched the first three episodes in one sitting and was ready for more, but we’ll have to wait for the rest of the episodes to release each week, which is a bummer. This is one of those shows where you get really wrapped up in the story so I’m just afraid that viewers may forget to tune back in or could lose interest without the binge-watching option available. You may be better off waiting until all the episodes drop before watching this one…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m in!!!

School Spirits has a super cute premise and a charming cast with an addicting mystery at its core.

This series has been a pleasant surprise so far and I can’t wait to watch more episodes!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on School Spirits 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 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 “Wolf Pack” on Paramount+: Queen SMG is back on the small screen!

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

“The worst is over…”

Wolf Pack released on January 26th 2023 with its premiere episode. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The supernatural YA series (from the creator of Teen Wolf) stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rodrigo Santoro, Bella Shepard, and Armani Jackson. Each episodes is approximately 44-52 minutes.

After a wildfire in California, a supernatural creature emerges, changing the lives of a teenage girl and boy.

Here is the trailer:

Wolf Pack brings Sarah Michelle Gellar back to the supernatural world, but is there enough content here? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Solid opening.

I was expecting a whole bunch of fluff and introductory garbage since this is a YA supernatural drama, but I was pleasantly surprised by how this show actually opened. It started off with a bang and I absolutely loved it. 

The show needs to channel this vibe for the remainder of the episodes because I absolutely loved the pacing. More please!

Images courtesy of Paramount+

The Queen returns!

Well, in this show she’s an arson specialist investigating the fire, but I’ll take it! Anything to get Sarah Michelle Gellar back on the small screen. She is the MAIN reason why I tuned into this one and even though we didn’t get to see her too much in the premiere episode, I’m looking forward to exploring her new character.

So excited!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Needs more bite…

The opening really packed a punch, but the rest of the premiere episode calmed down after that. I enjoyed it, but it needs to be careful about depending too heavily on YA tropes. I want to keep watching this one, but I hope it gives us more of an edge soon.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m in about 75 percent…

It’s safe to say that I’ll be sticking around for Sarah Michelle Gellar, but I’m also hoping that this series tips over toward the dark side, stripping away some of the tropes we typically see on The CW series and even Teen Wolf. I think it has a lot of potential, but let’s hope the fire doesn’t fizzle out on this one. 

Fingers crossed!

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

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 “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…

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! 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 “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!

**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 “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin” on Paramount+: Found Footage Folk Horror

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

“She’s still here…”

Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin premiered on October 29th 2021 and is currently available to stream on Paramount+. The found footage horror film stars Emily Bader, Roland Buck III and Dan Lippert. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-eight minutes.

Abandoned as a baby, a young woman named Margot discovers that she has relatives living in an Amish community, prompting her to create a documentary film to learn more about her secretive family.

Here is the trailer:

Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin attempts to continue the popular franchise with a new story, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Leads up to real moments of intensity…

The last part of the film is actually really intense and I couldn’t stop watching. I witnessed a lot of terrifying moments and I thought that this was probably the most frightening entry in the franchise. There was this slow burn build up that really paid off in the end and my heart is still pounding.

Solid performances.

Usually I’m not really blown away by the actors in these movies but I actually thought the cast did a decent job with this one. The characters could have used some more development other than Margot, but I thought they were believable, which helped me invest in them and care about their well-being.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Paramount+

Takes a while to get going…

I was intrigued at first, but then things started to really drag for the majority of the movie. The ending saved it in a lot of ways, but I think this film could have cut out a lot to keep up the pacing.

Silly jump scares.

The first half of the movie also threw in silly jump scares in addition to the dizzy found footage camera approach, which didn’t do the film any favors. I actually really liked the folk horror vibe and I didn’t even mind that the film had nothing to do with the other entries because I thought it was a decent enough story on its own. Perhaps it didn’t really need the Paranormal Activity name…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Paramount+

I’m in about 75 percent…

This film was a lot better than I thought it was going to be and I think it managed to branch out into its own story so that it didn’t seem stale or overdone. The pacing needed some work and a lot of the gimmicks were unnecessary, but that ending was edge-of-your-seat intense!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin 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 “Ghosts” on CBS: The Dead are Delightful

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

“Haunting is hard…”

Ghosts released on October 7th 2021 on CBS and Paramount+. Episodes will air weekly. The sitcom series is a remake of the BBC series of the same name. It stars Rose McIver, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Richie Moriarty, Brandon Scott Jones, Sheila Carrasco, and Danielle Pinnock. Each episode runs for approximately 24-26 minutes.

A young couple inherit a home in the country only to discover that it is in need of repair and inhabited by a bunch of ghosts.

Here is the trailer:

Ghosts may be the perfect choice for wholesome fans of the spooky season, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Ghosts Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of CBS

Charming premise.

This show is a nice little escape. It’s actually funny and really cute. The interactions between all of the characters work nicely and I found myself smiling the entire time I was watching this. If you like the original series or What We Do In The Shadows, you will find yourself right at home with this one.

Ghosts Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of CBS

Rose McIver shines.

It was truly fantastic watching iZombie’s Rose McIver on our television screens once again. She brings a quirky energy to the show and really lights up the screen. I think the rest of the characters have a lot of potential too and this is really more of an ensemble show so I’m curious to witness more interactions between everyone.

The Cons:

Ghosts Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of CBS

In the shadow of its predecessor.

So far the show is following the same formula as the original series, but I’m hoping that the show can branch out and find its own unique identity. This could be a bit of a challenge especially since the original series has its episodes available to stream on HBO Max. I think that we have a lot of potential here, but I’d also like to see a bit more edge or horror comedy thrown in.

The wholesome vibe is working, but it could get old really fast…

So am I in or out?

Ghosts Spoiler Free 4

Images courtesy of CBS

I’m in!

This show was a wonderful treat. It really has a charming quality to it and I’m excited to tune in weekly. I think that as long as the show finds its own separate identity and a bit of an edge, it will become even more enjoyable to watch.

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