Spoiler-Free Review of “Sanctuary” on Demand: Margaret Qualley is Flawless

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

“I know everything about you…”

Sanctuary released in limited theaters on May 19th 2023 and is now currently available to stream on demand as of June 20th 2023. The erotic-psychological thriller film stars Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-seven minutes.

After taking over his father’s business, Hal attempts to end his relationship with a dominatrix named Rebecca, but an argument between them escalates into a battle for true control.

Here is the trailer:

Sanctuary is unique and dangerous in an unconventional way featuring an exceptionally brilliant performance by its leading lady. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Margaret Qualley shines!

Wow she was absolutely breathtaking in this film! Her performance was unhinged and electric in all the right ways. She stole the film and then some. I loved the different take on the cat-and-mouse formula. This is one of those films that could fail miserably without strong performances and she made sure that wouldn’t happen. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She was that good!

A unique concept.

At one point Hal talks about how this isn’t the 90’s and in a lot of ways, this film reminded me of those dark and steamy guilty pleasure thrillers from that decade. I actually love those erotic thrillers and I thought this film did a great job of honoring that genre while still carving its way into the new generation with provocative and sometimes extreme content that wasn’t afraid to reach new limits.

I’m all for a film trying something new and different and I applaud the effort and execution.

The Cons:

Trippy camera effects.

I liked the overall visual feel of the film and I think it complimented the subject matter well, but some of the chaotic camera movements felt unnatural and slightly distracting. I was very focused on what was transpiring between these two characters so these camera enhancements seemed unnecessary, but I think that comes down to preference.

There were some pacing issues throughout the film and I had mixed thoughts on the ending. It was perfectly fine, but I guess I was looking for something a slight more shocking since there was so much built up before this. I’m sure viewers will have mixed views on this, however.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

I’m in for Margaret Qualley and I appreciate that this film tried to do something different and edgy, but the pacing needed some work and I guess I wanted a little bit more of an explosive ending to really seal the deal.

Keep in mind that this is not your average thriller. It takes a different approach that may seem like a simple conversation at times between two parties, but it does branch out into some moments of pure brilliance worth experiencing.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Sanctuary 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 “Swarm” on Prime Video: A Disturbing Watch…

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

“Who’s your favorite artist?”

Swarm released on Prime Video on March 17th 2023 with seven episodes available to stream now. The psychological-thriller series stars Dominique Fishback, Chloe Bailey, and Damson Idris. Each episode runs for approximately 30-35 minutes.

An obsessed fan goes on a violent killing spree while trying to get close to her favorite artist.

Here is the trailer:

Swarm is eerie and dark filled with truly disturbing moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A terrifying premise…

Part of the reason why this show was so disturbing was because we kept getting a reminder at the beginning of each episode that this is not a work of fiction. It is based on a series of real events, which makes what we witness on screen that much more horrifying.

There were some genuinely shocking moments that had me on the edge of my seat and by the time I got to the end, I still felt uneasy about what I had just witnessed.

The vignette style worked.

The episodes were on the short side and I actually really liked that we got a vignette approach as Dre traveled to different states across a period of time. I think that it would have been more of an exhausting watch if it didn’t take this approach. It broke things up for me and allowed us to see some fun guest stars as well.

The Cons:

A boring main character…

I’ve watched plenty of shows centering around a serial killer and while the actions were dark and distressing, the person doing them was often uninspiring to watch. I think I needed some more layers for her even though we got a few and a hint of a possible personality would have helped…

This just made the pacing feel incredibly slow at times until we got to the end of each episode and witnessed another shocking moment.

The order of episodes felt odd as well. By the time you reach episode 6, you’ll get a completely different feel and approach, which was perfectly fine. Episode 6 was actually my favorite one, but then we went back to the main story-line for the final episode and I no longer felt pulled in for the very end. The transition felt disjointed and forced.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Obsession takes a dark turn in this chilling thriller.

I mostly enjoyed my watch, but I wanted more from our main character, which would have elevated this series that much more.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Swarm 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 “Inside” (2023) in Theaters: Willem Dafoe is Insanely Brilliant

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

“Art is for keeps…”

Inside (2023) released in theaters on March 17th 2023. The psychological-survival thriller film stars Willem Dafoe. It runs for an hour and forty-five minutes.

An art thief gets trapped inside a luxury penthouse with nothing but priceless pieces of art as he must figure out a way to survive.

Here is the trailer:

Inside features a captivating performance by Willem Dafoe in a simple, but chilling thriller. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fantastic performance!

I don’t think that ANYONE else could have played this part to perfection other than Willem Dafoe. It’s like he was made for this role. Even in the quietest moments of the film, he was so magnetic and fantastic on screen. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him and was so blown away by his performance.

He has such a talent for revealing raving mad energy in the best way possible.

Thrilling in an unconventional way.

I didn’t really know what to expect with this one, but I was surprised by how interested I was in such a lackluster setting. Sure, the actual penthouse was stunning to look at, but there’s not too much going on and yet I still couldn’t look away from the screen because these simple dilemmas were much more terrifying to me than something extreme and ridiculous.

The Cons:

Pacing issues at times…

This film had an overall slow feel, but luckily Willem Dafoe elevated it, especially when he actually started talking…

If you’re looking for lots of thrills and action, this is not your type of movie. I’m not sure that this film is for everyone and that’s OK, but I think you should manage your expectations accordingly.

Some things seemed a little unrealistic to me and had me scratching my head, but I just went with it.

There were also some gross scenes to sit through so be aware of that…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

A unique thriller featuring a chilling and intense performance!

This film was far from your average thriller and it really held my attention up until the very end. It had me thinking about it well after the film was over as well.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Inside (2023) 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 “Don’t Worry Darling” in Theaters: Florence Pugh is Perfection!

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

“What are we doing…changing the world…”

Don’t Worry Darling released in theaters on September 23rd 2022. Directed by Olivia Wilde, the psychological thriller film stars Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pine, and Gemma Chan. It runs for a little over two hours.

A 1950’s housewife has a picture-perfect life with her husband in a utopian community, but soon starts to realize that there may be dark secrets lurking beneath the surface, as she begins to question everything and everyone around her.

Here is the trailer:

Don’t Worry Darling is stunning to watch on screen with a fantastic cast and intriguing mystery at its core. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Gorgeous cinematography and fashion.

This film was so bright and vibrant, creating so many beautiful images to swoon over. Florence Pugh’s wardrobe was absolutely breathtaking and I felt completely transported into another world with each new scene.

My favorite performance by Florence Pugh!

Wow, she was so incredible in this movie. I was completely captivated by her character and I thought she portrayed everything in such a convincing way, reeling me in more and more. I was able to forgive some of the plot holes because of her stellar performance. She is on another level!

Channels Sylvia Plath and Charlotte Perkins Gilman in a modern and effective way!

There were some obvious nods at both of these authors, bringing the theme of female hysteria to light once again with a more modern approach. I’m seeing this theme pop up again more and more with series like Shining Vale (starring Courteney Cox) and now with Don’t Worry Darling.

As the major reveal unfolded, I was actually really impressed by how well this was executed.

The Cons:

So many unanswered questions…

I was totally fine with a lot of elements in this film, including the ambiguous ending, but when the movie finished, I was left with way too many unanswered questions. A LOT was not explained. I appreciate that this movie was not longer than it needed to be, but I was confused by a lot and slightly frustrated that certain things were never addressed again…

That being said, this film had so many positive qualities and I still enjoyed it, but this film could have reached utter perfection if it would have taken the time to flesh everything out properly.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Clever and intriguing with an extraordinary performance by Florence Pugh, pulling the audience into a bright, stylistic world with dark elements threatening its existence in a satisfying way.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Don’t Worry Darling in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

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 rule…they 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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Patient” on Hulu: A Simple, but Effective Thriller Series

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

“How can I help you?”

The Patient released on Hulu on August 30th 2022 with its first two episodes. The psychological thriller series will have ten episodes in total that will air weekly. It stars Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson. Each episode runs for approximately 23-25 minutes.

A therapist named Dr. Strauss is dealing with the loss of his wife when he meets an odd new patient who decides to hold him hostage while sorting out his issues with being a serial killer.

Here is the trailer:

The Patient doesn’t waste any time as it starts off in a startling and chilling way, reeling us into the therapy session from hell. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Unique cat-and-mouse premise.

I really like the concept for this one and I’m excited to see where it goes. I appreciated that we didn’t waste too much time on exhausting set-up. Rather, we started off with a bang and then added in the layers as we went along. The formula may seem simple, but it’s working so far and really luring me in.

Shorter episodes.

So far the episodes are just under a half hour, which will make this one very easy to watch each week (similar to OMITB). The content is heavier, but there is still some dry sarcasm to keep things from becoming too overdone. There is a good dynamic between the main characters and already a cliffhanger to ponder over.

The Cons:

Weekly episodes…

This isn’t necessarily a huge con, but sometimes I have a difficult time keeping up with shows that air weekly. I am really intrigued by this one and I think it could have been binge-watch worthy, but I’ll have to wait each week to see how things unfold…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!!!!

These bite-sized episodes are filled with lots of interesting and thrilling moments. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “They/Them” on Peacock: Kevin Bacon is the Leader of an Unsettling Conversion Camp

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

“This is a safe space for everyone…”

They/Them is a horror film that released on August 5th 2022 on Peacock. The film stars Kevin Bacon, Theo Germaine, Anna Chlumsky, Anna Lore, and Carrie Preston. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-four minutes.

A group of teens at a LGBTQ+ conversion camp undergo unsettling forms of “therapy” while a masked killer hunts them down one by one.

Here is the trailer:

They/Them has the potential to lure us in with some slasher fun, but it steers off into several different directions along the way. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Fun cast.

It was great to see Kevin Bacon in this film and it definitely gave me some Friday the 13th vibes at first with the setting. I have to say that I am loving his gray hair and his twisted charisma made him one to watch out for.

There were some other familiar faces and I also really liked a lot of the newcomers, especially Theo Germaine. Overall, the performances were decent in this one.

Strong start.

I really liked the premise of this film and I thought it had a lot of potential from watching the trailer. The opening scene was actually really terrifying and I thought it nailed the slasher vibe I was looking for. There were also a lot of worthy creepy moments throughout the beginning before we experienced the actual reveals.

The Cons:

Tries to do too much…

The film switched genres quite a few times and was really more of a psychological thriller. I actually forgot about the masked killer until we got toward the end of the movie and by then, it didn’t give me the satisfying ending I was looking for. We had so much potential with these characters and I really wanted this film to go in a different direction. I personally think it tried to do way too much and the execution and pacing suffered as a result of this.

There was also one scene I could have really done without. If you’re concerned about a certain character, I recommend that you skip past one particular part involving target practice. You’ll know it when you get to it.

So am I in or out?

I’m 50/50 on this one…

There were some unsettling moments in this film and a decent cast, but it never fully captured the slasher vibe I was looking for.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on They/Them 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 Aviary” on Demand: Eerie Psychological Thriller

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

“Do you want to die out here?”

The Aviary premiered in theaters and on demand on April 29th 2022. The psychological thriller film stars Malin Akerman and Lorenza Izzo. It runs for an hour and thirty-five minutes.

Two women flee into the New Mexican desert to escape a cult, but are terrorized by a familiar presence during their quest for survival.

Here is the trailer:

The Aviary takes a simple, but effective approach to a cult psychological thriller, luring us in with stunning performances and slow burn reveals that are beyond terrifying. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The simple approach works.

I really love survival horror films along with psychological thrillers and this film had a good blend of both. This was clearly a low budget film, but the simple approach just worked. The circumstances were terrifying enough to keep us invested even though there was not a lot going on at times.

Incredible performances.

The film really centers around two characters for the majority of the movie and I thought that both actresses were incredible. This film would not have had such an impact without their performances. The slow burn reveals were that much more terrifying because of their reactions.

I also thought there were some interesting messages embedded into some of the themes here that were worth exploring. Every piece of the puzzle added to the main question haunting this movie.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

The Aviary is eerie and terrifying on so many different levels, exploring some horrifying themes while presenting us with two amazing performances that were so haunting and compelling. Although it took a little bit of time to get to the major reveals, the slow burn approach worked for the most part.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Aviary (2022) 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 “Hypnotic” on Netflix: Kate Siegel is beyond Intense!

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

“Everyone needs therapy…”

Hypnotic released on October 27th 2021 on Netflix. The psychological thriller stars Kate Siegel, Jason O’Mara, Lucie Guest and Dulé Hill. The film runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A troubled woman seeks out help from a hypnotherapist, but things become dangerous when she begins losing pieces of time, endangering those around her.

Here is the trailer:

Hypnotic has an unsettling premise that may have you rethinking your next therapy session, but does Kate Siegel do enough to make this film worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Kate Siegel’s portrayal is incredible.

I am already a huge fan of hers. She has been in some of my favorite shows and films like The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and Hush. She can honestly do no wrong for me and she really brings such a believable and genuine quality to her work. Her character is broken in a lot of ways, but you automatically find yourself rooting for her against all odds. There is just something magnetic about her on screen and this film is no exception.

Horrifying premise.

I don’t know about you, but the films that scare me the most are the ones that are based in some element of potential truth or reality. This film really made my skin crawl when I thought about how dangerous suggestion and hypnosis can be in the wrong hands. The idea of losing control to someone else creates an entirely new set of fears as we witness what it takes to win back that control even when it seems hopeless.

The Cons:

Plays it safe…

This movie was really predictable. It had more of a B movie feel throughout it and there were no real surprises. I think this movie could have benefited from a major shock or reveal but it was still entertaining for me and easily fell into the guilty-pleasure thriller genre that I adore so much.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

Kate Siegel really elevated this movie for me. She captured my attention the entire time and I thought that the premise was a chilling one.

If you enjoy guilty-pleasure thrillers, you will like this one as long as you manage your expectations.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Hypnotic 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 “Fear of Rain” on Hulu: Disturbia meets Unsane

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

“There was a man chasing me…”

Fear of Rain originally released back in February 2021 but it is now available to stream on Hulu. The psychological thriller film stars Madison Iseman, Katherine Heigl, Israel Broussard, and Harry Connick Jr. It is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes long.

A young girl named Rain is dealing with schizophrenia, which causes her to have violent and vivid hallucinations. After returning home from the hospital, she meets a boy named Caleb and teams up with him to spy on her neighbor, who she suspects may have kidnapped a young girl. Rain struggles with what is real as everyone around her begins to doubt her, but she refuses to stop until she uncovers the truth.

Here is the trailer:

Fear of Rain has a very familiar plot, but it does have a great cast and some edge-of-your-seat moments to keep you guessing. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Solid performances.

Madison Iseman was wonderful in the new Jumanji movies and I am really excited that she is going to be starring in the I Know What You Did Last Summer series coming out in October. This was my opportunity to witness her test out her horror/thriller skills and she did a great job and was very believable.

I also loved seeing Happy Death Day’s Israel Broussard in this film. I think he may get typecast for being the charming nerd who takes care of erratic blonde girls, but if it works, it works.

Decent twists and reveals.

I was genuinely surprised by some of the twists and reveals. This is one of those movies where you almost have to take the gamble to see if the pay-off is worth it in the end. For me, it was and while some things were predictable, others threw me off guard completely which is a good thing.

The Cons:

Campy special effects…

This film decided to tackle mental illnesses and while some of the hallucinations and dreams worked, others did not translate well. I thought they were cheesy and over-the-top and it took away some of the edge of this film, which was thrilling without all of this thrown in.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I’ve seen this type of movie before but I genuinely like psychological thrillers with creepy neighbors. The formula just works somehow. I thought that the cast did enough to keep me invested and there were some reveals sprinkled in that threw me for a loop. If you enjoy films like Unsane and Disturbia, you will enjoy this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fear of Rain 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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