Tag: psychological

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Passenger” on Demand: Kyle Gallner is Absolutely Brilliant in this Gripping Horror-Thriller

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

“You should stop now…”

The Passenger (2023) released on Demand on August 4th 2023. The horror-thriller film stars Kyle Gallner, Johnny Berchtold, and Liza Weil. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

Randy is used to living each day unnoticed at his job, but when one of his co-workers goes on a violent rampage, he must confront his past and figure out a way to stay alive.

Here is the trailer:

The Passenger is captivating and brutal, taking a dark and realistic look into actions that can alter our lives permanently. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

All hail our Scream King…

Kyle Gallner doesn’t get enough credit. He is one of the most versatile actors around and has appeared in plenty of horror flicks over the years. This may be my favorite role by him yet. He was charismatic, unfiltered, and deranged in such a compelling way. He really showed off so much range in this film.

I wouldn’t say that he was a character to root for given the circumstances, but he lit up the screen and made this film what it was. 

One of the most powerful performances I witnessed all year. Wow…

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

A horror deep rooted in reality…

These are the horror films that stick with me the most. The ones that could happen on any given day. They’re terrifying because they are so random and visceral, reminding you that you can’t ever know what’s going on inside of someone else.

I really loved the way this film analyzed how actions (intentional or not) can impact others in so many different ways. They can motivate us to be stronger or they can damage our moral compass permanently. And then there’s the most common way that past actions and trauma can impact us…through non-action…merely allowing things to just happen.

This film explored so many interesting psychological elements, taking us on an unconventional road trip of self-discovery under dire circumstances.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

Not your average fast-paced thriller…

This film never felt slow or sluggish to me. But it wasn’t what I expected. If you’re looking for a thriller jam-packed with action, this isn’t that film. That being said, it branched off into something even more spectacular, which held my attention the entire time. Just be aware that this is a different kind of movie.

Also, it should be noted that some scenes depicting gun violence may be triggering for some.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Blumhouse

I’m in!

Kyle Gallner gives the performance of his career in this dark and consuming watch that will stick with you long after it’s over.

This film was not what I was expecting, but I was completely drawn in by it.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Passenger 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 “Evil” on CBS: Can another show about demonic possession survive?

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

Even though shows centered around demonic possession often have a lot of potential, they don’t always last that long.  Shows like Outcast and The Exorcist come to mind, which were dark, mysterious, and terrifying in a lot of ways, but yet they were canceled extremely early.  So can Evil pave the way and break the cancellation curse?  Let’s find out!

Evil is a psychological mystery drama series that premiered on CBS on September 26th 2019.  It stars Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, and Michael Emerson.

The show is scheduled to run weekly episodes, as it follows a non-believing psychologist named Kristen Bouchard, who accepts a second job working for a priest-in-training, David Acosta, examining potential possessions, miracles, and hauntings to determine if there is a logical explanation behind them or if they are truly witnessing something supernatural at work.

The Pros:

Evil CBS Pilot
Images courtesy of CBS

An amazing cast and interesting characters.

I absolutely love the chemistry between Kristen (Herbers) and David (Colter), who already seem to be compelling characters with many layers.  I think it works having a non-believer paired up with a believer and I expect to see a great dynamic continue between these two.

I am already a huge Michael Emerson fan (LOST, Person of Interest) and I am super excited that it looks like he will be set up as the nemesis for the series.  Emerson truly shines when he is playing the manipulative and well thought out villain and I think he can really do some damage here…in a good way!

Interesting mysteries with a premise that the audience can truly relate to.

The mysteries behind the potential supernatural occurrences are intriguing enough, but I think this show can truly stand out because it really dives into the man of science/man of faith debate, which I think is something we all look at whenever we examine something that can’t necessarily be explained at first glance.  This plot premise may be enough to allow this demonic possession to survive and it already has a lot of promising potential just from the pilot episode.

The Cons:

Evil CBS George
Images courtesy of CBS

I’m not sure if the show was trying to be funny or not?

Even though Kristen is a non-believer, she starts to encounter her own set of night terrors, but are they simply dreams or is there something evil lurking in her subconscious?  I’m not sure just yet, but some of these sequences seemed kind of silly and comical, but I’m not sure if that was the intention?  You’ll see what I mean when you get to them.

At times, the plot and backstory seemed slightly contrived.

Capturing your audience during the pilot episode is never easy for any show,  but at times, I felt like the plot and backstory were somewhat forced.  The characters are really interesting and I guess I just want to see their stories unfold naturally, but I’m only one episode in, so we will see if this improves over time.

So am I in or out? 

Evil Pilot CBS
Images courtesy of CBS

As of right now, I am slightly torn.  I think that the characters and plot are interesting enough to keep me invested for a while, but I also feel like this show can easily fall into the trap of the weekly mysteries without any compelling plot twist at its core.

I’m hoping that Michael Emerson’s role as the nemesis, Leland Townsend, can shake things up, but we shall see.  I guess I am in about 75 percent right now, but I am looking forward to watching more episodes and I think that this show has a lot of potential.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural?  Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery?  Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon!  Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well.  I really hope you enjoy!

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Do you love horror series?  Of course you do!  Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon.  It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!