Spoiler-Free Review of “Jakob’s Wife” on Shudder: Barbara Crampton is Bloody Fantastic

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

“He who loves his wife, loves himself…”

Jakob’s Wife originally premiered in April 2021, but it released on Shudder on August 19th 2021. The film stars Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, Sarah Lind, and DeVon Johnson. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

A pastor’s wife starts to change her behavior dramatically after an encounter with a dark presence in her small town, leading to a thirst for blood among other things.

Here is the trailer:

Jakob’s Wife has a horror legend and queen as its lead, telling a campy vampire story that has a message about female empowerment embedded in it. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Barbara Crampton shines on screen.

I am already a huge fan of the iconic and legendary Barbara Crampton, but wow did she flourish in this role. It’s hard not to root for her during the film. She gives us plenty of humor and charm while embracing the darkness that is controlling her in such a convincing way to make this an entertaining watch.

A story about female empowerment.

I’ve seen so many vampire films over the years and I thought that this particular one did a good job of presenting us with something original and unique. Even though we know we are going to be witnessing plenty of blood and gore along the way, there is a bigger message here.

Jakob’s wife, Anne, has lost her voice and identity in her marriage. People interrupt her when she talks and she barely recognizes the woman she used to be when she looks in the mirror. When she starts to transform into a vampire, she speaks up when she wants to and does things for herself. I really liked this angle and I thought it helped make the film stand out.

It still has a campy horror feel without ever becoming too heavy, but the message is there and it’s an important one.

The Cons:

The supporting characters lacked a little bit of magic…

I’m fine with just focusing on the wonderful Barbara Crampton, but I wanted a little bit more from our supporting characters. They were all just mostly filler for me and I didn’t invest any real time in them so it didn’t matter if any of them died throughout the film.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

The film is really campy and slightly outrageous at times, but it is an entertaining watch from start to finish and Barbara Crampton is absolutely wonderful in it. Seriously, she doesn’t age! As long as you don’t take the film too seriously, you will enjoy your watch and I think it has an important message at its core worth paying attention to.

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

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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!

Play if you dare…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” Part 1 on Netflix: Who has the power?

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

“I have the power!!!!!!!”

Masters of the Universe: Revelation is a continuation of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983). The new series premiered on July 23rd 2021 and was written by Kevin Smith. The show stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Lena Headey, Chris Wood, and Mark Hamill. There are five episodes in part 1 that run for approximately 25-28 minutes each.

The new series brings us back to the world of Eternia as He-Man and Skeletor face off once again.

Here is the trailer:

Masters of the Universe: Revelation seems like a dream come true for fans of the original series, but there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the new series. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

All star cast!

It’s no secret that I absolutely love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Game of Thrones so to discover that both Sarah Michelle Gellar (Teela) and Lena Headey (Evil-Lyn) were on the show was a dream come true. Plus, Mark Hamill is just fantastic with whatever comes his way!

Well placed humor.

Even though this is a reboot of sorts, this show is clearly meant for fans of the original series. I thought the dry humor was genius and I appreciated the fact that I was watching a show basically made for me and everyone else in my generation who grew up watching this show.

Supporting characters get to shine!

I am a fan of the original series. My brother and I are very close in age so we both watched He-Man and She-Ra growing up. She-Ra even came to my birthday party in the first grade!

I know all of the characters, but I always used to wonder more about some of the supporting characters and Kevin Smith really allowed them to reach their full potential in this new series.

I’d love a spin-off featuring Evil-Lyn though! As much as I loved SMG, Lena Headey was pure magic in this role!

The Cons:

Jarring first episode…

There will be no spoilers in this review, but I was completely shocked at the end of the first episode. This isn’t necessarily a con because I think it was a bold decision, but I guess it made me question what I was going to actually watch during this show. There have been many reactions to this and I find myself somewhere in the middle, but I was definitely thrown for a loop as well…

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I thoroughly enjoyed my watch of this series and I’m looking forward to part 2 after that major cliffhanger! This series brought me back to my childhood, but it also created something new and different and gave other characters a chance. It’s not often that we see a reboot that still speaks to the original audience and I think that this series accomplished that.

It wasn’t just about having “the power.” It was about finding out what that meant for each and every one of us.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Masters of the Universe: Revelation 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…

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!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Fear Street Part 1: 1994” on Netflix: 90’s Slasher Nostalgia

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

“It began as a prank and ended in murder…”

Fear Street Part 1: 1994 is a supernatural slasher film that premiered on July 2nd 2021 on Netflix. It is the first entry to the trilogy which will take place over the next three weeks. The film stars Olivia Welch, Kiana Madeira, Benjamin Flores Jr. and Maya Hawke. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

Inspired by the R.L. Stine book series, the first film follows a group of teens in the town of Shadyside as they face off against a supernatural presence that threatens to wreak havoc on their town.

Here is the trailer:

Fear Street Part 1: 1994 turns back time and reels us in with some iconic 90’s slasher nostalgia along with a killer soundtrack, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Don’t f*** with the original.

The opening of this film was really strong. It helped having Stranger Things fan favorite, Maya Hawke lighting up the screen in a B.Dalton bookstore, which brought back so many memories. This film definitely channeled Scream and even gave me some Blair Witch vibes as well, but it did it in a clever way. It didn’t feel like a cheesy rip-off. It felt like a tribute to some iconic 90’s horror and I hope this also helps introduce a younger audience to some of these great films.

It still pains me to hear things like “oh I didn’t know the Scream show was based on a movie.” (This really happened by the way).

90’s dream.

Remember when people used to actually call one another? I thought this time jump back to the 90’s was a lot of fun. Similar to shows like Little Fire Everywhere and Cruel Summer, Fear Street is jumping on the bandwagon and they delivered in a lot of ways.

I thought the soundtrack was amazing and the throwbacks were a lot of fun, but I thought the fashion could have used some work. Other than the opening scene, I didn’t see any real iconic pieces of 90’s fashion thrown into the mix.

In a lot of ways, this time jumping theme for Fear Street is kind of reminding me of American Horror Story: 1984 and in a good way. Both of these entries understood the time period and the movies they were channeling, but they also did a good job of creating something on their own.

I’m interested to see how they will approach the next era in the second film. Bring it on!

The Cons:

Where’s the chemistry?

This film earned a R rating and stepped away from Goosebumps. I’m all for a group of kids or teens facing off against an unspeakable horror, but I need to actually care about the characters. Fear Street needed to take a lesson from Stranger Things and even the new IT film. The chemistry and humor between the characters was lacking here.

There were a lot of scenes where we witnessed some melodrama that didn’t really translate well. I won’t call it Riverdale-esque because I actually like Riverdale, but it felt empty and uninspiring.

I loved Olivia Welch in Panic and all of the actors put forth a valiant effort, but I needed more. There were some moments sprinkled in, but I think any major character layers were glossed over and as much as I appreciated the LGBTQ relationship at the core, we needed more development to truly care about these characters.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

The film had a really strong opening and ending. It did enough at the end of the movie to reel me in for more and I’m anxious to see the other two parts connect with everything. Overall, this was an entertaining watch and I think as long as you manage your expectations and power through the unnecessary teen melodrama, you will enjoy the watch. Besides, you can always just tune them out and focus on the amazing soundtrack!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Fear Street Part 1: 1994 in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A HALLOWEEN THEY’LL NEVER FORGET…

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 new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Safer at Home” on Hulu: Excessive Gimmicks get in the way of True Thrills

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

“It could get worse before it gets better.”

Safer at Home is a horror thriller film that premiered on February 26th 2021. It is currently available to stream on Hulu. The film stars Jocelyn Hudon, Alisa Allapach, Dan Johnson, Adwin Brown and Emma Lahana. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-five minutes.

The film takes place during the pandemic as we learn that a mandatory quarantine is still in effect well into the year 2022. A group of friends get together on Zoom for some fun when a horrific event takes over the night.

Here is the trailer:

Safer at Home attempts to channel the horrific real world events going on while creating some isolating terror of its own. After watching Shudder’s Host, it seems like many other films are anxious to find their own groove using Zoom and technology, but is this particular film worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Some disturbing chills early on.

This movie follows films like Unfriended, Searching, and Host, with a found-footage technology centered approach. This may be wearing out its welcome now, but the initial shots were somewhat believable as these friends come together to catch up during the pandemic. The actors do the best they can with what they have and portray friendships and relationships worth investing in.

I thought there were actually some really intense moments when things escalated during the online party and the initial horrific event did grab my full attention.

The Cons:

Far-fetched nonsense.

This film had the potential to be really good. The initial horrific event had me on the edge of my seat and we had some moments of set-up that could have branched out into something truly extraordinary, but the movie took another route and it became far-fetched and ridiculous. It wasn’t scary anymore and it just felt sloppy.

Jam-packed with too much.

My other issue was this film was overstuffed with so much and it almost felt like they made a checklist of all of things going on in 2020 and checked them off as the film continued…

The ending was somewhat shocking, but I had almost completely tuned out by that point and it wasn’t enough to save this movie.

So am I in or out?

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

The opening of the film had some potential, but it quickly went off track and it failed to capture my attention. If you are looking for a similar premise that is actually terrifying, check out Host on Shudder instead.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Safer at Home 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 “Sailor Moon Eternal” on Netflix: In the Name of the Moon…

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

“Moon Cosmic Power, Make Up!”

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal: The Movie premiered in early 2021, but it is now officially available to stream on Netflix as of June 3rd 2021. The film/series is broken up into two parts. Each part runs for approximately an hour and twenty minutes.

Following the Dream arc of the manga series, Sailor Moon Eternal introduces us to the Dead Moon Circus after an eclipse emerges. The circus is filled with potential villains and dangers, as each of our favorite guardians go through a personal dream/nightmare that could have deadly consequences.

Can the guardians defeat the evil and their nightmares to save the world?

Here is the trailer:

Sailor Moon Eternal feels more like a new season rather than a film, but it manages to capture the 90’s nostalgia from the cartoon series that holds a very special place in my heart. Is the new film worthy of a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Captures the essence of the original series.

While there were mixed reactions about the Sailor Moon Crystal series that came out in 2014, the 90’s cartoon is one of the best things I have ever watched and when I look back on it, I realize it also probably created my love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There is a chosen one who must keep her identity a secret, a mysterious love interest, and a great balance of action, comedy, and drama sealed with a message of love and friendship.

The show is iconic and it’s difficult to get back to that level, but I thought that Sailor Moon Eternal felt very much like the original and I absolutely loved that.

Intriguing plot.

Also like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we channel some “Nightmares” and “Restless” vibes, as Sailor Moon and her friends each have to deal with a personal nightmare that comes to life. I thought that this helped me connect with each of the characters that much more and I was hooked by the familiar plot, which is usually pretty entertaining.

The Cons:

A lot to remember…

It’s been some time since I have watched Sailor Moon so there was a lot to remember. I started to piece things together, but you have to go into this movie knowing something about Sailor Moon or you will feel completely lost.

I’m not sure if this film will connect with a new audience, but I think that fans of the original will feel right at home.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

This movie brought me right back to the original series and I loved every minute of it. If you are a fan of Sailor Moon, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how well the new movie channels the nostalgia of the original series while still bringing in some new welcomed additions and elements.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Sailor Moon Eternal 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 comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Nevers” on HBO Max: Steampunk Buffy

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

“We’re meant to be as we are…”

The Nevers premiered on HBO and HBO Max on April 11th 2021. The series is set to air six weekly episodes for part one and then the remaining six episodes of part two will air at a later date. The series stars Laura Donnelly, Ann Skelly, Olivia Williams, and James Norton. Each episode runs for approximately 50-55 minutes.

The latest series created by Joss Whedon is set in Victorian times, following a group of women who are “touched” with special abilities. Our main characters run an orphanage and try and protect other women with these unique abilities from unknown threats in this fantasy steampunk-esque new world.

Here is the trailer:

The Nevers may seem extremely similar to Whedon’s other shows at first glance, but it does have a new unique setting to explore with a mysterious plot tangled in a tale of female empowerment. Does it do enough to stand out from its predecessors? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Leading ladies worth our time.

The dynamic duo of Amalia True and Penance Adair is a dream come true and these two won me over immediately. They have great chemistry together and will immediately give you some Buffy and Willow nostalgia.

Amalia is very much like Buffy in a lot of ways with her quick wit and fighting skills while Penance’s quirky humor and strengths involving technology scream Willow. While many critics see this as as a con, this formula works.

I did see the similarities which helped me connect with them as a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but I am confident we will be able to peel back more layers of each character as the episodes air and hopefully we will get to see what truly makes both of these ladies tick and how their abilities work.

Either way, we’re off to a good start because if I don’t care about the characters, it’s hard to keep me invested.

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Fun fight scenes with flair.

I’m all for a well thought out fight scene and some clever puns and maybe that’s the Buffy fan in me, but it makes for some pretty entertaining television.

The fight scenes were really fun and I loved the costumes and setting. This show could have easily fallen into the trap of too much talking and fluff in Victorian times like The Irregulars, but there is already more action and humor embedded in to balance things in a better way.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Villain rip-off.

I didn’t mind a lot of the similarities I saw during the show. I’m all for a show about female empowerment and the quirky friendship already felt authentic to me just from the pilot episode.

That being said, I thought the new villain, Maladie was a bad rip-off of Drusilla, who is one of the most iconic villains in television history for me. It just felt overdone and stale and I expected a lot more here.

Messy start and a bad rep.

There’s a lot going on in the opening episode which left me confused about a lot. We are introduced to a lot of characters and this show can easily lose focus if it isn’t careful. I think that as long as it focuses on the main characters and the mystery behind the “touched,” it will do enough each episode to keep us coming back for more.

I want to judge this show on pure entertainment value, but there are already a lot of unfavorable reviews and a lot of discussion involving Joss Whedon, who created the series. Even though he left the project and we will have a new showrunner for part 2, the show feels very much like a Whedon show.

Olivia Williams appeared in Dollhouse, Jane Espenson was a writer on Buffy, and the themes and characters follow a Whedon formula so it will be hard to separate him from it completely.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

There will certainly be a lot of talk about this show for a while, but I’m going to give it a chance because I think there is enough substance there. The characters are really likable and I kind of really dig the steampunk Victorian vibe.

The show started off a little bit messy and all over the place, but I think once it finds its groove and settles into its main plot, it can be pure magic. The ending of the pilot episode had me on the edge of my seat and I immediately wanted to watch the next episode.

I think that as long as you go into this show with an open mind, you will be entertained.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Nevers 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 “Tell Me Your Secrets” on Prime Video: Lily Rabe puts forth a Valiant Effort

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

“It’s dangerous to be afraid…”

Tell Me Your Secrets premiered on Prime Video on February 19th 2021 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Lily Rabe, Amy Brenneman, and Hamish Linklater. Each episode runs for approximately 50 minutes.

The series follows Karen/Emma, who was romantically involved with a serial killer. She is released from prison and goes into witness protection, but the mother of one of the victims is determined to get some answers about where her daughter is and resorts to working with a former criminal to do so.

Here is the trailer:

Tell Me Your Secrets has a talented cast while giving us vibes of Big Little Lies and The Undoing, but you have to wonder why TNT passed on the show a few years ago. The show has a lot of potential, but sometimes less is more. Does Tell Me Your Secrets do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Lily Rabe is brilliant.

I was already a fan of hers from American Horror Story, but she really is such a talented actress and I hope to see her in more and more. She really breathed so much life and depth into her character and she kept me coming back for more.

The rest of the cast is fantastic too although I think Amy Brenneman might have over-done it a little bit. Either way, I witnessed some incredible performances despite the lacking plot.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Too many sub-plots.

I understand that the show was attempting to link three characters together, but it felt like there were way too many plots going on and I didn’t have the energy to keep up. It’s actually really frustrating because I think that if this show had just focused on Lily Rabe’s character and her chance to start over, it might have been a lot more entertaining.

It just got over-complicated and the pacing really dragged for me.

Heavy and depressing.

I really enjoy mystery thrillers, but this particular one felt so dark and depressing. I just couldn’t get in the right frame of mind to watch it. Even the music was so strange and it didn’t do the show any favors.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

I really think that Lily Rabe did a great job and was probably the only saving grace of this show. There were some interesting things going on in the show, but my focus was split too much and I couldn’t connect to the other story-lines. If you are looking for a thought-provoking thriller, I recommend watching The Undoing instead.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Tell Me Your Secrets 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 “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 “Head Count” on Shudder: Beware the number Five

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

“A Hisji is a vengeful thing. Five times its name you never sing. With skin pale white and eyes of green. It’s something you’ve already seen…”

Head Count premiered on Shudder in February 2021, but the film was originally released back in 2018. The film stars Isaac Jay, Ashleigh Morghan, Bevin Bru, and Cooper Rowe. It is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes long.

After visiting his brother out in Joshua Tree, California, Evan meets a group of friends who invite him over for some seemingly harmless fun, but all goes horribly wrong when they begin telling ghost stories around the fire and one becomes a disturbing reality, as they summon a paranormal presence unknowingly.

Here is the trailer:

Head Count leaves the jump scares behind and focuses more on a slow burn terror that latches on to you with intensity, but does its ambiguity get in the way? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Unsettling terror.

I think that this film really delivered with its slow burn approach. The pacing still worked and I was invested in what was going on the entire time. I thought that the fear really built up well and maintained suspense without revealing too much too soon.

Images courtesy of Shudder

Unique mystery.

I’ve seen plenty of films that involve a group of teens summoning an evil spirit by accident, but this film kept me guessing. I enjoyed the focus on numbers and the clues were well placed and chilling on their own.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Forgettable characters.

There were a few glimmers here and there, but the majority of the characters were just kind of there for the ride. I didn’t really care about what happened to them and I wanted to feel connected to at least a few of them.

I thought that Camille and Evan were the best out of the bunch, but I just wanted some more layers presented to us.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in!

I thought that this movie really stood out and it kept me invested the entire time. The fear felt very real and unsettling. I thought that the ending was satisfying and even though it was left kind of ambiguous, that worked for me. Not everything was explained and I still have a lot of questions, but that means this film effectively created a conversation worth having.

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

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!

Play 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 “Utopia” on Amazon Prime Video: Where is Jessica Hyde?

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

“What have you done today to earn your place in this crowded world?”

Utopia is a new television series based on the 2013 UK series of the same name. Utopia stars John Cusack, Ashleigh LaThrop, Dan Byrd, Desmin Borges, Sasha Lane, Rainn Wilson and Jessica Rothe. The Amazon Prime Video series premiered on September 25th 2020 with eight episodes (approximately 50 minutes in length).

After a mysterious cult comic book is discovered, a group of devoted fans begin to bid on it. The comic book has predicted diseases in the past and it may be the key to stopping a new virus that is quickly spreading across the country. After many of the bidders wind up dead, the group realizes that the comic book may be based on truth, leading them deeper down the rabbit hole.

Here is the trailer:

Utopia may hit a little too close to home with everything going on in the world right now, but the mysterious puzzle pieces, conspiracy thrills, and dark trippy madness give it a lot of potential. Is Utopia worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

A plot you can quickly lose yourself in.

There are a lot of Wonderland-esque underlines sprinkled throughout this show which worked to its advantage. The puzzle pieces and clues reel you in each episode and there is enough going on to keep you invested without being overly predictable.

Images courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

Familiar faces and characters to root for.

John Cusack is the star of the show, but I was pleasantly surprised to see Happy Death Day’s Jessica Rothe as well. As each character is revealed, we learn more and more and I thought that there was a great dynamic between them all.

Some characters are more jaded than others and this show is not afraid to kill off characters, but it does a good job of balancing the shock value with consistent characters you want to see survive.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

Weird timing.

I can’t ignore the timing of the release of this show and while I am fine separating it from the real events of the world, it does bring up a lot of conspiracy theories and ulterior agendas that may seem unwelcomed during this time. I think that as long as you can separate yourself from that and treat this as a work of fiction (which it is), you can still thoroughly enjoy the watch.

Extreme violence and torture shown.

This is not necessarily a con, but I think that sensitive viewers should consider passing on this one. Amazon Prime Video does a good job of putting up advisories prior to the episodes with extremely disturbing content and you should pay attention to those for sure. Beware the spoon…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

I’m in!

Sure, there were some cringe-worthy scenes and some outrageous plot twists, but this show answered my call and then some with a fast-paced binge-watch. The show drew me in from the very first episode and held my attention the entire time.

If you enjoy conspiracy thrillers, Alice in Wonderland, and mysterious puzzles, you are in the right place!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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