Tag: Rohan Campbell

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Monkey” in Theaters: A Campy Good Time!

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

“Turn the key and see what happens…”

The Monkey released in theaters on February 21st 2025. The American horror comedy film (based on the short story by Stephen King) stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Colin O’Brien, Elijah Wood, Rohan Campbell, and Adam Scott. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

When twin brothers discover a strange wind-up toy, they soon realize that it may be causing horrific deaths around them. Twenty-five years later, a new killing spree begins, forcing them to confront the toy once again.

Here is the trailer:

The Monkey doesn’t hold anything back, presenting us with violent and shocking kills while still having some fun. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Neon

Cringe-worthy kills.

If you enjoy films like Final Destination, then this is the film for you. The kills are outrageous, extreme, and stomach-turning. You won’t be disappointed and I was pleased that the trailer didn’t ruin them all.

I also really liked the dry humor included in this. I was worried that this movie might take itself too seriously, but it went with the bonkers concept and just had fun, making this a blast to experience in theaters.

Images courtesy of Neon

Theo James stole the show!

My new favorite genre is Theo James covered in blood! He was absolutely fantastic in this! Normally I hate voice-over narrations, but I enjoyed listening to him. The past and the present timelines were equally interesting and a lot of that has to do with the cast.

Tatiana Maslany was great as well and it was fun seeing a lot of familiar faces pop up in this one.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Neon

Sluggish pacing in the second half.

I think I preferred the first half of this film to the second. Don’t get me wrong…I liked the second half too and that’s where Theo James shined, but there were some pacing issues. The movie was only an hour and thirty-five minutes, but it felt like it was dragging a little bit until we got to the final act. I think we could have wrapped things up a little bit quicker.

That’s really my only con. I thought everything else came together seamlessly.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Neon

I’m in!!!!

The Monkey is a bonkers and bloody watch!

Theo James is a lot of fun in this one. I highly recommend it!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Monkey 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 “The Hardy Boys” Season 3 on Hulu: Saved the Best for Last!

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

“No loose ends…”

The Hardy Boys (season 3) premiered on Hulu on July 26th 2023 with eight final episodes available to stream now. The series stars Rohan Campbell, Alexander Elliot, Bea Santos, Keana Lyn, Riley O’Donnell, and Bailee Madison. Each episode runs for approximately 42-44 minutes. 

Based on the iconic book series, this new re-imagining of The Hardy Boys takes place in the 1980’s. Frank and Joe Hardy are back one more time to solve a new mystery plaguing the town of Bridgeport, but will they find all the answers they are looking for?

Here is the trailer:

The Hardy Boys flew under the radar for quite some time, but it was a fresh and fun take on the teen mystery genre without all the drama in-between. Does the final season measure up? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Bailee Madison livens up the show!

She was a welcomed new character and I have to say that she really breathed some new life into this series. I love all of the characters on this show, but they needed someone new to spice things up and I think she accomplished that and then some.

We also got to see some returning favorites as well, which made sense for the final season.

Images courtesy of Hulu

A few solid twists and ends the way it should.

I have to admit that I was thrown a few times during the final season. I loved the twists and that last one really had my head spinning. 

Season three may have packed in a lot, but I think that it successfully closed out its story while still leaving the door open for more mysteries beyond the series. Everything was wrapped up neatly, which I appreciated.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Rocky start.

The beginning of season three felt really complicated and more sci-fi than anything else. When I think about The Hardy Boys, I envision traditional mysteries. It’s fine that it dabbles over to the sci-fi side, but the opening few episodes felt really odd to me.

Thankfully we moved on from that and the final season quickly became my favorite season yet. 

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!

The final season of The Hardy Boys delivers with excellent pacing and fantastic reveals while managing to end the series in a satisfying way for mystery fans everywhere.

I’ll miss this series. It was a lot of fun!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Hardy Boys 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 “Halloween Ends” on Peacock: Laurie vs. Michael…place your bets!

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

“You started this…”

Halloween Ends released in theaters and on Peacock on October 14th 2022. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Kyle Richards, and Rohan Campbell. It runs for approximately an hour and fifty minutes.

Years after Michael Myers terrorized the residents of Haddonfield, a new evil emerges in town, giving Laurie a terrorizing sense of nostalgia.

Here is the trailer:

Halloween Ends should mark the end of the latest trilogy, but does it do enough to leave fans satisfied? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Solid beginning and ending.

I thought the beginning of this film was so unexpected and brutally fantastic. It really set the tone for the rest of the film. The ending was also really well done. The showdown we’ve been waiting for did not disappoint. There was also enough nostalgia weaved in without overdoing it. I wanted it to go on a little bit longer, but I thought it was satisfying enough for fans.

Images courtesy of Peacock

The gory kills don’t disappoint…

I was slightly worried that we wouldn’t get that many gory kills in this film since it took a different path, but the later attacks in the film were bloody and terrifying. I had a few favorites in particular, but it’s safe to say that I won’t be leaving my door unlocked…ever!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Didn’t really feel like the ending of a trilogy…

I actually liked the different story and subplot going on. Rohan Campbell was really good in this. My only issue with it was that it didn’t feel like it was the perfect fit for this trilogy. I enjoyed this film, but it felt like a standalone movie, rather than a killer ending. Don’t get me wrong, we eventually got there and things came full circle, but things just felt odd and bizarre for the majority of the movie.

I also thought that Allyson made some decisions that seemed really out of character for her. I really liked her in the other films, but it’s like she threw all of her common sense out the window…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

Halloween fans will find plenty to enjoy in the ending to this trilogy, but I had a lot of mixed thoughts on its approach and the subplots, which may have been better suited to a film separate from this trilogy…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

HAVE A KILLER HALLOWEEN…

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 “The Hardy Boys” Season 2 on Hulu: A Mystery with Edge

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

“Find another mystery…”

The Hardy Boys (season 2) premiered on Hulu on April 6th 2022 with ten episodes available to stream now. The series stars Rohan Campbell, Alexander Elliot, Bea Santos, Keana Lyn, Riley O’Donnell, and James Tupper. Each episode runs for approximately 42-44 minutes. 

Based on the iconic book series, this new re-imagining of The Hardy Boys takes place in the 1980’s. Frank and Joe Hardy are back to solve a new mystery plaguing the town of Bridgeport, but are they in over their heads this time around?

Here is the trailer:

The Hardy Boys managed to omit a lot of the teen drama that can sometimes weigh down shows like Riverdale and Nancy Drew in season one, making it a welcomed addition to the amateur sleuth genre, but does season two do enough to bring the audience back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Darker mystery this time around…

I enjoyed season one, but the mystery was just kind of okay for me. Season two pulls us in right away with a darker mystery with supernatural elements which gave this series a more mature edge this time around. I think this worked in the show’s favor and I actually got through these episodes fairly quickly because I was so intrigued by what was really going on.

Loved it!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Supporting characters get more development.

Season one focused primarily on the Hardy brothers, but I appreciated that season two took the time to really develop some of the supporting characters. Everyone contributes to the “Scooby Gang,” but we actually got to give some other characters with potential a chance to shine, which was nice to see.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Frank’s trippy visions…

I didn’t mind the visions, but I had an issue with the way they were portrayed to the audience. They were just really distracting and they took away from the nostalgic Hardy Boys feel just a little. I also felt like I needed to do a re-watch of season one to remember a lot of what was going on since it’s been some time since that aired. There was a lot to remember!

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in!

I actually enjoyed season two more than season one. The 80’s nostalgia and music soundtrack was fun once again and we got a chance to actually develop some of these interesting characters a lot more with a super creepy mystery!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Hardy Boys 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 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 “The Hardy Boys” on Hulu: A New Mystery to Uncover without all the drama

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

Welcome to Bridgeport…

The Hardy Boys premiered on Hulu on December 4th 2020 with thirteen new episodes available to stream now. The series stars Rohan Campbell, Alexander Elliot, Bea Santos, Keana Lyn, Riley O’Donnell, and James Tupper. Each episode runs for approximately 40-43 minutes. 

Based on the iconic book series, this new re-imagining of The Hardy Boys takes place in the 1980’s. After a family tragedy, Frank and Joe Hardy move in with their aunt as they try to piece together the mystery in front of them.

While the series may initially give off some Riverdale and Nancy Drew vibes, it manages to leave the majority of the teen drama behind, focusing on the mystery and the connection between these brothers.

Here is the trailer:

The Hardy Boys is following in the footsteps of modern takes on Nancy Drew and Riverdale, but its simple formula may actually set it apart. Does it do enough to stand out from its predecessors? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Hardy Boys Hulu 1

Images courtesy of Hulu

Smart choice of time and setting.

Unlike Riverdale and The CW’s Nancy Drew, which both take place in current times, The Hardy Boys takes place during the 1980’s. This actually works to its advantage, as we rely more on how to truly solve a mystery without using modern technology, channeling a lot of nostalgia from the original novels.

We also get a great soundtrack and a small town setting that has a lot of secrets to be uncovered.

Let the mysteries begin!

The Hardy Boys Hulu 2

Images courtesy of Hulu

Believable bond between the brothers.

I think this is important and much like the Winchester brothers on SPN, we get a really strong connection right away between Joe and Frank Hardy. It makes us that much more invested throughout their involvement in the mystery and we care about what happens to them.

There are also some stand-out characters like Biff, who really lit up the screen. While Biff was originally a male character in the book series, girls have some serious sleuth skills too!

The Cons:

The Hardy Boys Hulu 3

Images courtesy of Hulu

The mystery is just kind of okay…

It’s not bad, but I have to admit that some of the mysteries on both Riverdale and Nancy Drew have caught my attention more. I think that the mystery gets better in the later episodes, however.

Too many episodes.

I think that The Hardy Boys would have actually benefited more from running weekly episodes instead of having them all available at once. While I love a good binge-watch, there are thirteen long episodes and the mystery kind of dragged as a result of this. 

So am I in or out?

The Hardy Boys Hulu 4

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in about 75 percent.

While it took me a little longer than I would have liked to get into this show, I did start to become hooked around episode five. The characters started to really grow on me and the mystery reveals were well placed. I think that the show does enough to form its own identity separate from The CW shows, but I wouldn’t say that you need to move this one to the top of your watch-list just yet. However, it does make a fun watch when you have time.

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