Spoiler-Free Review of “Motion Detected” on Demand: Silly Tech-Horror Film

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

“We just needed a change of scenery…”

Motion Detected released on May 19th 2023 on Demand. The tech horror film stars Katelyn MacMullen, Carlo Mendez, Roland Buck III, and Bob Clendenin. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty minutes.

After escaping a home invasion, a couple moves into a new house to get a fresh start with a brand new security system called Diablo Controls…

Here is the trailer:

Motion Detected brings us yet another tech horror entry, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Asterlight

The house is the best part of the movie…

I felt like I was watching an extended version of an HGTV show featuring a couple with a high budget. This smart house was a dream and so pretty! I found myself focusing on the color schemes and amenities a lot more than the film. This was a great setting, but unfortunately the pros stop here…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Asterlight

Cringe-worthy dialogue and performances…

Some of it was beyond bad. I really struggled to get through this one. It was only an hour and twenty minutes, but I felt like I was watching it for over three hours. The performances did not help at all. I thought the neighbors did a much better job than the leads. This script needed so much more. It was similar to I’ll Be Watching starring Eliza Taylor, but that film was a lot better…

Ridiculous and not scary at all.

I’m not sure why someone would move into a house with a security system called Diablo Controls…especially when they escaped a killer/home invader literally named El Diablo. But sure, let’s throw all rationality out the window and go with it.

I did and I still couldn’t appreciate anything happening in this movie. It was just so silly and over-the-top. The ending does not do the film any favors either…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Asterlight

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

There were really no redeeming qualities in this film other than the pretty house it was set in. I really tried to get into this, but the bad acting and silly attempts to scare the audience just didn’t work.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Motion Detected 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.

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 “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!