Tag: Sam Richardson

Spoiler-Free Review of “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+: The Witches are Back!

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

Beware the black flame candle….

Hocus Pocus 2 released exclusively on Disney+ on September 30th 2022. The sequel to the cult Halloween classic stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones, Sam Richardson, and Tony Hale. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

When Becca and Izzy accidentally light the black flame candle, they re-summon the Sanderson sisters back to the town of Salem.

Here is the trailer:

Hocus Pocus 2 brings plenty of nostalgia for fans of the original film with a few new tricks up its sleeve. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

They still got it!

The original film premiered in 1993 so it’s been quite a while since we last saw the Sanderson sisters. I’m happy to report that these three still have it and then some! They were so much fun to watch on screen with delightful chemistry. It’s like they never left! There are plenty of new obstacles to get in their way and distract them, but whenever these three step on screen, they’ll put a spell on you for sure!

The new characters had their charms as well. I particular liked Tony Hale as the mayor, who added some quirky fun and Doug Jones continued to be a scene stealer in this film!

Images courtesy of Disney+

Lots of Easter eggs and nostalgia for fans of the original.

I personally really enjoyed the Easter eggs in the sequel. It channeled the vibe of the original film but it also found a new voice and story of its own. I was worried that things would feel redundant, but the new spin kept things fresh enough to keep me entertained until the end.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Doesn’t hold a candle to the original…

Let’s be honest, it never was going to live up to the original film. I think it put forth a valiant effort with the nostalgia, but since it leaned on that quite a bit, I would have enjoyed seeing a few other familiar characters pop up in town.

Even though I enjoyed the new characters, they didn’t get the chance to truly shine or reach their full potential.

The musical numbers were fun, but they didn’t have the same punch this time around either.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in!!!

A fun sequel with plenty of bewitching moments featuring our beloved Sanderson sisters.

The original film is one of my favorite movies, but I think that the sequel did a decent enough job after all this time.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Hocus Pocus 2 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 “Senior Year” on Netflix: “Never Been Kissed” inspired film has its charms

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

“I wanted to be something more…”

Senior Year premiered on May 13th 2022 on Netflix. The rom-com film stars Rebel Wilson, Mary Holland, Justin Hartley, Sam Richardson, and Chris Parnell. It runs for an hour and fifty minutes.

A high school cheerleader falls into a coma before achieving her dream of becoming prom queen. When she finally wakes up twenty years later, she decides to return to high school to claim her crown.

Here is the trailer:

Senior Year channels films like Never Been Kissed and 13 Going on 30, bringing us some late 90’s and early 2000’s nostalgia, but does it do enough to keep up with these original rom-com classics? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Loved the nostalgia!

Even though it seemed like a checklist of references at times, I am proud to say that I got every single one of them. The music was spot on, the posters could have been in my own bedroom, and they even nailed the fashion. I’ve seen a lot of movies try to transport us back in time, but this film certainly did its homework and I was honestly impressed. 

It may be time to bring the butterfly clips back!

Strong second half.

I was really iffy on this movie for the first half. It was trying so hard to be like Never Been Kissed (even though it oddly never mentioned this particular film) and I was worried it wouldn’t translate well. However, things turned around for me in the second half and I honestly really enjoyed it. The humor landed better, there were some genuinely sweet moments, and I even liked the message at the end.

Plus, you have to stick around for a very rewarding cameo and a surprisingly accurate music video!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The crude humor didn’t mesh well…

I know this is kind of Rebel Wilson’s signature, but I honestly could have done without some of the crude humor sprinkled in. It didn’t land and it felt very out of place. This film had charm and wit on its own. It didn’t need this and I actually found it really distracting at times.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

Senior Year is a lot of fun!

Sure, it may not be as good as its predecessors, but I still thoroughly enjoyed my watch. If you’re looking for a quick light film to indulge in, you’re in the right place.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Senior Year 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 “Werewolves Within” on Demand: A Supernatural Murder Mystery

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

“Yeah this town is batshit…”

Werewolves Within originally released on June 25th 2021. The film is currently available to rent on demand. It stars Sam Richardson, Milana Vayntrub, Harvey Guillen, Cheyenne Jackson, Catherine Curtin and Michaela Watkins. It is approximately 90 minutes long.

When a new ranger arrives in a small town, he quickly finds himself thrown into a murder mystery when several residents are trapped together in the local inn after a snowstorm. Everyone is a suspect as they start to realize that they may actually be dealing with a ruthless werewolf.

Here is the trailer:

Werewolves Within has the potential to provide us with horror comedy gold, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of IFC Films

The who-dun-it style works.

It seems like a lot of recent films are following the murder mystery approach, but it works in this film. This film gave off vibes of Clue and Knives Out with its own voice as well. The characters are a lot of fun as well and Sam Richardson has great chemistry with Milana Vayntrub which made this an entertaining watch.

Fun horror comedy.

I love horror comedies and I don’t think they are talked about enough, but this film could easily fit right in with Tucker and Dale vs Evil. While I wouldn’t say that all the humor landed, a lot of it just worked effortlessly. 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of IFC Films

Pacing issues.

The majority of the film focuses on the set-up of everything. We spend so much time getting to know the players and watching them interact, but it almost took away from the best part of the movie when everything hits the fan. The ending was great but it took a little too long to get there.

I could have done without the political/social commentary.

While some moments were genuinely hilarious and a lot of fun, others felt really forced. The references were overdone at one point. Sometimes less is more and I think that Werewolves Within was decent, but it could have been better if it had just embraced the simple plot without overthinking things.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of IFC Films

I’m in!

I love horror comedies and I think that this film was entertaining overall and worth a watch. Sam Richardson is truly fantastic and there are some laugh out loud moments. The second half of the film is a lot stronger than the first and there are some rough edges, but there is enough going on in this film to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Werewolves Within 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!