Tag: Slow pacing

Spoiler-Free Review of “Wednesday” Season 2 Part 1 on Netflix: Loses Some of Its Magic

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

“It’s been an eventful summer…”

Wednesday season 2, part 1 premiered on August 6th on Netflix with four episodes available to stream now. The remaining four episodes will release on September 3rd. The supernatural drama series stars Jenna Ortega, Emma Myers, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Each episode is approximately 55-60 minutes.

While attending Nevermore Academy, Wednesday Addams finds herself caught up in another mystery that threatens someone close to her.

Here is the trailer:

Wednesday season 2 loses some steam this time around with dragged out pacing and a plot that seems all too familiar now. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Jenna Ortega is as wickedly charming as ever!

She’s the best part of the series and probably the only reason I kept watching season 2. I think she was born for this role and she is excelling once again. That being said, I’d like to see some more growth for her character, but so far she is lighting up the screen in the best way possible.

I also like that other characters are getting some more screen time this time around. It seemed like some characters were merely there as an afterthought in season 1. I just don’t want the show to shift away from Wednesday too much because this is her show, but I’ve enjoyed some of the other characters and there were a few fun surprises too.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Dragged out with super long episodes.

I don’t think they were that long in season 1, but maybe I was just enjoying my watch more? It took me a while to get through part 1 of season 2. I remember binge-watching season one effortlessly so this was disappointing.

It just seemed so slow and dragged out. I also feel like the mystery is watered down this time around and it’s a plot I’ve seen a million times before on other teen mystery/fantasy shows. I’m hoping that things turn around in the second half of the season but so far I am losing interest.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m 50/50 on this…

Wednesday (Season 2, Part 1) is Nancy Drew-esque, feeling a little stale and dragged out with its mystery.

Jenna Ortega is as brilliant as ever, but I’d love to see something extreme to pull me back in for the second half of the season.

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

**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 “Bloodline Killer” on Demand: Shawnee Smith Stars in this Cheesy Horror-Thriller Flick

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

“If I could trade places with him, I would…”

Bloodline Killer is a horror-thriller film that released on April 26th 2024 on demand. It stars Shawnee Smith, Tyrese Gibson, Taryn Manning, Daniel Cosgrove, and Bruce Dern. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.

After her husband is brutally murdered on Halloween night by a serial killer named Skulleton, Moira attempts to rebuild her life, but when she is convinced that the killer has returned a year later, she will do everything in her power to protect her family.

Here is the trailer:

Bloodline Killer has a decent enough cast and a solid premise, but it gets lost in a plot that never really goes anywhere. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Vertical

Decent opening and familiar faces…

I really wanted to like this movie. I was immediately drawn in because it took place on Halloween and of course I’m going to tune in for Shawnee Smith. I thought the opening had some serious potential. I was expecting a cheesy, campy slasher flick and it gave off these vibes early on, which was promising. Unfortunately the pros stop there…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Vertical

Cringe-worthy dialogue and acting that leaves a lot to be desired…

The dialogue was AWFUL. There were a few actors I have seen in multiple films and shows and yet no one really shined. I can’t really blame them though because this film didn’t give them a lot to work with, but this was so disappointing.

The pacing was dreadful. Everything dragged so much and I felt like I was watching this for hours. It was really tough for me to get through this but I powered through it as much as I could.

The killer was a complete letdown.

The fight scenes and kills were ridiculous. I don’t need extreme gore, but they could have tried to make them at least a little bit scary and inventive. I also still don’t even understand the point of this movie or why the killer was after them in the first place. We’re given an explanation early on, but it just felt like a cheap rip-off of Michael Myers to me.

I was hoping for an explosive ending to redeem this film, but it didn’t come close to achieving that.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Vertical

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Bloodline Killer had all the ingredients to be a fun campy slasher film, but it never found its way, making this a boring, uninspiring, and frustrating watch.

Shawnee Smith deserves better and so does the audience.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts on Bloodline Killer 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…

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 “Ratched” on Netflix: Don’t Take her Peach

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

“I believe there are worse things to feel than simply feeling nothing…”

Ratched is a new television series from Ryan Murphy based on the character of Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The series acts as a sort of prequel, peeling back the layers behind one of the most notorious female villains in cinema history. Ratched stars Sarah Paulson, Finn Wittrock, Cynthia Nixon, Judy Davis, and Sharon Stone. The Netflix series premiered on September 18th 2020 with eight episodes (approximately 50 minutes in length).

Set in 1947, Nurse Mildred Ratched arrives at Lucia State Hospital seeking employment, but it’s clear from the start that a lot is about to unravel beneath the surface of her image of perfection.

Here is the trailer:

Ratched has everything it needs to be a disturbingly compelling watch, but does every villain truly need a backstory? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Ratched Sarah Paulson Netflix 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Sarah Paulson is perfection.

It should come as no surprise that AHS alum Sarah Paulson would be brilliant as Nurse Ratched. She embraces this role without holding back, revealing a darker, methodical side, which really lit up the screen.

The entire cast is phenomenal and the acting was truly outstanding.

Ratched Sarah Paulson fashion Netflix 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Incredible fashion and visually stunning.

I have not been this blown away by a character’s wardrobe since Villanelle’s in Killing Eve and Sarah Paulson pulls off every single look effortlessly. The colors used are vivid and bright, transporting us seamlessly back into the 1940’s.

Every setting used was truly magnificent as well.

Ratched Sarah Paulson Netflix 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Disturbing and chilling gore.

Fans of American Horror Story will appreciate the familiar tone of violence and gore sprinkled in. In a lot of ways, this almost felt like another season of the show or perhaps an alternate version of AHS: Aslyum.

The opening minutes of the pilot episode are extremely violent and gory and some of the medical procedures shown are even more disturbing to witness. This isn’t for everyone, but if you are a fan of Ryan Murphy shows, you will feel right at home.

The Cons:

Ratchced Sarah Paulson Netflix 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

Very slow moving at times and…boring.

The first episode ran for 56 minutes, but it felt like I was watching it for almost three hours. The pacing in this series is extremely slow, which didn’t work to its advantage in my opinion.

I was also really bored a lot of the time. I wanted so much more from this show and I feel like Sarah Paulson’s incredible performance was wasted in a lot of ways.

That being said, there are glimmers throughout the show of brilliance and there is enough happening at the end of each episode to draw you in for more. However, I just wish that we didn’t have to wait so long during an episode for something to actually happen…

So am I in or out?

Ratched Sarah Paulson Netflix 4

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m about 50/50 on this one.

I am a huge fan of Ryan Murphy shows and it was fun to see a few familiar faces from AHS on this show. Sarah Paulson was perfection and I really thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself into the scenery and fashion.

However, there was just something missing for me. The show really had everything it needed to be something beyond brilliant and it fell flat because of the slower pace. 

That being said, fans of Sarah Paulson and AHS will find a lot to appreciate and I think it’s worth a watch. However, if you are looking for something fast paced and binge-watch worthy, I’m not sure that this is the pick you are hoping for.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

If you have time, I would love it if you would check out my book, Dash and Seek in the link below. Thank you and I hope you enjoy!

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

Main promo smaller

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!

**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!