Spoiler-Free Review of “Killer Whale” on Demand: Virginia Gardner Puts Forth a Valiant Effort in this FALL Downgrade

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

“She thinks she’s still trapped in captivity…”

Killer Whale released on Demand on January 16th 2026. The survival thriller film stars Virginia Gardner and Mel Jarnson. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

Friends, Maddie and Trish go on a trip to Thailand a year after Maddie went through a tragic event, but after jet-skiing out to a remote location, they find themselves hunted by a killer whale that was released from her tank after killing someone. They are now stranded with no way to call for help and must figure out a way to survive.

Here is the trailer:

Killer Whale takes the standard shark thriller formula and tries it out with a different ocean creature, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Virginia Gardner did what she could…

She’s just so pretty and getting really good at finding herself trapped in dangerous places with no way to call for help. I thought she was terrific in the film, FALL. In a lot of ways, this film kind of ripped that one off, but that was a MUCH better movie.

That being said, I stayed tuned in to see what would happen to her character and I thought she did a solid job with what she was given.

Unfortunately she wasn’t really given much…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Terrible CGI and so cheesy!

Ugh…I really wanted to like this one. The CGI was so bad, I started laughing at certain points. Everything just felt so silly and not in a good way. There weren’t any genuine moments of suspense here. I’ve seen numerous shark films and while a lot of them followed a similar formula, I still found myself on the edge of my seat during key moments.

That didn’t happen here…

We got these overdone slow motion scenes and exhausting flashbacks that really didn’t do anything to advance the plot. I was so disappointed.

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Nothing new here…

In addition, this film did not stray from its formula at all. Dangerous Animals (my new favorite shark movie after Jaws) really tried to do something new with the shark genre and it worked in such a compelling and outrageous way. This film didn’t even put forth the slightest bit of effort. The plot felt so lazy and phoned in.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Lionsgate

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

Killer Whale doesn’t offer the audience anything new here with its vapid and lackluster story.

Virginia Gardner deserves better…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Killer Whale 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 Stranger” (2024) on Hulu: A Thriller Worth Your Time!

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

“I just want to go home…”

The Stranger  originally released on Quibi as a series back in 2020, but it has now been re-cut as a feature length film, premiering on Hulu on April 15th 2024. The thriller film stars Maika Monroe, Dane DeHaan, and Avan Jogia. It runs for an hour and thirty-seven minutes.

Clare must fight to survive when she picks up a ride-share passenger from hell, who continues to stalk her through the night.

Here is the trailer:

The Stranger (2024) is fast-paced, unpredictable, and beyond intense. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Cuts right to the chase!

This film did not waste time with unnecessary fluff. It pulled the audience right in and never slowed down, making this a fast-paced and satisfying watch. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and thought this was a clever and relevant premise that still felt unique and fresh even though it originally released four years ago. I didn’t see it then and I am so happy I got to experience it now. What a rush!

Images courtesy of Hulu

Maika Monroe and Pebbles make a great team!

I’m a huge fan of Maika Monroe and thought she was beyond fantastic in this one. Even though I wanted a touch more information about her character, she was so believable and gripping in this, elevating this film that much more.

This was a small cast and everyone played their part well, but I have to say that I was absolutely loving the Yorkie named Pebbles, who was my favorite character by far!

I loved the tie-ins to The Wizard of Oz and I really appreciated that this film tried to do things a little bit differently, keeping the audience on the hook until the very end.

Keeps you guessing.

I was thoroughly impressed with the twists and turns in this entry. I would have been fine with a simple survival thriller, but the film didn’t stop there and it didn’t get too over-complicated either.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Far-fetched at times…

This wasn’t a major con for me and I basically just went with every plot twist and insane thing going on without question, but there were a few moments that seemed really unrealistic. That being said, there was enough substance here rooted in relevant fears to help me skip past this. This didn’t hinder my watch at all.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in 100 percent!!!

The Stranger features a bad-ass performance by Maika Monroe (and her little dog too) in this edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that delivers in all the right ways.

This is my kind of thriller and I absolutely loved it!

If you enjoy films like Alone (2020), No Exit, and Unseen, you’ll have a blast with this one. Trust me.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Stranger (2024) 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 “No Way Up” on Demand: B Shark Movie Has Some Moments with Bite

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

“Don’t think about what can go wrong…”

No Way Up released on demand on February 16th 2024. The survival thriller film stars Sophie McIntosh, Phyllis Logan, Colm Meaney, Will Attenborough, and Jeremias Amoore. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty minutes.

After their plane crashes into the ocean, a group of survivors work together to escape some killer sharks.

Here is the trailer:

No Way Up attempts to give sharks a new space to invade, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

Doesn’t take too long for things to happen.

I appreciated that there was minimal set-up in this one. There were some intense moments during the initial plane crash that actually captured my attention. I’m all for shark flicks and will continue to watch them no matter what the gimmick is. 

Well, for this one, we’ve got sharks on a plane and I thought the concept was actually a lot of fun. This movie is from the same executive producers as 47 Meters Down and the thought alone of being trapped in a plane underneath the ocean with sharks swimming around is completely terrifying.

I don’t think this film had the same intensity as 47 Meters Down by any means, but there were some toothy moments sprinkled in for fans of cheesy shark films.

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

Our lead had some potential.

I don’t need too many character layers in shark flicks. We know the body count is going to be high and most often I am rooting for the shark to pick off annoying characters one by one, but I thought that our lead had a lot of potential and stood out from some of the other characters who felt very bland and one dimensional. I did find myself rooting for her, which helped me invest in this one a little more. 

The stuffed animal was a scene stealer though…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

Takes itself too seriously…

Look, I didn’t need for this film to make sense logically. I usually throw all reason out the window when I watch these films and I’m fine with it. However, it helps when films recognize their limitations and just go with it. 

This film could have been a lot better if it would have had some more fun with things. Some of the moments felt very dragged out and since the acting wasn’t really that great from the majority of the performers, I didn’t care.

We also needed more shark action. I think this movie attempted to do a little bit too much when it could have just let our toothy friends shine.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Altitude Film Entertainment

I’m in about 75 percent…

No Way Up is far from perfect, but if you’re looking for a B shark movie to indulge in, there’s enough here to enjoy. Just manage your expectations accordingly…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on No Way Up 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 Hunted” on Demand: Bloody and Brutal

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

Maybe it’s a sign that we found you…”

The Hunted released on Demand on January 19th 2024. The survival-thriller film stars Lily Banda, Alec Newman, Vassilis Koukalani, and Daphne Alexander. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

After a boat capsizes, a group of refugees are rescued by European strangers who promise to get them to safety after taking them to a remote island, but their real intention is to hunt them down one by one, forcing a mother to do whatever’s necessary to protect her child.

Here is the trailer:

The Hunted is similar to other films in this genre with a simple formula and a bad-ass female lead to root for, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Voltage Pictures

The hunt was pretty intense!

The initial set-up was OK, but once we got into the actual hunt, things changed drastically in the best way possible. The hunt itself was very intense and this movie was not afraid to kill characters off without thinking twice about it. Some of the kills were really bloody and twisted, giving me the adrenaline-filled rush I was looking for. I was really impressed by how well this was executed.

A bad-ass female lead to root for.

Lily Banda was fantastic in this and it was hard not to root for her. She had to tap into a different side of her, but once she unleashed her rage, she lit up the screen and really captured my attention. More please!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Voltage Pictures

A movie I’ve seen before…

Don’t get me wrong, I love these kinds of movies and I will continue to watch them, but at times it seemed like this film picked a premise and just went with it without fleshing certain elements out enough.

I needed more answers about why this was happening and the motivation of the other characters. There were some choppy flashbacks presented for Lily Banda’s character to give me a little bit of backstory, but I needed a touch more for her as well.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Voltage Pictures

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Hunted is a decent enough thriller that has enough going for it, but it needed a bit more to make it truly stand out against similar films.

Either way, this was a nice surprise and a lot better than I thought it was going to be.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Hunted 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 “Night of the Hunted” on Shudder: Adrenaline-Fuelled Thriller Delivers

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

“I’ve never done anything to you…”

Night of the Hunted released on Shudder on October 20th 2023. The survival-thriller film stars Camille Rowe, J. John Bieler, and Jeremy Scippio. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

When Alice stops at a remote gas station late at night, she’s targeted by an unknown sniper. Her only hope is to flag someone down to help her or try and survive on her own by using her surroundings to her advantage.

Here is the trailer:

Night of the Hunted is my kind of thriller with an exceptional female lead and a simple, but intense formula that will hold your attention until the very end. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Starts off with a bang…literally!

With minimal set-up, we are launched into an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that doesn’t hold back. It’s a simple, but effective approach, reminding me immediately of films like P2 (from the same director), Alone (2020), and Hunt Her, Kill Her. These are my favorite kinds of survival thrillers. I loved how bloody and brutal this one was. It had my heart racing and I thought that ending was so well done!

Images courtesy of Shudder

A strong and resourceful female lead.

Camille Rowe was bloody fantastic as Alice. I thought she was clever and bad-ass. I liked that her character was flawed in a lot of ways. It gave the film more substance and it also made her more relatable. She wasn’t perfect by any means, but you still wanted to root for her against all odds.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Loses a touch of steam in the middle.

This wasn’t a major con because I thought the dialogue needed to happen in order for the film to progress, but it didn’t compare to the beginning and end of this film, which were so beyond intense. I actually really liked the dynamic going on and thought the conversations helped enhance the movie in a lot of ways, but I have a feeling that there will be some mixed thoughts on this.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in!!!

Night of the Hunted is a ruthless and intense survival thriller featuring a bad-ass female lead who commands the screen.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film! 

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Night of the Hunted 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 Dive” on Demand: Solid Survival Thriller

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

“I still get a bit nervous every time…”

The Dive released on Demand on August 25th 2023. The survival thriller film stars Sophie Lowe and Louisa Krause. It runs for an hour and thirty-two minutes.

Two sisters go deep-sea diving in a remote location when a landslide sends rocks into the ocean, trapping one of them beneath the surface, as the other must figure out a way to save her before their air runs out.

Here is the trailer:

The Dive channels 47 Meters Down and Fall, giving us another extreme example of two women facing off against unlikely odds. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of RLJE films

Intense moments that will have you holding your breath!

I was on the edge of my seat for this one and there were plenty of moments that captivated my undivided attention. Similar to other well-done survival thrillers, this film never let the audience off the hook. While some of it may have been far-fetched, it definitely kept my adrenaline pumping and met my expectations in this department.

Images courtesy of RLJE films

Characters to cheer for.

I liked that they were sisters, which made me root for them that much more. There were so many possible moments of “giving up” and these two kept fighting. Their bond was apparent…even though I didn’t get too many details about their characters. That being said, both actresses put a lot into their performances and these dire circumstances made me care enough about what happened to them.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of RLJE films

The bite-sized flashbacks didn’t add much to the story…

They didn’t successfully add in any real details or layers to these characters and they were kind of confusing. I got that there was some kind of trauma involved in their past, but not enough of this was explained and it honestly wasn’t needed in the movie.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of RLJE films

I’m in!

A stimulating watch that held my attention from beginning to end with a satisfying conclusion.

This wasn’t as good as Fall, but I love these types of movies and this one had plenty going for it. If you enjoy survival thrillers, you’ll feel right at home during your watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Dive 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 River Wild” (2023) on Netflix: Doesn’t Compare to the OG but a Solid Thriller Nonetheless!

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

“Not on my river…”

The River Wild (River Wild) released on Netflix on August 1st 2023. Loosely based on the film starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon from 1994, the adventure thriller remake stars Leighton Meester, Adam Brody, Taran Killam, Eve Connolly, and Olivia Swann. It runs for approximately 92 minutes.

Joey accepts her brother’s invitation to go whitewater rafting with a group, but when they end up in a dangerous situation, someone begins to sabotage their attempts at survival as secrets are revealed.

Here is the trailer:

The River Wild will get your heart racing with a solid cast and some shocking moments, but is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fun cast!

Leighton Meester and Adam Brody are married in real life and both starred on two of my favorite series so I was excited to see them in this one. Leighton is making a comeback in Netflix thrillers!

It was going to be hard to top Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon’s performances, but I thought this cast really held their own and I cared about what happened to these characters, which is important in films like this.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Gets more and more intense as the plot unfolds…

Things started off a little slow, but as the movie continued, I was quickly on the edge of my seat. Everything kept building more and more, making this a consuming watch. I’m not sure I’ll be attempting whitewater rafting any time soon, but this movie really got my adrenaline pumping and I felt like I was there!

It really made me want to re-watch the original film again, which you should watch immediately if you haven’t yet. Trust me…it’s fantastic!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Should have been a standalone thriller to prevent comparisons…

The plots really have nothing to do with one another except for the fact that they are whitewater rafting and someone in their group means to do them harm. Other than that, this is a completely different thriller and I’m wondering why it was called the same name.

As a standalone film, this one checks off all the boxes for me as a fantastic “movie of the week.” It’s actually really solid and my only con is that it doesn’t come close to the original. This film was strong enough to have its own name and identity and I think sharing the name with the original film hindered it slightly.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

Leighton Meester shines in this intense and entertaining thriller!

If you enjoy quick survival thrillers, there’s plenty to appreciate in this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The River Wild (2023) 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 “Quicksand” on Shudder: Solid Survival Suspense Film

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

“We both need to be perfectly still…”

Quicksand released on Shudder on July 14th 2023. The survival thriller film stars Carolina Gaitan, Allan Hawco, and Sebastian Eslava. It runs for an hour and twenty-five minutes.

Sofia and Josh are thinking about getting a divorce when they go hiking together in a rainforest in Colombia, but they end up with bigger problems when they get trapped in quicksand with dangerous predators close by.

Here is the trailer:

Quicksand has plenty of intense and edge-of-your-seat moments with a familiar, but entertaining plot. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Shudder

Enough threats to keep us invested.

As if getting stuck in quicksand wasn’t horrifying enough, Sofia and Josh had to deal with a lot of other predators that had me squirming in my seat. There were plenty of intense moments in this one. I personally really like survival thrillers and this film did a good job of representing the genre with a few welcomed surprises.

Images courtesy of Shudder

Decent pacing.

I was worried that we might have to suffer through fluff-filled flashbacks to keep things moving, but the pacing worked really nicely in this film. The characters had enough time to hash things out while trying to figure out a way out of their situation. I never felt bored and I thought the actors gave us honest performances.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Shudder

A movie I’ve seen before…

I did enjoy this one quite a bit, but it’s a very familiar plot. I’ve seen plenty of survival thriller/horror flicks where the main couple are having problems and then they end up in a life-threatening situation in different settings.

That’s pretty much the case with this film, but it’s still entertaining. Just don’t expect anything too out there…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Shudder

I’m in about 75 percent…

A survival thriller worth your time with plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments.

This film was predictable, but it still checked off all the boxes to make this an enjoyable watch from start to finish.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Quicksand 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 “Survive” on Demand: Sophie Turner Gives it Her All

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

“I’ve never been good at lying…”

Survive originally released on the short-lived streaming platform, Quibi in 2020 as individual chapters/episodes, but has now released officially in the US (on Demand) on June 20th 2023 as a full length film. The survival thriller stars Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins. It runs for an hour and forty-eight minutes.

After their plane crashes in the snow-covered mountains, Jane and Paul have to work together to make it out alive.

Here is the trailer:

Survive is packed with intense and edge-of-your-seat moments with a strong performance from Sophie Turner, but does it do enough to earn a a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Gunpowder & Sky

Sophie Turner gives an emotional performance worth experiencing.

The Game of Thrones star is no stranger to cold winters, but she showed off her range in this film and elevated it in a lot of ways. I thought both actors did a good job and I enjoyed the chemistry between them. I was rooting for Sophie’s character the entire time. She was exceptionally good in this and I hope to see her in more films soon!

Images courtesy of Gunpowder & Sky

Good balance of intense survival moments and emotionally-stirring ones.

In a lot of ways this film reminded me of the Melissa Barrera series, Keep Breathing. There were some nail-biting moments for sure that kept the pacing moving with a lot of emotional layers and revelations built in, which worked seamlessly. It helped me care a lot more about these characters and left us with some important life lessons as well.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Gunpowder & Sky

The opening is a little heavy.

I get that we were trying to understand Jane’s character and where she was at in her life, but it felt very emotionally draining and it was tough to watch at times. Luckily the pacing picked up around the thirty minute mark so this wasn’t a major con.

I enjoyed my watch overall, but I’m not sure that this film did anything that unique in the survival/wilderness thriller genre. I’ve seen this type of movie many times before. That being said, it still had a lot of heart in it and some sincere moments.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Gunpowder & Sky

I’m in!!!

Sophie Turner breathes life into your typical survival thriller.

I was genuinely moved by my watch and I thought that both actors did a great job with what they were given.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Survive 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 “Distress Signals” on Demand: Slow Burn Survival Thriller

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

“Can somebody come get me?”

Distress Signals released on Digital and Demand on May 12th 2023. The survival thriller film stars Christine Nyland and Terence Krey. They also wrote and directed the movie. It runs for an hour and twenty minutes.

After taking a nasty fall that separates her from her friends, Caroline must figure out a way to survive and escape the woods.

Here is the trailer:

Distress Signals follows a simple formula that is actually really compelling with an eerie final act that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Unquiet Films

Christine Nyland is captivating on screen.

I was extremely impressed to find out that she was also part of the writing and directing team for this film. It’s difficult to carry films that predominantly center around one character with minimal dialogue and yet she did a good job and held my interest.

I was literally cheering for her during certain moments and even though I wanted to know a little bit more about her character, she commanded the screen in an effective way.

I also enjoyed the subtle soundtrack and I thought this film was shot really well.

A final act I did not see coming!

For the most part, this film follows your standard formula for a survival thriller. In a lot of ways, it was a decent enough mix of Alone (2020) and the series, Keep Breathing (starring Melissa Barrera). Caroline has to handle overcoming an injury, finding her way out of the woods, dealing with potential predators, and finding food and water, which I’ve seen a lot in similar movies.

But things don’t stop there and they take a major shift in the last thirty minutes or so, where we get some shocking moments I did not see coming. I really enjoyed the last act and I wanted more of it! 

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Unquiet Films

Slower pacing…

If you’re looking for a jam-packed thriller filled with lots of action, you won’t get that here. This is a different kind of a thriller. I still enjoyed it, but I wanted more grit and edge at times. I also wish that the last act had been fleshed out a little bit more because it was the best part of the movie.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Unquiet Films

I’m in about 75 percent…

Distress Signals may seem like your average thriller at first glance, but its slow burn approach does pay off in the end. If you enjoy survival/wilderness thrillers, there is enough here for you to appreciate.

I wanted a touch more to make it stand out from similar films, but I enjoyed my watch overall.

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