Spoiler-Free Review of “The Takeover” on Netflix: Modern Version of “The Net” has some thrills

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

“How long have you been at this?”

The Takeover premiered on November 1st 2022 on Netflix. The Dutch action-thriller film stars Holly Mae Brood, Géza Weisz, and Frank Lammers.  It runs for approximately an hour and twenty-eight minutes.

Framed for murder after uncovering a privacy scandal, a hacker must track down the criminals who framed her and prove her innocence.

Here is the trailer:

The Takeover (2022) is a quick action-thriller with a lot going for it. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A simple formula that works…

This thriller didn’t try to do too much, which I appreciated. It embraced its identity and just went with it. The pacing was solid and there wasn’t too much set-up to weigh things down. Everything worked seamlessly and I enjoyed the action as well. If you’re looking for one of those films where you can just turn your brain off for a while, this one fits the bill.

Strong lead to root for.

I really liked our main character. She was uncomplicated and fearless. I wanted to see more of her hacking skills in action, but I thought she did a great job with the role and elevated this film in a lot of ways with her performance.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Predictable…

Even though I enjoyed this film, it followed its safe formula and stuck with it. It reminded me a lot of The Net starring Sandra Bullock and didn’t stray too far from that familiar plot. I would have liked for it to have found its own identity separate from that film, but it was still a lot of fun to watch.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

A quick action-thriller with a strong female lead to root for. 

If you enjoy films like The Net and Double Jeopardy, you’ll find plenty to like in this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Takeover 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 “Kimi” on HBO Max:  Modern take on the “Rear Window” Formula

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

“So you’re listening to everything?”

Kimi (KIMI) premiered on HBO Max on February 10th 2022. The tech thriller film stars Zoë Kravitz, Byron Bowers, Rita Wilson, Robin Givens, Devin Ratray and Erika Christensen. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

A tech worker with agoraphobia stumbles upon a recording of a violent crime. After several failed attempts to report it, she decides to leave her apartment to seek justice for the woman on the recording, but soon finds herself in immediate danger.

Here is the trailer:

Kimi may initially seem to follow the Rear Window formula, but its electric female lead and modern tech style give watchers plenty to enjoy. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

A worthy performance…

Zoë Kravitz really delivers in this one and then some! I’ve seen a lot of movies like this before with some over-the-top performances that left a lot to be desired, but Kravitz’s portrayal of Angela is believable and chilling. She is broken in a lot of ways, but is also extremely capable and I thought she brought a charming/awkward quality to her character, which made me like her that much more.

The tech angle worked.

In some ways, this movie is like a mix of The Net and Rear Window. Our main character stares out plenty of windows at her neighbors, but the real mystery surrounds something she hears while doing her job. I was worried that the tech feel was going to feel forced to make this film seem more modern, but it actually worked to the film’s advantage and gave it an edge of originality.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

We’ve seen a lot of this set-up before…

I just recently watched the Kristen Bell parody/spoof series, The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window and I couldn’t help chuckling at some of the tropes and plot points that were presented once again in this film. The main character can’t leave her house and she has to channel her strength to actually face her fear. She copes with a past trauma and also has to deal with people not believing her. 

Sound familiar?

Well, yeah. It follows the Rear Window formula, but luckily Kravitz doesn’t keep handing out casserole dishes left and right. 

The plot follows a a very familiar path and the pacing is slow at first, but things do pick up and the ending is rewarding enough.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

The contemporary take on the Rear Window story delivers with a worthy female lead!

I may have seen this type of movie before, but I thought that it was really entertaining and I was glued to my seat the entire time. 

An intense watch!

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