Spoiler-Free Review of “The Beauty” on Hulu: Nip/Tuck meets The Substance

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

“Beautiful people don’t think the rules apply to them…”

The Beauty released on FX and Hulu on January 21st 2026 with its first three episodes. There will be eleven episodes in total. The body horror series (Created by Ryan Murphy and Matt Hodgson) stars Ashton Kutcher, Anthony Ramos, Jeremy Pope, Rebecca Hall, and Evan Peters. Each episode runs for approximately 40-42 minutes.

FBI agents investigate strange deaths all over the world involving a beauty transformation through a STD that has deadly side effects.

Here is the trailer:

The Beauty rips off The Substance in this chaotic, but intriguing enough series. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Stacked cast.

I’d expect nothing less in a Ryan Murphy series. There are tons of familiar faces in this one, which made it a lot more enjoyable. I am also really liking that I don’t know which characters will stick around or not. It’s keeping me guessing, which is a good thing!

Starts off with a bang.

Although it was slightly bizarre and confusing, this series started off at full speed. The pacing slowed down after that killer opening, but I’m hoping this will set the bar for what’s to come. There’s plenty of body horror in this one (although I thought it felt very watered down compared to The Substance).

That being said, I’m not a huge fan of body horror as it is, so I’m ok glossing over some of the extreme gore.

The Cons:

Seems unsure of its focus…

I actually liked this a lot more than I thought I would, but I think it’s a little all over the place. The first three episodes were jam-packed with so much and I’m unsure of what this show wants to be. I’ve seen plenty of Ryan Murphy series over the years, so I know that this can easily go off in a few different directions and change tones very quickly.

I’m liking everything so far, but it does feel a bit messy.

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

The Beauty doesn’t offer the audience anything that new or innovative here, but it’s got enough gore and fun to keep me coming back for more.

I’m just not sure we need 11 episodes of this…

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Beauty 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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Spoiler-Free Review of “Together” in Theaters: Delightfully Disturbing!

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

“This move will be good for both of us…”

Together released in theaters on July 31st 2025. The horror film stars Alison Brie, Dave Franco, and Damon Herriman. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-two minutes.

Real life couple, Dave Franco and Alison Brie, star as Tim and Mille, who move out to the countryside, leaving their friends and loved ones behind while dealing with new strains on their relationship. After going on a hike, they encounter a mysterious force that threatens to bind them together (literally) forever.

Here is the trailer:

Together is bizarre, extreme, and filled with cohesive charm, but does it do enough to be worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Alison Brie & Dave Franco are electric together!

This really should come as no surprise since they are married in real life, but I think it was genius to cast them in a film like this, which relied so heavily on chemistry and connection. I’m not normally into body horror films, but these two sold me on it.

They were relatable and genuinely funny despite the extreme concept, which gave this film a surprising balance of dark rom-com charm and gross out gore. I fell in love with these two on screen and thought they were both fantastic.

They were so committed to this, which worked in the film’s favor. Wow!

Stomach-turning moments!

In a lot of ways, I would say this film was The Substance-lite, which I actually kind of preferred. I don’t like feeling like I’m about to vomit while watching a movie. Don’t get me wrong…there were lots of insane moments if you’re a fan of body horror, but I also appreciated the lore behind it all, which gave it some layered mystery.

The Cons:

The second half is stronger than the first…

I actually really enjoyed this movie and don’t have many cons at all. If I have to nitpick, I would say that this film could have been just a touch shorter. The beginning had some setup that could have been cut out, but I wouldn’t say it got in the way of the pacing that much.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Dave Franco and Alison Brie are a twisted, freaky match made in horror heaven and I’m here for it!

I went into this one not expecting much and it surprised me in all the right ways.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Together 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 “Grafted” on Shudder: Shocking and Stomach-Turning!

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

“With a new face become the real you…”

Grafted premiered on Shudder on January 24th 2025. The body horror film (directed by Sasha Rainbow) stars Joyena Sun, Jess Hong, Jared Turner, and Eden Hart. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

After losing her father, a socially awkward girl named Wei goes to live with her aunt and cousin while studying on scholarship in New Zealand. After accepting a research assistant role in a lab, she begins to further her father’s research to find a way to make others beautiful, but it backfires on her with deadly consequences.

Here is the trailer:

Grafted is a gruesome mix of The Substance and It’s What’s Inside, grabbing hold of its audience with its shocking content and never letting go. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A disturbing premise with twisted Mean Girls flair.

I was completely drawn in by this one. I loved the Mean Girls angle. This film had so many clever nods at Heathers and Jawbreaker while carving out its own dark identity.

Similar to The Substance, this film had a lot to say about the way society views beauty in others, making this a compelling watch with an important message behind it.

P.S. Bikkie the dog is a scene stealer!

Gross body horror (if that’s your thing).

It was a little too much for me personally, but if you enjoy films with extreme body horror, you’ll get plenty of that in this one. I wouldn’t recommend watching this while eating and I had second thoughts about my face mask after watching this…

The Cons:

A film I’ve seen before.

Don’t get me wrong…I really enjoyed this one, but in a lot of ways it felt like a watered down version of movies I’ve seen before. However, it follows that formula well enough in a unique way so this wasn’t a major con for me.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

GRAFTED is a disturbing and jaw-dropping watch that has A LOT to say.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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!

Ranking my Top 10 Films of 2024: Which Movies Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2025, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 Films of 2024.

There are still a lot of movies that I have not seen yet, but I wanted to highlight some of my favorites of the year so far!

My Top 10 Films of 2024 are:

10

Late Night with the Devil

I went into the theater not knowing what to expect with this one and I was blown away by it. The late night show approach worked so well and I was completely captivated by the performances…and that ending…wow.

If you haven’t seen this yet, I highly recommend it. It was an absolute gem!

9

The First Omen

It’s rare for a prequel to make such a splash, but this film was original and chilling. It paid respect to its predecessor while still finding its own identity. There were so many shocking and stomach-turning moments in this. If you’re a horror fan, this is a must watch!

8

Carry-On

Die Hard meets Red Eye! This Netflix thriller checked off all the boxes for me and was such a welcomed surprise. Jason Bateman was a convincing and captivating villain worth talking about. I adore simple and fast-paced thrillers like this.

7

Don’t Move

These are my favorite kinds of thrillers! I love cat-and-mouse survival thrillers with a simple, but effective approach and a small cast. This film was so intense! My heart was racing the entire time and I was rooting for our lead until the very end.

6

Smile 2

This sequel exceeded the first film! Naomi Scott gave my favorite performance of the year. Smile 2 was creepy, shocking, and completely unnerving. I was so impressed by this film and loved Naomi Scott’s wardrobe! I’m obsessed with those white boots!

5

The Beekeeper

Jason Statham can do no wrong! He kicked ass! This was one of the first films I watched in 2024 and I’m still talking about it. It was brutal, fast-paced, and filled to the brim with amazing action. I loved every second of it!

4

Alien: Romulus

Talk about stomach-turning horror…this film had so many moments that made my skin crawl. Adrenaline-filled, terrifying, and one of the best films of the franchise! This film exceeded my expectations!

3

Deadpool & Wolverine

I had high expectations for this film and it absolutely delivered. It was fun, hilarious, and had plenty of exciting cameos. This is one of those films that you can re-watch over and over again. More please!

2

Your Monster

Every now and again, I fall completely in love with a film that moves me to tears and this was that film for 2024. Your Monster was offbeat, unique, and beyond brilliant. Melissa Barrera was fantastic and took my breath away. I’m still thinking about that jaw-dropping ending!

Honorable Mentions:

Heretic

Longlegs

Strange Darling

Oddity

Blink Twice

The Substance

Speak No Evil

Drum roll please…

1

Abigail

I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie multiple times in the theater, but I had to keep going back for more on the big screen. This film is the definition of CINEMA for me. It had a killer cast that I will be talking about for a long time. It was so much fun and filled with bloody entertaining moments. I didn’t have to think twice about what my favorite film was for the year.

This one blew the others out of the water and is now one of my favorite horror films of all time!

I hope to see more films from 2024 soon, but I hope you enjoyed the list!

Did you have a favorite film of 2024? If so, drop it in the comments!

I wish you all a happy and healthy new year and can’t wait to review more new films in 2025! Happy viewing!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Substance” on Demand: Be Careful What You Wish For…

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

“Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?”

The Substance premiered in theaters on September 20th 2024 and is now available to stream on demand (and on MUBI) as of October 31st 2024. The sci-fi body horror film (written and directed by Coralie Fargeat) stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid. It runs for approximately two hours and twenty minutes.

After turning 50, a celebrity fitness instructor is devastated after her boss fires her. Opportunity knocks when a laboratory offers her a new drug that will transform her into a more vibrant version of herself, but it leads to unexpected side effects.

Here is the trailer:

The Substance is a shocking and gruesome watch elevated by a brilliant performance by Demi Moore. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Demi Moore goes all out in the best way possible!

I heard that she was spectacular in this and she did not disappoint. I was blown away by her performance. This was a very different role for her, but she knocked it out of the park. I think people will be talking about this performance for a long time.

Margaret Qualley did a great job too and is really making a name for herself in the horror genre.

Intriguing satire.

The message behind the film about vanity and the unfair standards women are held to really resonated with me. I thought this was all presented in a clever and unique way. I credit that to the wonderful Coralie Fargeat, who wrote and directed one of my favorite “good for her” films, Revenge, back in 2017. Her risks keep paying off and I can’t wait to see what she creates next.

The Cons:

Extreme body horror.

If that’s your jam, then you will LOVE this film. It was probably the grossest film I’ve ever watched. For me personally, I’m not into this level of body horror. It was uncomfortable and disgusting, but I’m not going to fault this film for going all out here. It just wasn’t for me.

I also thought the film was a touch too long.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

The Substance is a bold and stomach-turning watch that demands and deserves attention.

This film was unlike anything else I’ve seen before, making this an interesting viewing experience overall.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

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!

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