Spoiler-Free Review of “What You Wish For” on Demand: The Perfect Thriller for Fans of The Menu

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

“Nice gig…”

What You Wish For released on demand on May 31st 2024. The horror thriller film stars Nick Stahl, Tamsin Topolski, Penelope Mitchell, and Juan Carlos Messier. It runs for approximately an hour and forty minutes.

After fleeing the country to avoid paying back his gambling debt, a chef assumes the identity of an old friend and takes on a gig as a private chef for the wealthy. However, when he finds out the agency’s true motives, he desperately tries to find a way out of his new circumstances.

Here is the trailer:

What You Wish For features an exceptional performance by Nick Stahl in this enthralling thriller that was beyond shocking. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Magnet Releasing

Visually striking.

This film was so gorgeous to look at from the scenery to the food to the lighting. It was very pleasing to the eye despite all of the horrific things that were happening, which enhanced the overall message of the film in a lot of ways.

Nick Stahl gives a worthy performance.

He felt very relatable in this role and I was drawn in by him completely. This was a smaller cast, but everyone did a great job with what they were given. I loved the performances, but Stahl was a stand-out for sure.

Images courtesy of Magnet Releasing

Hooked me right from the start!

Although the first fifteen minutes were a little slow, it quickly turned things around and hooked me with so many shocking reveals. I honestly couldn’t look away. Each shocking moment was so well placed and I really loved that ending.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Magnet Releasing

Go into it blind.

This isn’t really a con, but definitely a recommendation. It’s better if you go into this movie without knowing much about it. It will make the reveals that much more shocking. The trailer gave away a little bit too much in my opinion.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Magnet Releasing

I’m in!!!

What You Wish For is a dark and consuming thriller well worth your time.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this one and highly recommend it, especially if you enjoyed The Menu.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island 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 “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 “Knock at the Cabin” in Theaters: Moving and Engrossing Watch

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

“Our choices make our destiny…”

Knock at the Cabin released in theaters on February 3rd 2023. The M. Night Shyamalan thriller stars Dave Bautista, Ben Aldridge, Jonathan Groff, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-nine minutes.

A young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four strangers while vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods. They are told that they must make an impossible choice in order to avoid the apocalypse.

Here is the trailer:

Knock at the Cabin is a thrilling and emotional roller-coaster ride, creating an effective story that hooks you right from the start. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Doesn’t mess around…

This film gets straight to the point without any unnecessary fluff or set-up. I was pulled in immediately and I thought that the pacing worked really well. I never felt like I was watching this one for too long and I was completely captivated by it.

This was such an intense story and premise and I think it executed everything perfectly. It was a lot better than I anticipated, which was a nice surprise.

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Emotional and touching.

I was really invested in this film because the chosen family was so convincing and believable. The flashbacks sprinkled into the film worked seamlessly and created necessary layers for these characters so that we actually cared about what happened to them without ever overdoing it. It just worked naturally, giving this film a solid balance that helped it surpass your average thriller.

The performances were chilling and top-notch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

Predictable at times…

This wasn’t a huge con, but I saw certain outcomes coming a mile away. We didn’t really get any insane twists thrown at us either, which was actually kind of refreshing since M. Night Shyamalan movies are usually hit or miss for me because of this very reason. If you’re looking for crazy twists, you won’t necessarily find them here, but I think as long as you manage your expectations, you’ll still enjoy your watch.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Universal Pictures

I’m in!

A thriller that will stay with you well after it’s over!

This movie really makes you think a lot about things and it explores a chilling concept that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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.

Spoiler-Free Review of “Lou” on Netflix: “Taken” style Thriller has some Intense Moments

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

“Turns out I’m not done yet…”

Lou premiered on Netflix on September 23rd 2022. Produced by J.J. Abrams, the action thriller film stars Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, and Logan Marshall-Green.  It runs for an hour and forty-seven minutes.

When a young girl is kidnapped during a storm, her mother teams up with her neighbor to track her down, who has a few secrets of her own.

Here is the trailer:

Lou has plenty of intense moments built in with a believable performance from Allison Janney, but does it do enough to earn a a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

The simple moments are perfection!

This film definitely had a gender-swapping Taken feel with some sprinkles of Alone with its setting in the wilderness. The first half of this movie was so good! I was on the edge of my seat and that early fight scene was fantastic! The formula may have been used before, but it worked and was exactly what I was looking for.

Images courtesy of Netflix

Top-notch performances!

Allison Janney was seriously bad-ass in this movie! I’d now love to see a team-up with her and Liam Neeson because she might be able to give him a run for his money! Logan Marshall-Green is always fun to see as well and I thought all of the performances were well done.

The dog, Jax, was a scene stealer!

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Over-complicates things with its reveal…

I didn’t hate the reveal, but I thought it took away from the gritty and simple formula that was working so well in this film. There was so much intensity early on and some of that faded away once things were out in the open. The pieces of the puzzle made sense and I was fine with the ending, but I guess I just wanted this film to embrace its early vibe and just go with it.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

If you enjoy action thrillers, there’s plenty to like in this film. Allison Janney is incredible and there are enough suspenseful moments to keep you invested from start to finish.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Lou 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 “Last Light” on Peacock: Welcome back to TV, Matthew Fox!

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

“We’ll get to the bottom of it…”

Last Light released on Peacock on September 8th 2022 with all five episodes available to stream now. The environmental thriller series stars Matthew Fox, Joanne Froggatt, Amber Rose Revah, and Alyth Ross.

A global oil crisis unfolds when Andy Yeats is summoned to the Middle East, now separated from his family as all chaos breaks loose.

Here is the trailer:

Last Light has a solid premise with a fan favorite lead, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Matthew Fox is the best part of the series…

Let’s be honest, Matthew Fox is the main reason why I tuned in to this show. LOST is my favorite series of all time and I’ve been waiting for this series to come out for over a year just to see Matthew Fox in it.

While I had some issues with the series, I can say with confidence that Matthew Fox delivered a believable performance. He elevated this series in a lot of ways and it was great to see him on screen.

The other actors did a good job with what they were given.

Some action here and there…

Even though I could see most of the twists and reveals coming, there is some action to enjoy. I thought the opening episode was a lot stronger than what followed, but the show has enough going on to keep you invested. Peacock was smart to release all five episodes at once because I’m not sure this would have translated well as a weekly series.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Peacock

Not as thrilling as I wanted it to be…

The series is not bad at all and very watchable, but I wanted a lot more “thrilling” moments because Matthew Fox is just so good in these types of roles and he deserved a lot more here. I didn’t mind the story-lines splitting up between the different characters, but everything seemed a little bit too predictable and neat to really keep me on the edge of my seat.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

Matthew Fox is fun to watch and there’s enough going on for five episodes to enjoy, but I would manage your expectations accordingly. This was an OK thriller, but it could have been a lot better.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

Blood Rose Island Ad

When sisters, Nina and Gemma are vacationing in Hawaii with their friends, they get invited to an exclusive party on a private island that seems too good to be true. There’s only one rulethey can’t miss their ferry at midnight or they’ll have to wait until morning to leave the island. Only they didn’t realize that breaking this rule meant they would be hunted down on the island one by one.

Who will make it off the island alive?

I hope you enjoy my new island thriller!

Blood Rose Island 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 Ledge” (2022) on Demand: Intense and Brutal Thriller

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

“Use your mind…”

The Ledge (2022) originally released on February 18th 2022. It is currently available to stream on demand. The adventure thriller film stars Brittany Ashworth, Ben Lamb, Nathan Welsh, and Louis Boyer. It runs for an hour and twenty-five minutes.

A rock climber ends up in a life threatening situation when she flees from several men trying to kill her by climbing up a mountain with barely any equipment.

Here is the trailer:

The Ledge follows a simple formula that is actually really effective, giving us plenty of thrills and edge-of-your-seat moments. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Evolution Pictures

Intense AF!

This movie really delivered for me in the intensity department. At first I wasn’t really sure about what I was going to watch and then I was completely reeled in before I knew it. There were so many moments that had me screaming at the television. I love survival-type thrillers like this. In a lot of ways, this film had the same vibe as Alone (2020), which I also really enjoyed. If you haven’t watched that one yet, you can check it out on Hulu.

The Ledge had a very simple approach, but sometimes less is more and I think that this style really suited the film.

Images courtesy of Evolution Pictures

Brittany Ashworth is fantastic!

I loved her character and I thought her performance was believable. She was very easy to root for in this. We didn’t get too much set-up in this film, but the layers of her character were later revealed during her climb and I thought that this helped the audience connect to her journey that much more.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Evolution Pictures

Some over-acting from others…

While Brittany Ashworth really gave it her all, the guys didn’t have the same impact. There was some over-acting going on and these characters didn’t really do much for me even though we got some glimpses of potential here and there. This wasn’t a major con, but since some of the acts we witnessed were really brutal and violent, I wanted a little bit more out of the performances so that the intensity matched. Screaming “bitch” over and over isn’t really that original or effective…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Evolution Pictures

I’m in!

The Ledge may seem like your average thriller, but it really delivers with brutal intensity and a captivating performance. If you enjoy films like Alone (2020) and The River Wild, you will thoroughly enjoy this adventure-thriller.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Ledge (2022) 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 “Pieces of Her” on Netflix: A Thriller with Heart

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

“If someone threatens your child, you do anything to protect them…”

Pieces of Her premiered on March 4th 2022 on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The mystery-thriller series stars Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote, Omari Hardwick and Jacob Scipio. Each episode runs for approximately 45-55 minutes.

After an attack in a small town, a mother desperately tries to protect her daughter against dangerous threats as secrets surrounding her own dark past are revealed.

Here is the trailer:

Pieces of Her hooks its audience with a compelling mystery and plenty of twists and reveals to keep you coming back for more, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Toni Collette is as brilliant as ever!

Wow, she was so good in this! She really manages to fully embrace whatever role she is given and I am always drawn in that much more because of her performances. I thought she was fantastic in this series and she actually elevated it a lot when the plot went down the rabbit hole a few times.

An intriguing mystery.

I thought the mystery at the core of the series was a good one and I actually really liked that this show revealed a lot about this mother-daughter relationship, giving it a more emotional tone which worked in the show’s favor. Although some of the reveals were predictable, there were a lot that I didn’t see coming and I thought that this show was very easy to binge-watch.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Wishy-washy female lead.

I didn’t mind the character of Andy but she started to make some really dumb decisions as the show continued. This was frustrating at times because I want to really care about the characters to remain invested and I had a hard time connecting to her. I don’t think the performance was bad and there were some redeeming moments here and there, but I wanted a lot more from her as a character.

I also thought that the first half of the series was a lot stronger than the second half. Things started to lose steam after a while and we went off on several tangents before we got to the conclusion. That being said, I still think there was enough happening to keep me entertained.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

This show really kept me on the edge of my seat. With each new episode, I needed to know more! If you enjoy mystery thrillers, you will feel right at home with this one.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Pieces of Her 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 “No Exit” on Hulu: Edge-of-your-seat Thrill Ride

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

“Every day can be a fresh start if you want it…”

No Exit released on February 25th 2022 on Hulu. The horror-thriller film based on the novel of the same name stars Havana Rose Liu, Dennis Haysbert, Dale Dickey and Danny Ramirez. It runs for approximately an hour and thirty-five minutes.

When Darby leaves rehab to visit her mother in the hospital, she winds up stranded at a visiting center with a group of strangers after a blizzard strikes. 

Here is the trailer:

No Exit has plenty of twists, thrills, and chills to keep you glued to the screen, but is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Beyond intense!

This is my kind of thriller. I could not stop watching this film and I think it did a really great job with its twists and reveals. My heart was racing the entire time and I was completely invested in what would happen next. This was mostly a thriller, but there were some cringe-worthy moments sprinkled in that had me freaking out in the best way possible!

Images courtesy of Hulu

A strong female lead to root for!

Havana Rose Liu was so good in this! I was rooting for her character the entire time. I thought that her performance was really believable and we also got enough character layers balanced in to make me care about what happened to her. I’d love to see her in more horror and thriller films because she was truly fantastic!

Those twists though…

If you think you have everything figured out already, there will be plenty more twists to keep you on your toes. These are the best kind of thrillers for me. The formula was straightforward and simple, but it just worked and I thought that the twists made it that much more enjoyable.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Hulu

Reveals too much too early…

I really liked the vibe of this film and I thought that there was such an unsettling tension between the group of strangers. I would have liked to have seen the guessing game go on for a little bit longer because I was trying to put the pieces together myself and one of the first reveals happened very quickly.

That being said, there were plenty of other twists to be excited about.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Hulu

I’m in 100 percent!!!

No Exit doesn’t hold anything back! It’s brutal, chilling, and beyond intense. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers, you’re in the right place!

I highly recommend this one, especially if you enjoy films like Alone and Till Death. Much like those films, No Exit has a simple formula and a strong female lead to root for. My kind of movie!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on No Exit in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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!

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Girl Before” on HBO Max: Erotic Thriller that will keep you Guessing

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

“It feels like it’s waiting for someone…”

The Girl Before originally premiered back in December 2021 on BBC One, but released on HBO Max on February 10th 2022. The limited series based on the book of the same name stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jessica Plummer, David Oyelowo and Ben Hardy. There are four episodes in total, which are all available to stream on HBO Max. Each episode runs for approximately 58-60 minutes.

A woman moves into a modern day dream home with an interesting set of rules, as she soon begins to unlock secrets from the past that may put her life in immediate danger.

Here is the trailer:

The Girl Before presents us with a stunning setting and a thrilling mystery that will keep you guessing. Is it worthy of your next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

An apartment to die for…

I love when a mystery/thriller series has a setting that is just as interesting and layered as the characters. The modern apartment is stunning and sleek, but it has so many interesting features and rules, which really helped generate such an unsettling vibe throughout the series. 

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Believable performances.

I thought that Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jessica Plummer were both so electric on screen. I felt their pain and rooted for them whenever possible. They portrayed real women in a type of thriller that didn’t stray too much from the ordinary, which made this series that much more horrifying and powerful for me. 

Unpredictable.

Just when I thought I had everything figured out, this show threw me for a complete loop in the best possible way. If you’re looking for a steamy thriller that you can easily binge-watch, you’re in the right place. 

I also really loved the way the story unfolded between the past and the present, which is not always easy to nail. This can sometimes become confusing, but the different timelines worked seamlessly, luring me in that much more.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Pacing issues at times…

The show took a little while to get going for me and had some pacing issues here and there. After a while, I was completely hooked, but I’m wondering if this might have been better suited as a movie to remove some of the excess fluff.

That being said, I think the pace picks up enough to make this very easy to binge-watch over the weekend.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

If you’re looking for your next guilty-pleasure thriller, you’ve found it! The past and present story-lines centered around the stunning piece of architecture are really intriguing and there are plenty of moments and reveals that will shock you in the best possible way.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Girl Before 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 new young adult horror thriller is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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