Spoiler-Free Review of “The Chestnut Man” on Netflix: Twisted and Engrossing Mystery

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

“I was assigned to a rather special case…”

The Chestnut Man released on Netflix on September 29th 2021 with six episodes available to stream now. The Danish crime drama series stars Danica Curcic, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Iben Dorner and David Dencik. Each episode runs for approximately 52-55 minutes.

A figurine made out of chestnuts is found at a gruesome crime scene as two detectives quickly discover that it may be linked with a past case.

Here is the trailer:

The Chestnut Man is brought to us from the same original creator of The Killing, luring us in with another dark and gripping mystery. Does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Channels the vibe of The Killing.

Much like The Killing, this mystery is dark and unsettling, but it also draws you in completely. I thought the mystery was a good one (really disturbing at times) and I was completely invested during my watch. The pacing also worked extremely well. There were only six episodes which worked in the show’s favor.

Sometimes these types of shows can get lost along the way, but I thought that each episode did plenty to keep us coming back for more.

Images courtesy of Netflix

A new partnership to be excited about.

I really loved these two together on screen. I thought that the dynamic worked well and each character had enough individual layers to make you truly care about what happened to them. This show could have easily gotten lost in the mystery and it still took the time to explore these characters and their partnership.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A lot of moving pieces at times.

I don’t think this is really a con, but you need to pay attention to this show or you might miss something. There are a lot of sub-plots going on but I didn’t think they were too overwhelming. However, some were slightly unnecessary.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

I’m so glad that I found this series because it really was such a compelling and dark mystery. I needed to be in the right mindset to watch it, but it was a powerful show with really fantastic story-telling and I hope it gets the attention it deserves.

If you enjoyed The Killing, you will feel right at home with this series.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Chestnut Man 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 “Dexter: New Blood” on Showtime: The Dark Passenger Returns

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

“Tonight’s the night…”

Dexter: New Blood premiered on November 7th 2021. After the series finale in 2013, the show is back with ten new episodes that will air weekly. The show stars Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Jones and Jack Alcott. Each episode runs for approximately 52-55 minutes.

Ten years have passed since Dexter Morgan left his home in Miami, as he starts over as Jim Lindsay in upstate New York.

Here is the trailer:

Dexter: New Blood gives fans another chance to connect with their favorite serial killer as a different kind of monster emerges in a new setting. Does Dexter: New Blood do enough to make up for its disappointing series finale? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Showtime

Michael C. Hall is as brilliant as ever.

Even though it’s been quite a long time since we have last seen Dexter Morgan on the small screen, Michael C. Hall makes us feel right at home. His portrayal of Dexter Morgan is still spot on to the point that you think he has truly been starting over his new life for the last ten years.

The voice-over narration still works and we now get a new dead relative for Dexter to bounce ideas off with which was a welcomed presence.

The potential to make things right.

Dexter is one of my favorite series of all time but I was thoroughly disappointed with the series finale. The new series can really set things right for our favorite character, but it needs to make sure it is balancing familiar connections and premises with something new and unique to keep things fresh. So far there is a lot of potential in the new series with different characters and a new mystery to keep us invested, but it needs to be careful about recycling old plots…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Showtime

What’s really new with Dexter?

Sure, we have a brand new setting and new characters, but the plot seems all too familiar. I’m not really complaining because I love this plot, but the show needs to be very careful with how it proceeds.

There is a lot of talk about “change,” but so far the struggle seems all too familiar. We have nine more episodes to go so I’m hoping to truly see a change in our favorite character so that things can resolve in a satisfying way, but I’m also looking for something new and bold to shake things up. 

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Showtime

I’m in!

I have been anxiously waiting for this series to arrive and so far I am completely invested. It’s so great to see Michael C. Hall on the screen again and I’m confident that the series will present us with a worthy ending this time around!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Dexter: New Blood 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!

**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 “Just Beyond” on Disney+: Kid Friendly Horror Comedy

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

“What is this place?”

Just Beyond is a new horror comedy anthology series inspired by the works of R.L. Stine. The series premiered on October 13th 2021 on Disney+ with all eight episodes available to stream now. Just Beyond stars McKenna Grace, Lexi Underwood, Cedric Joe, Henry Thomas and Nasim Pedrad. Each episode runs for approximately 25-30 minutes.

Each episode explores a different phenomenon as our characters are immersed into a world filled with aliens, witches and ghosts.

Here is the trailer:

Just Beyond attempts to bring us more kids friendly horror with some fun and spooky premises, but does it do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Disney+

Stand-out episodes.

I really loved episodes one and four in particular. Each episode had its own unique story, but I almost thought some of these episodes could have actually branched off into their own shows. They were really intriguing and I loved the characters!

They also found just the right balance of creepy fun for both kids and adults.

A new entry for kids horror.

Kids horror has been releasing some solid entries lately and I liked that this series took a different approach. The series could have easily attempted to channel Goosebumps or even the new Are You Afraid of the Dark? reboot, but the horror comedy angle was different and I think it worked in a lot of ways.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Disney+

A disconnect at times and slightly repetitive.

Since I really liked some episodes more than others, it was difficult binge-watching all of the episodes in this anthology series because it lost some of its magic with each episode.

I also thought that a lot of the themes were similar and maybe this show would have benefited from releasing its episodes weekly to prevent things from becoming too stale.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Disney+

I’m in about 75 percent…

This series is fun for the whole family (although you probably want to monitor the content of each episode for your kids) and it gave us another welcomed entry into the kids horror genre.

Overall, it was a fun watch with lots of potential.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Just Beyond 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 “My Name” on Netflix: Fierce Revenge Story

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

“If I find him, then I will kill him…”

My Name premiered on October 15th 2021 on Netflix with eight episodes available to stream now. The South Korean revenge action series (originally called Undercover) stars Han So Hee, Ahn Bo-hyun and Hee-Soon Park. Each episode runs for approximately 45-50 minutes.

After a young girl’s father is murdered, she devotes her life to revenge, training under a powerful crime boss who agrees to help her find the person responsible.

Here is the trailer:

My Name delivers with a powerful female lead and some killer fight scenes, but does it do enough to separate itself from other revenge plots? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Fantastic fight scenes!

There was so much action in this series and I loved it! Ji-Woo kicked some ass and the fight scenes were intense, bloody, and really inventive at times. The series was smart to have a jam-packed fight scene at the end of every episode to leave you wanting more. My adrenaline was pumping during this show.

I haven’t been this excited about fight scenes since Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

Images courtesy of Netflix

A character to root for.

Ji-Woo really was such a fantastic character. She had so many layers and my heart broke for her again and again. She’s just one of those characters you find yourself automatically rooting for. The actress did an amazing job with her portrayal. I really believed all of her emotions. It’s difficult balancing emotion with edge and somehow she seamlessly connected the two.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

A revenge plot I’ve seen before…

I’ve seen this type of plot before and while I enjoyed it thoroughly, it didn’t stray from this popular formula too much. I think that it had a real intensity and edge to it with a few reveals that were worth sticking around for, but other aspects were predictable.

I still loved this series, but I would have liked a little bit more originality here.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

This series really put the audience on an emotional roller coaster ride. The fight scenes were out of this world and Ji-Woo was such an incredible character to watch. I loved this series and while the ending was bitter sweet in a lot of ways, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this show because it really did a great job of reeling me in!

Intense, brutal, and a worthy character to root for against all odds!

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

**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 “Locke & Key” season two on Netflix: Growing Up Isn’t Easy

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

“I found a new key…”

Locke & Key season two premiered on Netflix on October 22nd 2021 with ten new episodes available to stream now. The supernatural mystery series stars Emilia Jones, Connor Jessup, Jackson Robert Scott, Darby Stanchfield and Aaron Ashmore. Each episode runs for approximately 48-50 minutes.

The Locke family is back, but they realize that evil is still lurking in the shadows, determined to make a dangerous new key that could threaten the lives of everyone around them.

Here is the trailer:

Locke & Key season two has matured into a darker story, but does it still have enough magic in it to keep us entertained? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Supporting characters get their chance to shine.

In season one, I was mostly intrigued by the Locke siblings and the villainess, Dodge. A lot of the other characters felt mostly filler and we didn’t really learn much about them. I appreciated that we actually got to devote some serious time to their development in season two (particularly Uncle Duncan and Nina Locke).

This helped solve the slight disconnect I had with season one and I actually really enjoyed their story-lines!

Images courtesy of Netflix

Dark fast-paced plot.

Season one of the series really had an innocence to it. It was a wonderful breath of fresh air and I felt like I was transported right along with the Locke siblings into each one of their new adventures.

There is a different feel to season two and it mirrors the struggle some of the Locke siblings are having when it comes to magic and growing up. Even though it was different, I still liked the overall plot. Things just felt much darker in season two. I loved a lot of the elements thrown our way and I thought that the episodes were fast-paced enough to keep me invested in the mystery at its core.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Netflix

Downgraded villains…

Laysa De Oliveira as Dodge was such a good villainess in season one. Things just didn’t have that same wicked quality in season two with our above partners in crime. I thought that Eden was a lot stronger than Gabe (plus she wore some killer heeled boots), but there was more of a whiny feel to them. They just seemed like teenagers acting as villains, where De Oliveira was the epitome of evil.

A lot to keep track of…

I felt like I needed to take notes just to keep up. If you are thinking of skipping the recap…don’t! I needed the recap and I probably should have re-watched the entire first season because there was so much crammed into season two and I had a difficult time remembering things. Maybe I need a memory key too…

The plot was good, but it was also slightly all over the place. We know that season three has already been confirmed so it could have been possible to carry over some stuff into the next season rather than jamming it all into season two, which was slightly overwhelming.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my watch. I think that the Locke siblings really work well together and you genuinely care about their well-being. The magic was still there, but it had a more mature feel and that’s okay.

I had some reservations about certain elements but there was enough happening to keep me entertained throughout my watch.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

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!

**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 in the Woods” on Peacock: Can another Chosen One make an impact?

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

“Deep in the woods lies a secret door…”

The Girl in the Woods released on October 21st 2021 on Peacock with all eight episodes available to stream now. The supernatural drama series stars Stefanie Scott, Sofia Bryant, Misha Osherovich, Will Yun Lee and Leonard Roberts. Each episode runs for approximately 25-30 minutes.

A young runaway flees a cult destined to protect the world from the monsters beyond the door when she crosses paths with two new friends in West Pine, Oregon, as their two worlds collide.

Here is the trailer:

The Girl in the Woods has a familiar formula that has worked for shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the more recent Warrior Nun, but does this show do enough to find its own identity? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

The Girl in the Woods spoiler free 1

Images courtesy of Peacock

Creepy flickers here and there.

The door that Carrie is sworn to protect can unleash monsters from our nightmares and some of the ones we see are actually kind of terrifying and creepy in a good way. I think that the premise is a decent one and the woods can be terrifying on their own, creating a supernatural mystery that has some potential.

The Cons:

The Girl in the Woods spoiler free 2

Images courtesy of Peacock

A chosen one without any edge.

Shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Stranger Things, and even Warrior Nun understood the importance of having an empowering chosen one to really light up the screen. Unfortunately I didn’t really connect with our chosen one in this series…at all.

The acting wasn’t horrible, but there was just no personality and even though we are supposed to understand that she grew up away from society, I needed more layers to truly care about her.

I actually connected more with the two friends who had some redeeming qualities. We form another type of Scooby gang (which had its moments), but it wasn’t enough to spark any real interest here.

Really predictable…

I really made a valiant effort to connect to the mystery even with the bland chosen one, but a lot of the reveals were just so predictable and uninspiring. There were moments meant to create some kind of emotional response in the audience and yet I found myself frustrated and really bored unfortunately.

There was no real humor in this show either and the lighting was so dreary. The episodes are only about twenty-five minutes each, which should make this easy to binge-watch, and yet I found myself checking the time, which is never a good sign in terms of pacing.

So am I in or out?

The Girl in the Woods spoiler free 3

Images courtesy of Peacock

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

If you are going to use a popular formula, you need to really make sure it delivers and this one just felt extremely forgettable. I needed so much more from this show and even though there were some glimmers of potential sprinkled in, the creepy vibe was stifled by the uninspiring main character and the overall predictable and bland feel of the show.

I’d recommend re-watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer instead.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

Girl Number Thirteen Only 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 “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2021) on Prime Video: A Re-imagining Done Right

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

“You can never really know anyone…least of all yourself.”

I Know What You Did Last Summer premiered on Prime Video on October 15th 2021. The teen horror drama series (based on the Lois Duncan novel and the iconic film series) stars Madison Iseman, Brianne Tju, Ezekiel Goodman, Ashley Moore and Bill Heck. There are four episodes in season one available to stream now. The remaining four episodes will air weekly. Each episode runs for approximately 45-48 minutes.

After a fatal accident, a group of friends are stalked by a killer one year later, causing secrets to emerge and friendships to be tested.

Here is the trailer:

I Know What You Did Last Summer is the series I have been waiting for. It gives us some welcomed nostalgia for the original film series while finding a voice of its own, but is it worthy of YOUR next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

A solid twist on the original.

I’ve seen plenty of reboots and adaptations of films and I didn’t really know what I was going to get with this series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the twist thrown our way. There will be no spoilers in this review, but I thought that this show channeled the original vibe of one of my favorite films while finding a unique voice of its own.

You don’t mess with the original and this series understands that. Rather, it takes a new approach and a new setting to keep us entertained and it was the right call.

I also love that the series sprinkles in some Cruel Intentions and Cruel Summer vibes as well to give this series an edge.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Plenty of gore to satisfy the slasher fans.

The teen series takes a page out of Slasher’s book and presents us with plenty of gore and nudity galore. I’m not sure it needed all of that, but the gory kills are pretty solid and it helps balance out a lot of the teen melodrama you can expect in this type of show.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

The killer needs to toy with them more…

I appreciate that this series is finding its own way with a different story, but if we are going to put up a message on a mirror, then I would also like to see the killer really mess with the group more. So far we have seen some horrific kills and some text messages pop up, but I want more.

Part of what made the original film so terrifying for me was the way that the killer lurked around and made the characters question everything and everyone around them. Someone already chopped off their hair without the killer’s help and while the pilot episode makes an attempt at this, I think that it could really add to the vibe of the show without copying the original film too much.

I also think that the characters seem to cope really easily with the death of those around them. I want to connect to all of them and it sometimes makes them come off as completely heartless, but I think that some of them are going to end up showing true remorse so I’ll see how this plays out in the next four episodes.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in!

I was genuinely impressed at how well this show executed everything. The twist worked and it really helped me connect to this show. It balanced the perfect amount of nostalgia from the original film while presenting us with something new and really addicting!

There are some rough edges to work through, but overall this is a really entertaining series and it is delivering with plenty of gore, twists, and reveals. 

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A Halloween they’ll never forget…

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!

**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 “One of Us Is Lying” on Peacock: Everyone is a Suspect

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

“Everybody has secrets…right?”

One of Us Is Lying is a new teen mystery drama series based on the best-selling book of the same name. It premiered on October 7th 2021, featuring six episodes available to stream now on Peacock (approximately 45-48 minutes in length). The remaining two episodes will air on October 21st 2021. The show stars Marianly Tejada, Cooper van Grootel, Annalisa Cochrane, Chibuikem Uche, and Mark McKenna.

One of Us Is Lying introduces us to five teens who wind up with detention, but things get interesting when one of them doesn’t make it out alive, involving them all within the mystery surrounding the death. The remaining characters try to cope with the aftermath, as we soon learn that they all have motives to murder their classmate, but who is the killer?

Here is the trailer:

One of Us Is Lying is very much Gossip Girl meets Pretty Little Liars, but does it do enough to step away from the teenage clichés it wants to comment on? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

One of Us Is Lying Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of Peacock

A solid mystery to keep you coming back for more.

Sure, I’ve seen this type of show before and I actually recently read this book as well, but I do think this mystery is decent enough to keep you hitting play on the next episode. It keeps you guessing and it reels the audience in that much more to keep you invested from start to finish.

Uses the gossip app in a more strategic way than some of its predecessors.

I was pretty disappointed with the Gossip Girl reboot and it’s hard to be relevant and original when so many of these shows overlap with similar premises, but I actually thought that this show used the gossip app more effectively.

The secrets that were exposed added to the mystery and I liked that we knew the author of the app immediately to prevent things from feeling too much like the original Gossip Girl.

The Cons:

One of Us Is Lying Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of Peacock

Fits neatly into the tropes it comments on…

The narrator in the opening episode talks about the clicks and clichés in your typical high school setting, but the show doesn’t actually do anything to set itself apart from this. Making a comment on it is not enough for me.

All of the characters fit neatly into tropes we have seen before in these types of high school mysteries and while the characters have some redeeming qualities, I wanted something a little bit deeper here.

So am I in or out?

One of Us Is Lying Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of Peacock

I’m in about 75 percent…

I like this type of show and I enjoyed the book for the most part. So far I am invested during my watch and I think that the mystery is good enough to keep you coming back for more. I would have liked to see this show take a few more risks and step out of its comfort zone so that it doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of other teen mystery dramas, but it still is entertaining enough and the quick release of the episodes makes it easy to binge-watch.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on One of Us Is Lying 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…

Unmask killer promo

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 “Chucky” on USA Network: Creepy Start!

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

“Wanna play?”

Chucky premiered on USA Network and SyFy on October 12th 2021. The horror series adaptation is based on the Child’s Play franchise. The series stars Zackary Arthur, Devon Lopez, Teo Briones, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Devon Sawa, Christine Elise, and Jennifer Tilly. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. 

After a vintage doll shows up in a yard sale, Jake Webber quickly learns that it will be far from easy for him to end his friendship with the latest addition to his collection…

Here is the trailer:

Chucky is giving us some killer fun in October, but can it make an impact as a television series? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Chucky spoiler free 1

Images courtesy of USA Network

Good pacing and creepy vibes!

I was worried that we would get a lot of set-up in the pilot episode, but I was pleasantly surprised by the pacing. There was a good balance of character introduction and creepy elements to remind us why we are watching this show in the first place.

I initially had some reservations about this airing on basic cable, but I didn’t need a lot of gore to be completely freaked out by what I was watching. I think that the writers and director were smart about how they approached this and there is enough content to keep you entertained so far.

Familiar faces and more to the story…

Fans will be pleased to see some familiar faces pop up throughout the series, which is another reason to tune in. We are also getting to explore some more elements involving Charles Lee Ray and his past, which gives us another side of the story so that things don’t become too stale.

The Cons:

Chucky spoiler free 2

Images courtesy of USA Network

Not too sure on the series format yet.

While I like the idea and the premise, I’m worried that we might run out of things to cover in eight episodes. Things could easily lose steam and the creepy factor can sizzle out over time. I’m keeping an open mind but this could be problematic.

So am I in or out?

Chucky Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of USA Network

I’m in!

I thoroughly enjoyed my watch of the pilot episode and I’m curious to see what happens next. I’m excited to see some familiar faces show up and I think we will get plenty of creepy scares to keep us on our toes!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

HAVE A KILLER HALLOWEEN…

Scream Hunt Promo window

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!

**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 “Squid Game” on Netflix: Crazy, Intense and a Contender for my favorite show of the year!

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

“Would you like to play a game with me?”

Squid Game premiered on Netflix on September 17th 2021. The Korean survival drama series stars Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae Soo, HoYeon Jung, Yeong-su Oh and Heo Sung-tae. There are nine episodes in season one available to stream now. Each episode runs for approximately 55-60 minutes.

After being invited to a mysterious tournament, hundreds of people in debt agree to participate in games from their childhood for a chance at a huge cash prize, but the stakes are higher than they realize.

Here is the trailer:

Squid Game is one of those shows you have to keep watching. It’s strange, addicting, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Is it worthy of YOUR next binge-watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Squid Game Spoiler Free 1

Images courtesy of Netflix

Each game is more intense than the next.

As soon as I got to the end of the first episode, I needed to hit play immediately. You may think you know what type of game you’re going to get, but once you are experiencing them first hand, you will be so invested and involved. It almost felt like I was playing right along with them.

I was so nervous about what would happen next and the show did a good job of making me care about the outcomes.

Squid Game Spoiler Free 2

Images courtesy of Netflix

Incredible characters.

I knew that I shouldn’t get attached to the characters based on the premise of the show, but it was extremely difficult not to. Each character was so interesting and layered. There were some hilarious moments as well as some heartbreaking and heartwarming ones.

There were some characters that really shocked me with their actions and others that got their rightful revenge. The actors did a really good job with their portrayals and I connected that much more to this show because of it.

The Cons:

Squid Game Spoiler Free 3

Images courtesy of Netflix

I needed some more answers…

We got plenty of reveals and answers, but I still had a lot of questions once we got to the end. I understand that it will set up a potential for a season 2, but I guess I just wanted to know a little bit more since I became so involved in the show.

So am I in or out?

Squid Game Spoiler Free 4

Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent!!!!!!!

That was pretty much my face the entire time I was watching this show. 

Shocking, addicting, and the definition of a perfect binge-watch!

Even with all of the crazy stuff going on, there were also a lot of important life lessons embedded in the show as well, which really made it stand out for me and it just became my favorite show of the year!

I highly recommend watching this one because you really can’t fully understand how great it is until you watch it for yourself.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

This competition is killer…

Killer Halloween Scream Hunt

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!

**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!