Tag: wilderness

Spoiler-Free Review of “Yellowjackets” Season 3 Premiere on Showtime: Off to an Intoxicating Start!

*This is a spoiler-free review for season 3 so feel free to read on!*

“Their story does not end here…”

Yellowjackets season 3 premiered on February 14th 2025 on Showtime with the first two episodes. The remaining eight episodes will air weekly. It stars Christina Ricci, Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Sophie Thatcher, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sammi Hanratty. Each episode runs for approximately 53-55 minutes.

After surviving a plane crash in the middle of the wilderness, a high school girls soccer team attempts to keep going with no hope of rescue. Years later, they try to cope with the horrific events that took place after the crash as new characters emerge from their past.

Here is the trailer:

Yellowjackets is a bonkers and trippy show that provides just the right amount of mystery and juicy drama. Does the season 3 premiere do enough to earn a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Showtime

The dark mystery continues…

My favorite part about this series is the unexplained mystery surrounding the girls in the woods. It’s twisted and dark and I’m anxious to finally find out more about it and what this force wants from them. Is there actually something out there or is it all in their heads?

I don’t know, but I thought the opening two episodes did enough to hook me again. I’m hopeful we will get some more answers this season.

Images courtesy of Showtime

Our favorite characters expose more layers.

Yellowjackets is one of the few series that features past and present timelines that are equally interesting, making us invest in the outcome of every character that much more.

I was happy to see our favorite characters getting more screen time in the first two episodes of season 3 (even if it slowed down the pacing a little bit) because certain dynamics and relationships needed to be fleshed out.

I’m really liking the bond between Shauna and Callie a lot more this season and Misty is digging deeper this time around after coping with the death of one of my favorite characters. It’ll be interesting to see how the dynamic between the survivors changes now.

The Cons:

Yellowjackets season 3 (1)

Images courtesy of Showtime

Confusing time jump.

It’s clear that some time has gone by in the past timeline. We’re now in spring so the girls made it through the winter, but I felt a little confused and fuzzy on what was going on. I think we needed more of a seamless transition here or a better way to fill in the missing details.

I also thought that the pacing felt slower for the first two episodes. I’m hoping this improves by the next episode.

So am I in or out?

Yellowjackets season 3 spoiler free

Images courtesy of Showtime

I’m in!!!

Yellowjackets season 3 already has a lot of potential, luring us back into a dark and twisted mystery worth exploring.

I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Yellowjackets 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 “Wilderness” on Prime Video: Gone Girl Style Thriller Has its Moments

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

“We trust each other…right?”

Wilderness premiered on September 15th 2023 on Prime Video with all six episodes available to stream now. The revenge thriller series (based on the novel of the same name) stars Jenna Coleman, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ashley Benson, and Eric Balfour. Each episode runs for approximately 50-58 minutes.

A spontaneous vacation turns into a nightmare when a seemingly happy couple begins to unravel, leading to a downward spiral of betrayal and revenge.

Here is the trailer:

Wilderness attempts to channel films like Gone Girl and Promising Young Woman with a Lifetime-esque tone, leading to plenty of juicy twists along the way. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Dream cast.

I’m a huge fan of Ashley Benson from Pretty Little Liars and I was super happy to see Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum, Eric Balfour on this too. The cast was the best part of this series. Everyone played their part very well, but I wish some characters had gotten a little bit more screen time because everyone was electric together on screen and the character dynamics really worked.

Jenna Coleman put forth a strong effort as Olivia, giving me quite a few chills throughout my watch. She was fantastic.

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Starts off with a lot of potential.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first few episodes of this series. The premise was juicy and enticing. It seemed to fit neatly into a guilty pleasure watch and I even liked the random soundtrack (heavy on Taylor Swift) that overpowered certain scenes. Somehow that worked…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Prime Video

Goes off the rails…

I would say that I was hooked by the end of episode two (which was the strongest episode by far). Once we got to the second half of the series, things became really chaotic and confusing. We started to spiral off into something messy and uninspiring. I was still invested enough to finish the series and there were a few redeeming moments worth sticking around for, but this was disappointing because the show started off so strong.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the voice-over narration and it led me to believe that we were headed toward a more extreme ending than we actually got.

I think what’s so frustrating about this series is that it did enough to earn a watch, but it could have been so much better. I think it played it safe rather than throwing itself into something unpredictable, which might have worked out a lot better in my opinion.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Prime Video

I’m in about 75 percent…

Watered down guilty pleasure thrills with a cast to be excited about, but don’t expect this series to do anything that extraordinary. It was a decent watch if you enjoy revenge thrillers, however.

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

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Dark Nature” on Demand: Descent-Like Survival Horror Flick has its moments!

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

“He can’t hurt you out here…”

Dark Nature released in limited theaters and on demand on May 19th 2023. The Canadian survival horror film stars Hannah Emily Anderson, Madison Walsh, Roseanne Supernault, and Kyra Harper. It runs for an hour and twenty-five minutes.

After surviving an abusive relationship, Joy agrees to join her friend Carmen on a therapy trip in the wilderness where she is tasked with facing her past, but she begins to fear that something sinister may be stalking them in the woods.

Here is the trailer:

Dark Nature is bloody and brutal, featuring a strong female cast. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Dread

Gory and terrifying!

I honestly wasn’t expecting this at all. I thought this was going to be your average survival horror film out in the wilderness and it ended up being so bloody and frightening in the best possible way. The film definitely channeled The Descent and had a lot of similarities. 

I was on the edge of my seat during the second half and I could not stop watching. It was creepy, unsettling, and nightmare-inspiring for sure!

Images courtesy of Dread

Strong females to root for.

Hannah Emily Anderson (The Purge series) did an exceptional job in this and I’d love to see her in more horror films in the future. I love films centered around a group of females and I thought they really put forth a solid effort in this one.

I wanted a few more layers for some of the supporting characters, but I really enjoyed their performances.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Dread

Some unanswered questions…

By the time I got to the end of the film, I was satisfied, but I also had several unanswered questions that I wanted explored. The characters needed a few more layers and the pacing was on the slower end for the first half of the film.

Also, I personally could have done without a particular moment from the opening scene and it was emotionally triggering…so be warned.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Dread

I’m in!!!

Dark Nature may start off like your average survival horror film, but it branches out into something truly terrifying and twisted!

I really enjoyed this one!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**If you enjoyed this blog, I would love it if you would click the follow button on your way out to subscribe.  Thanks for your support!

Spoiler-Free Review of “Distress Signals” on Demand: Slow Burn Survival Thriller

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

“Can somebody come get me?”

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

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

Here is the trailer:

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

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Unquiet Films

Christine Nyland is captivating on screen.

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

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

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

A final act I did not see coming!

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

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

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Unquiet Films

Slower pacing…

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

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Unquiet Films

I’m in about 75 percent…

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

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

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

DON’T TAKE THE JOB…

It was only supposed to be temporary…but when Olivia Crewe accepts a new position that seems too good to be true, she soon discovers that twelve other girls previously had the same job as her. Only none of them lasted for more than thirty days. No notice. Nothing…right before they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

My supernatural thriller Girl Number Thirteen is out now! I hope you enjoy!

Girl Number Thirteen is available here!

**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!