Spoiler-Free Review of “The Mouse Trap” on Demand: Mickey Mouse Becomes Our Latest Slasher Villain…

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

“Teleportation is still very much on the table…”

The Mouse Trap released on Demand on August 6th 2024. The horror slasher film stars Mackenzie Mills, Sophie McIntosh, Callum Sywyk, Wyatt Dorion, and Simon Phillips. It runs for approximately an hour and twenty minutes.

Alex’s friends decide to surprise her at the arcade she works at for her birthday, but when a masked killer inspired by Steamboat Willie shows up, they are all forced to play a game to survive the night.

Here is the trailer:

The Mouse Trap is basically a mix of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey and Five Nights at Freddy’s, placing another public domain character in the spotlight as a bonkers killer. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Gravitas Ventures

Unintentionally funny.

I’ve seen this film also billed as a horror comedy, but the serious moments were actually pretty entertaining to watch unfold. There were some lines that had me laughing out loud. I’m not sure that anyone would actually want a movie to be this terrible, but when it moves into that territory, it becomes so awful that it’s actually hilarious to watch…at least once.

The kills were silly and the plot was completely bonkers, but if you’re a fan of Bloody and Honey, you’ll probably get a kick out of this one. I have to say that I actually enjoyed this one a lot more than Blood and Honey, but that’s not saying much…

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Gravitas Ventures

Takes too long for anything to happen.

This movie was only an hour and twenty minutes and yet we sat around for a really long time before the killing started. Mickey did a lot of skulking in the shadows and waving. The kills weren’t that inventive by the time we got to them and there could have been more of them.

The dialogue was insufferable! The characters started talking about what would happen if they were in a terrible 90’s slasher movie. Guess what? 90’s slashers are amazing and this film doesn’t come anywhere close to them.

I didn’t really care about any of the characters and I hated that we jumped back and forth between the past and the present. We didn’t need to overcomplicate things that much…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Gravitas Ventures

Unfortunately I’m out on this one…

The Mouse Trap attempts to do too much with its silly premise, making this a confusing watch overall. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments for fans of super cheesy and terrible slasher flicks, but nothing special.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Gil

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 “The Mean One” in Theaters: Campy Christmas Chaos

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

“You’re a monster…”

The Mean One released in theaters on December 9th 2022. The holiday horror film (inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas) stars David Howard Thornton, Krystle Martin, and Chase Mullins. It runs for approximately 90 minutes.

After witnessing the murder of her mother, Cindy returns to her hometown twenty years later when the monster responsible resurfaces.

Here is the trailer:

The Mean One turns a classic holiday tale into a campy slasher film, which does have a few redeeming qualities. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

Fun twist on the story.

With Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey on its way for 2023, it seems like this may have paved the way for more classic tales to turn into mindless slasher films and so we have The Mean One, which is a slasher take on How The Grinch Stole Christmas. 

There have already been a few versions of The Grinch, but this one decided to really destroy all holiday cheer with a monster that will rip you to shreds if you even think about humming “Jingle Bells.”

Even though it was campy and silly, I liked the spin on the story and I’m always up for a campy slasher film.

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

Violence galore.

The blood effects were pretty cheesy and poorly done, but there were actually a few decent kill scenes that were entertaining. David Howard Thornton brought his killer charm from The Terrifier and easily embraced this role, giving it as much as he could.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

Shaky camera effects and poor quality…

I actually felt dizzy a few times watching this. The camera angles felt odd and really shaky. There was poor lighting and some of the worst transitions into scenes I have ever seen. The gore effects needed some work as well. 

The acting wasn’t really that great either, but the film did channel some campy fun. If you enjoy B-horror movies, you’ll find some things to enjoy. I just wanted this film to put in a little bit more effort in all departments. I also thought this film should have released exclusively on a streaming site like Shudder instead. My theater was practically empty on a Friday night…

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of Sleight of Hand Productions

I’m 50/50 on this one…

The Mean One has some campy slasher fun with the classic holiday tale, but the poor quality got in the way several times.

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