Spoiler-Free Review of “Opus” in Theaters: An Eerie and Engrossing Watch

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

“This whole thing’s a trip…”

Opus released in theaters on March 14th 2025. The psychological thriller film stars Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, and Stephanie Suganami. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-four minutes.

A young writer gets the invitation of a lifetime to visit a legendary pop star’s compound to hear his new album after disappearing 30 years ago. However, when she arrives, she soon suspects that she may be entangled in a cult with ulterior motives.

Here is the trailer:

Opus draws from films like Blink Twice and The Menu with a talented cast and an unnerving story at its core. Is it worthy of YOUR next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A creepy and captivating watch.

I’m a fan of weird cult flicks that push the envelope and this one was an unexpected surprise. I hadn’t heard much buzz around this film and I went into it without expecting much, but it quickly drew me in. It was weird, intriguing, and shocking.

If you’re a fan of films like Get Out, Midsommar, and The Menu, you’ll really enjoy this one.

Great cast!

John Malkovich really played this role well and it was great seeing so many familiar faces in this one. I thought that Ayo Edebiri was a strong and capable lead. I was rooting for her the entire time. She was relatable and she really lit up the screen with her convincing performance. I hope to see her in more horror-thrillers soon. She did a great job!

The Cons:

Some unanswered questions.

I usually have a lot by the time I get to the end of films like this, but I was still trying to piece together certain elements of the puzzle at the very end. I thought the ending was solid, but I was a little fuzzy on certain details.

This film clearly drew a lot from some of its predecessors. I still think it had enough of its own story, but it made the reveal a little lukewarm since I kind of knew what to expect. I still enjoyed it though.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!!!

Opus is a dark and twisted watch with plenty of shocking moments built in.

This film exceeded my expectations!

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

A VACATION TO DIE FOR…

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 rule…they 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 island thriller!

Blood Rose Island is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Believer” (2024) on Demand: A Twisted Cult Mystery

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

“Open your eyes and you will see…”

Believer (2024) premiered on Demand on September 13th 2024. The cult horror thriller film stars Ella Ballentine, Lauren Lee Smith, Ilan O’Driscoll, Peter Mooney, and Martin Roach. It runs for approximately an hour and forty-eight minutes.

While working on a book about a cult leader convicted of mind control and mass murder, a writer is targeted and attacked by him while he is on trial. Soon after, she forgets what happened and begins to hallucinate while staying with her sister’s family.

Here is the trailer:

Believer is eerie and disturbing with an intriguing mystery at its core. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A terrifying mystery.

Cult mysteries always haunt me in a different way. It’s scary to think about how someone can be manipulated or controlled by what others believe. There was this lingering feeling of uneasiness throughout the film. In a lot of ways, it channeled the same vibe as Longlegs. The muted lighting worked to the film’s advantage and I thought the mystery was a solid one.

The opening really hooked me (similar to Longlegs). It was unnerving and it managed to capture my full attention. I had a lot of working theories around this particular mystery. It did a great job of keeping me guessing, unraveling into a layered story worth exploring.

Starts and ends strong!

I was worried that the film wouldn’t be able to hold the momentum from the opening. There were some pacing issues, but I thought the film finished strong and delivered (especially the last thirty minutes). It shattered any theory I had and branched off into something even more brutal and shocking. I’m still not sure how I felt about it, but at least it tried something different.

The Cons:

Be prepared for a slow burn.

This wasn’t a major con, but things definitely slowed down A LOT after that killer opening. I kind of expected this, but we could have sped things up a little bit more. Don’t get me wrong, it still held my attention and it did jolt me with some scares and creepy moments, but I think this could have been tweaked a little bit more to make this more of a seamless watch.

There was also one particular scene I could have done without…

So am I in or out?

I’m in about 75 percent…

Believer features a dark and chilling mystery, but it takes a while to get there.

If you enjoy cult thrillers, this is one to add to your watchlist.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Believer (2024) 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 “Shining Vale” on Starz: Courteney Cox Moves into a Haunted House

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

“Women are also twice as likely to be possessed by a demon…”

Shining Vale premiered on Starz on March 6th 2022 with the first two episodes. There will be eight episodes in total that will air weekly. The horror comedy series stars Courteney Cox, Greg Kinnear, Mira Sorvino, Gus Birney and Judith Light. Each episode runs for approximately 30 minutes.

To save her marriage, a writer moves into a house in Connecticut with her family, but soon discovers that it may actually be haunted.

Here is the trailer:

Shining Vale is a delightful mashup between Santa Clarita Diet and Ghosts, creating its own story along the way with lots of ghostly potential. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Courteney Cox shines!

It’s fantastic seeing Courteney Cox back on television and after just watching her in the latest Scream movie, I’m all for a series centered around her moving into a haunted house. So far she is a lot of fun to watch and I think that once the show really kicks into high gear, she will really embrace this role with flair.

The rest of the cast are likable enough and so far I’m most intrigued by the potential spirits roaming around the property.

Plus, the dog is a scene stealer!

Clever use of female authors…

Courteney Cox plays a writer but there are also several nods at Sylvia Plath and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These female authors wrote stories surrounding women suffering from some kind of mental illness while being driven mad by the walls surrounding them so I’m curious to see this theme portrayed in the modern world. I think that this will be way more than your typical ghost story. It looks like it will also be taking on the female role in society, which gives this story a unique edge already.

The episodes are also super short which makes this easy to binge-watch and the dry dark humor is a nice touch.

The Cons:

Slow start…

The opening episode felt a little unsure of itself. I was intrigued, but not really sold until the very end. Episode two was a big improvement and I thought the humor landed better as well. I think that once we get to episode three or four, this show will really find its way. I’m remaining positive that we’ll get there.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

I think this show already has a lot of potential and I’m curious to see some of the other themes really take off because I think we could witness pure magic!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Shining Vale 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 “American Horror Story: Double Feature” Season 10 “Red Tide” on FX: The Unsettling Price of Fame

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

“You don’t understand how hard it is to be great…”

American Horror Story season 10 has finally arrived after almost two years! The new season premiered on August 25th 2021 with its first two episodes. The season will feature 10 episodes in total. The first six episodes will be devoted to the “Red Tide” part and the remaining 4 will focus on a different plot, but it will most likely be connected in some way. After all, this is the AHS universe.

Each episode runs for approximately 52-54 minutes. Season 10 part 1 stars Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Finn Wittrock, Frances Conroy, Billie Lourd, Adina Porter and Macaulay Culkin.

A screenwriter and his family rent a house in Provincetown, Cape Cod in the off season so that he can find inspiration for a potential pilot episode, but he is greeted with threatening residents and pale blood-thirsty beings. After crossing paths with an interesting duo, he contemplates an interesting offer that could help advance his career.

Here is the trailer:

American Horror Story: Double Feature Part 1 presents us with a chilling setting that mirrors the eerie things going on in the shadows. It explores something sinister while reminding us that every choice has a consequence. Is it worth a watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

A chilling start.

The opening two episodes were really well done. The premise of the struggling writer worked and channeled The Shining in a lot of ways and introduced us to a Stephen King-like setting that matched the vibe perfectly. Even though there are “monsters” within this small town, there is something even more terrifying that lurks within everyone and that’s the drive to be spectacular and more than ordinary.

While drive and talent can be a blessing, it can also be a curse and I think part 1 is exploring the darker parts of this curse extremely well.

Exceptional cast.

When the opening credits began, I was thrilled to see so many familiar names with Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters leading the way. Sarah Paulson is already stealing every single scene she is in and I am in love with the duo of Evan Peters and Frances Conroy. I can’t wait to see what they do next!

The Cons:

Initial pacing.

The first episode dragged slightly for me. There were some scenes that drew me in completely and others that just seemed ordinary and filler. That being said, I thought the pacing improved drastically once we got to the second episode. AHS can sometimes go off the rails with its plot and I think having only six episodes for part 1 will work in its favor.

Already a lot has happened and I’m curious to find out more, but I also hope the reveals and outcomes are rewarding in the end.

So am I in or out?

I’m in!

AHS is back and better than ever!

Disturbing, compelling, and consuming.

I really like the direction of the new season and it was so much fun to see so many familiar faces. I’m curious to find out more and completely drawn in.

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

My new young adult horror thriller comes out October 7th 2021! I hope you enjoy!

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “Marianne” on Netflix: Bone-Chilling Terror that will give you Nightmares and then some

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

Netflix has been bringing us some genuinely terrifying programming lately like The Ritual and The Haunting of Hill House, and it doesn’t look like they are stopping there, as they may have just released the scariest show I have seen in a while. If you enjoy films and shows about witches and demonic possession, you are in the right place.

Marianne is a French horror series that was released on Netflix on 9/13/19. The show features 8 episodes that are about 50-55 minutes in length each. It stars Victoire Du Bois, Lucie Boujenah, and Tiphaine Daviot. The series is in French, but you can watch it dubbed in English or in French with English subtitles. I watched it in English and was able to get through the whole show without needing to switch over to subtitles.

The show follows author, Emma, who has had much success with her horror novel series. The characters are based on nightmares Emma had when she was younger and when she finishes the book series, she begins to realize that the characters may actually exist in the real world, threatening her family and close friends, while desperately trying to release some kind of evil entity into the world.

Whatever you do, be careful about saying Marianne’s name three times…you have been warned!

The Pros:

Marianne 9 22 4 — Images courtesy of Netflix

This show will scare you enough to leave you with some serious nightmares.

I’m not talking about the typical jump scares we often see. I’m talking about truly frightening moments. There is a terrific build-up and suspense that seamlessly brings these moments to life. The soundtrack works perfectly with these moments and you may want to consider watching this show with the lights on if you are not a fan of horror. Seriously, I keep looking over my shoulder and I finished the show hours ago.

Terrifying characters and a well developed plot.

Before we even get to Marianne, you will notice a lot of discussion going on about the old woman she possesses. I have to hand it to this actress, who has just completely traumatized me for life!

The plot moves fairly quickly, but once you get past the first three episodes, the rest of the show flies by, as it introduces more pieces to the puzzle, luring you in so much, that you may want to ensure that Marianne is not nearby. The imagery is beautiful and I loved the concept of the pages from Emma’s book series appearing on screen.

The Cons:

Marianne 9 22 5 — Images courtesy of Netflix

The switching of genres is slightly jarring.

As Emma returns home, we get a lot of fluff involving some drama with her friends and family that I could have honestly done without. While some of the past flashbacks and revelations were necessary and interesting, other parts just kind of seemed forced and I almost felt like I started watching another show without realizing it.

I think part of the problem was that I didn’t really care that much about Emma’s group of friends. There were some redeeming moments here and there, but other moments just felt filler and boring.

There was also the introduction of some comedy thrown in that felt out of place. This sometimes made the show move slower and I’m still not really sure what the point of this was. Luckily, the terrifying moments and plot reveals were enough to overshadow this.

So am I in or out?

Marianne 9 22 6 — Images courtesy of Netflix

I am in! Sure, I may have nightmares for quite a while, but this show was genuinely frightening and unique. We are left with a cliffhanger ending, so hopefully we will get a second season, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this show.

If you are a fan of horror, you will absolutely be entertained and the writer in me loved the idea of characters coming to life, really reminding us that words certainly have a lot of power and we can unleash anything we want. Although we may want to slam the book shut on Marianne…

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

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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**Do you love television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Once Upon a Time, Lost, Charmed, The Vampire Diaries, and Supernatural? Do you enjoy dark fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, paranormal romance, horror, and mystery? Then you may like my book series, Dreaming of Wonderland…available on Amazon! Thank you for taking the time to check it out and I appreciate any feedback as well. I really hope you enjoy!

The Dreaming of Wonderland Book Series is available here!

Free Instant Preview of The Search for Alice is available here!

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Do you love horror series? Of course you do! Please also check out 12 Nights of Horror Series Coming Soon. It’s your home for everything you need to know about new and returning horror television series including new trailers, premiere dates, reviews, recaps, and renewals!