Hi! I always look forward to when 5 Below drops their Halloween collection and have been waiting patiently for an item I saw in their sneak peek ads to hit the stores: A new Trick ‘r Treat Snap & Switch set of Mr. Kreeg’s bedroom. Trick ‘r Treat is one of mine and Johnny’s most beloved Halloween flicks and Sam is our favorite little buddy. He’s just SO damn cute we can hardly stand it and watch the movie multiple times a year. Last year, we so enjoyed putting together two Trick ‘r Treat Snap & Switch sets from 5 Below and Mr. Kreeg’s bedroom set did not disappoint! Although Johnny’s actions most definitely disappointed lol… Let’s discuss:
^^^ His little bum flaps!!!!
I tore into this set like a rabid animal because I love any and all things Sam and could not wait to display the build on our knick knack shelf. Johnny sat back while I worked and tapped in on the tiny pieces that were difficult for me to place. The build progressed quickly and easily and within fifteen minutes or so, the set was almost done. All that was left to do was rig the lighting for the jack-o-lantern. The wires to the lighting were wrapped up alongside the fuse box and I asked Johnny to untie it for me. We are both genuinely not sure what he was thinking because he ended up cutting the wire thinking it was some string or something? Yeah, I’m still scratching my head on that considering he works with wires constantly at his job!
I was SO sad about this ridiculous development because I was really looking forward to having this set and now the focal point was completely ruined. For a few days, anyways. Blessedly, Johnny was able to resauter the wires at work and when I returned home from my shift, I was delighted to see the glowing jack-o-lantern greeting me. It looked even better than I imagined! Johnny’s silly slip up ended up being no harm no foul and I have to razz him a little because it was such a wtf situation lol. Now, my Mr. Kreeg’s Bedroom set is complete and it is absolutely perfect. A definite must have for any Trick ‘r Treat fan!!
Big ups to Johnny for breaking my toy and then fixing it and big ups to 5B for always supplying the best Trick ‘r Treat goodies! I am keeping my fingers crossed for more Sam merch to drop ASAFP. He’s my lil bestie angel boy and I need it all!
Is Sam the cutest movie character in the world? And why is the answer a resounding YES? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the new Resident Evil movie. Johnny and one of my clients absolutely love the Resident Evil games and it is so fun to watch them play. I have tried my hand at them myself but am crap lousy at it so I just admire from afar and tap in to assist with puzzles when I can. My favorite part! Although I don’t technically play the Resident Evil games, I was sure glad to be familiar with them when I saw the movie as there were so many cool tips of the cap to staples seen throughout the Resident Evil gaming saga. If you are a fan of the franchise, you will get such a kick out of them! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Resident Evil for gruesome violence (one of which takes place in a maternity ward) and an animal death. You ready? Let’s get to it!
^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!
Bryan works as a hospital courier and transports organs to and from different facilities. He is just getting off of his shift and is eager to return to his potentially pregnant girlfriend to discuss their options. As Bryan is about to take off, he gets an offer for one last delivery of the day and the pay is double. The weather is turning nasty with snow falling rapidly but Bryan isn’t in a position to refuse extra cash if there’s a baby on the way. He accepts the gig to drive to Raccoon City General Hospital and white knuckles his way through slick roads and heavy snowfall. Then, things take a drastic turn for the worse when he hits a woman wandering the streets in a summer dress.
The woman is gravely injured and since Bryan is heading to the hospital anyways, he puts her in the car and continues his drive. Unfortunately, this is his last moment of solace until all hell breaks loose when the woman takes a violent turn. Bryan’s car peters out and he has to make a run for it to a nearby farm to call for help with his courier bag in tow. He makes it to the property but there is no one to be found. No one human, anyways. Grotesque creatures have taken over and with no car and no weapons, there is no way he will make it to Raccoon City for his big payday.
Bryan can run but he can’t hide and every attempt to escape is thwarted until he finds temporary relief with members of the Umbrella Corporation who are hunting the mutants that devastate the streets. He learns that what he is carrying isn’t an organ at all but an ingredient. An ingredient that can create the cure to contain the outbreak that will soon spread across America. The hospital is still a long way to go but if he does make it, he can save the world as we know it. Will the mutants be eradicated in time? Or will the world dissolve into chaos? Watch Resident Evil to find out!
Resident Evil was a short and sweet hour and a half movie that packed a major punch. As soon as the opening scene was complete, I was in hook, line, and sinker and the movie simply didn’t let up. It was jam packed with classic Resident Evil gore and the craziest creatures I have ever seen. It matched the claustrophobic vibes of the games perfectly and it almost felt like watching someone play Resident Evil rather than watching a movie. Regardless of if you have played the games or not, there is no way you won’t enjoy this flick if you are a true horror fan. It was a wild ride with an ending scene that left me shooketh and as soon as it was over I wanted to see it again!
There was a lot to like about Resident Evil and my qualms with it are merely a matter of opinion because I didn’t care for the portrayal of Bryan. When I think about Resident Evil, I’m thinking a hot guy in a leather jacket and that was so not him lol. Bryan was a nerd and his constant attempt at humor throughout the movie eventually turned into more annoying than funny. I understand that in one of the games you play as just a regular dude which I’m sure is what the production team was emulating. However, his banter just didn’t mesh with the world he was thrown into and it was a juxtaposition that didn’t work for me. This is not to say that the movie wasn’t great because I really did love it. That choice just wasn’t for me!
Overall, I am going to rate Resident Evil with an eight out of ten stars. This is an excellent intro to spooky season flick and I highly recommend it!
Are you a fan of the Resident Evil games? What did you think about the new movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi! Prior to dating Johnny, I wholeheartedly admit that I was a horror movie snob. I was all about the atmospheric, moody, psychological thriller scary movies and nothing else would do. I didn’t care for silly slashers, couldn’t be bothered with creature horror films, and turned up my nose at anything remotely campy. All of these examples, however, are exactly what Johnny loves and I certainly changed my tune after he took me to school on all of his favorites. I recently saw Buddy with a friend, which is a comedy horror that checked all of the boxes of Johnny’s scary movie must haves. This movie was not great but I don’t think I would have slightly liked it without my further education from Johnny! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always, but first I’ll be placing a trigger warning for gory violence and disturbing content. Here we go:
^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!
It’s Buddy! is a Barney style children’s show featuring a huge orange unicorn named Buddy. At his playhouse it is fun and games, dance parties and songs, and learning lessons like apologizing or being brave. When all of the kids participate and smile, it is an excellent day at Buddy’s. If they don’t comply… not so much. After a little boy refuses to learn a dance routine, Buddy snaps and the remaining playmates are terrified. Freddy, Oliver, and Hannah thought that Buddy loved them. Was he lying this whole time? One thing is for sure, the kids need to get to the real world and fast.
In the real world, we come across a perfectly normal family. A mom named Grace, her husband, and their two sons. There is something bothering Grace, though. Something that feels missing and she can’t shake it. Deep in her being, Grace believes that she has another child out there and takes matters into her own hands by hiring a psychic. The psychic insists on contacting the spirit in the house that is plaguing Grace but it isn’t a pesky ghost or poltergeist at all. It’s Buddy and he needs a new friend.
Grace knows that Buddy is behind her missing child and when he invites her into the television later that night she joins him as the new clubhouse nurse. The kids and Grace only have one chance to get back to the real world and danger lurks at every turn. Buddy is intent on closing this horrific episode out with a song and it is up to them to stop it. Will Grace’s family become whole? Will the other children get to return home too? Watch Buddy to find out!
I feel a bit torn about Buddy because there were parts of it that I liked and parts that dragged and I consider that difficult to do in a barely hour and a half flick. Buddy’s clubhouse was uber fun with nods to Barney and Pee Wee’s Playhouse that I deeply appreciated. What dragged, in my opinion, was the repetitive and relatively tame nature of the film. There were parts that literally felt like we were just watching an off brand Barney episode and that’s a massive bore for a room of adults. In fact, it was almost painful until more major plot points were introduced like Grace and her family.
Buddy did provide laughs and a couple of jump scares but it was overall a very average flick. I actually REALLY liked the plot but I didn’t like the execution of it and there were parts that were just plain weird AF. If you watch Buddy, you will know exactly what I’m talking about! Was this a movie worth seeing? If you’re looking for a very different, semi horror comedy then I guess? I left the theater feeling neither here nor there either way but was definitely glad that it was a short movie!
I am going to rate Buddy with a threeout of ten stars. I don’t think this is one to go see in the theaters but it could be a laugh if you are watching at home!
Did you see Buddy? What did you think about it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a back to back edition of Groovy Movies! Today, we are going to be discussing the horror movie that everyone has been raving about – Obsession. However, there is a slight change to the usually scheduled programming as this review won’t be fully spoiler free. The synopsis will, as always, not reveal any spoilers. However, as this movie has been out for a while, my opinions will include spoilers because I have A LOT to say and I can’t keep it to myself lol. Should you want to be surprised, that is when you should stop reading! Before we begin, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on Obsession for graphic and brutal violence, highly highly disturbing content (some of which involves animals), loss of autonomy, and abusive relationships. You ready? Let’s do it:
^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!
Baron (AKA “Bear”) is desperately in love with his best friend, Nikki, and is working up the nerve to tell her how he really feels. The trivia night him, Nikki, and their friends Ian and Sarah attend could be the place to do so. As Nikki and Bear chat on the phone about the upcoming event, Nikki is disappointed that her favorite crystal necklace fell down the sink. To surprise her, Bear stops in at a metaphysical shop to pick her out a new one. Then, something different catches his eye – a One Wish Willow. The packaging claims that your wish will come true if you snap the stick in half and he purchases that instead of a gift for Nikki.
Revealing his crush at the trivia night is a bust but he still has a chance when he offers to drive Nikki home. In fact, she straight up asks him if he has feelings for her and he lamely tells her how much he loves their friendship. Nikki heads inside and in his frustration, Bear makes his wish: That Nikki would love him more than anyone in the world. He snaps the stick and Nikki promptly returns back to his car, begging to stay with him because she can’t handle being alone.
After a very weird night for both Bear and Nikki, a relationship blossoms and it is picture perfect. Cooking together, watching movies, and basking in each other’s company. Then, things begin to take a dark turn as Nikki’s behavior alters drastically when she fears that she loves Bear more than he does her. Cuddling in bed turns into her standing awake at night while watching him sleep. Bear leaving for work means he has to break open a duct taped door. Even Bear leaving the room to go to the bathroom is too much for Nikki to cope with. This is so not the relationship that Bear had in mind.
As Nikki turns more violent, Bear tries to distance himself and turns to the One Wish Willow company for guidance. Unfortunately, the only way to break the wish will be Bear’s downfall. Bear’s friends no longer want anything to do with the formerly happy couple and both him and Nikki are growing more desperate. Will the wish for Nikki to love him more than anyone in the world be broken? Watch Obsession to find out!
Spoilers starting NOW!
Obsession might be seen through the eyes of Bear but make no mistake, he is not the victim in this movie. It is one thousand percent Nikki. And, if anyone watches this movie and thinks otherwise then they need a crash course in consent and what healthy relationships look like ASAFP. Through his wish, Bear strips Nikki of everything: Her care free spirit, her autonomy, and the ability to even love herself. Bear might be in love with Nikki but to have full control over a person isn’t love. To force someone into love isn’t love. And to want to simply alter the wish rather than cancel it as he talks to the One Wish Willow employee while aware of Nikki’s suffering definitely isn’t love.
Throughout Obsession, glimpses of the real Nikki come forth and it is absolutely heartbreaking to see and hear. Wherever the real Nikki is, she is in so much pain. She can see what is happening to herself, her body, and relationships that she once held dear and can’t do anything to stop it. All she can do is watch as “Freaky Nikki” (As she has been described) takes over. And what does Bear do as she continues to act out? Encourage her to tone down the crazy and be like the old Nikki so he can continue to keep her under his thumb.
Obsession was a full fledged horror movie with (Stating the SUPER obvious here) harrowing themes of consent, autonomy, and what happens when that is taken away from someone. The tension and atmosphere of Obsession was so rich and I could feel myself holding my breath because it felt like something major could happen at any given second. And it was all at Nikki’s expense. This was a gripping story carried beautifully by Inde Navarrette and she more than deserves the glowing reviews she has received. I was in awe of her performance and can’t stop thinking about it to save my own life. I want to see Obsession again SO badly because one viewing just wasn’t enough. If you are a horror fan, you do not want to miss out on this movie!
I am going to award Obsession with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This is, easily, one of the best modern horror movies I have ever seen and I cannot wait to see what Navarrette brings to the table in whatever she does next!
Have you seen Obsession? What are your thoughts on it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hi! As you all know, I am a huge horror movie fan and like to see them in theaters as often as I can. One that I was really looking forward to going to was Scream 7. The Scream franchise is such fun. It’s got the gore and the kills but they are also hilarious and don’t take themselves seriously in the slightest. I have always found that the Scream movies give their viewers exactly what they want to see and fall under the “if it’s not broken then don’t fix it” motto. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of us wanted what Scream 7 had to offer because it was a massive snooze fest. Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always, but before we begin let me place a trigger warning for graphic violence. Here we go:
^^^ As per ushe, I have no rights to this video!!
Sidney Prescott has made a new life for herself. She is married with children, runs a coffee shop, and is determined to leave her trauma in the past. Of course, her life can never remain normal for long so cue a call from Ghostface. The new killer gives Sidney a buzz at work and requests that they see each other face to face in a video call. Who she sees on her screen is impossible, right? He died years ago but his threat is very real. He is outside her daughter, Tatum’s, school and her and her friends are in big trouble.
Tatum and her mom have a rocky relationship. Sidney keeps her past buried while Tatum wants to learn more which results in blowout fights. Tatum is about to get a crash course in that fateful night that turned Sidney into a living legend and all that can be done now is to survive. With help from her friends, mom, and a few fan favorites – it’s time to hunt Ghostface. However many there are, this ends now. Who is behind the masks this time? Watch Scream 7 to find out!
Scream 7 was a smidge under two hours and it was honestly two of the longest hours of my life. The opening scene set the stage for some classic Scream shenanigans and then it just kept going… and going… and going. In the entirety of the movie, there were only three or so major action scenes. The remainder was a whole lot of nothing – tender moments between mother and daughter, friends freaking out, and snippets of the oddest musical ever. The lackluster plot was followed up by perhaps the most disappointing Ghostface reveal of the franchise and when the movie ended (Thankfully!), all I could say was “oh”.
This movie plugged along at a painfully slow pace and provided jump scares that were few and far between. Maybe I would have liked it more if I cared about the additional cast members but they were hard to get behind. Tatum and her friends were seriously just annoying and Tatum was the whiny, bratty teen to the T. Even when the focus shifted to Sidney and Gale, their scenes felt half-hearted and wasn’t enough to strike my interest in any way shape or form. The only good parts of Scream 7 took place on brief video calls and five minutes isn’t enough to save two hours of straight up boredom. So disappointing!
In a shocking turn of events, I will be awarding Scream 7 with… no stars. This was, hands down, the weakest movie in the franchise and it is not worth your time and money at the theaters!
What is your favorite scary movie? What is your favorite Scream movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies. In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing The Strangers – Chapter 3. I am an avid fan of The Strangers franchise and thoroughly enjoyed Chapter 2 which came out last September. I was so eager to see the third installment as Chapter 2 ended on a cliffhanger and I was chomping at the bit to see what would happen next. While Chapter 3 tied up several loose ends it was overall very disappointing and honestly begs the question of why this movie was even made lol. They could have tacked on an extra half hour to the second one and it would have made it even better. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Strangers – Chapter 3 for brutal violence, gore, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:
^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!
The Strangers – Chapter 3 picks up immediately where Chapter 2 left off. Maya is still on the run from The Strangers but their numbers have dwindled down to Scarecrow and Dollface. Despite being down one Stranger, Maya is the only person to survive an encounter with them and they can’t let her get away. As Maya continues her night of terror she is eventually picked up by the sheriff but realizes she might be in more danger with him than without. In a moment of desperation, she steals his car only to end up crashing it and being found by Scarecrow and Dollface. While Maya is held captive, her sister and brother-in-law travel to Venus, Oregon to track her down. The townspeople are less than helpful so they decide to take matters into their own hands by tailing the sheriff, who is surely up to no good. Through his flashbacks, we learn that they were right on the money.
Eventually, Scarecrow and Dollface try to incorporate Maya into their murderous pack as the new Pin-Up Girl. They track their victims and Maya is thrown into a situation of kill or be killed. She takes the opportunity to slaughter one more Stranger until it is down to one on one. This is her last chance to get far away from Venus where the whole town is in on The Strangers or end up as Pin-Up Girl permanently. Will she make her escape? Or become the newest member of The Strangers? Watch Chapter 3 to find out!
The Strangers – Chapter 3 fell flat in every sense of the word and I am genuinely bummed by it. Of course, none of the following installments of The Strangers after the first movie were amazing but they were still fast paced and fun to watch. Chapter 3 was slow moving, had minimal jump scares, and the new information provided could have fit neatly into Chapter 2 without the need for a trilogy. The best parts of this movie actually came from the sheriff’s flashbacks but they were few and far between. Had they explored that story more, I think the movie would have been much better for it as it was messed up and something new. Rather, the song and dance of Maya thwarting The Strangers continued and it made this hour and a half flick feel endless.
Chapter 3 ended with the potential for another movie and all I have to say is: Please don’t lol. I was SO excited to see this movie after Chapter 2 and it was the worst of the entire franchise. I fear that if they continue on with this story, it’s just going to end up getting even more terrible and that’s a shame. I completely agree with those who said The Strangers should have simply been a standalone film. For the most part, however, its predecessors were pretty good until Chapter 3 took this sentiment to a slamming halt. If you see the movie, you will know from the ending exactly what they could do with another one. If we were watching the same movie, I think you will agree to leave well enough alone!
Overall, I am going to rate The Strangers – Chapter 3 with a three out of ten stars. The flashbacks were its only saving grace in an otherwise totally lackluster horror flick.
Are you a fan of The Strangers franchise? What is your favorite movie from the series? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of the newest horror flicks called Primate. When it comes to horror, I am not a huge fan of the creature genre and much prefer a good old fashioned slasher. However, Primate turned everything that I thought I knew on its head. This movie was absolutely insane from start to finish! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning on Primate. The only words I can use to describe it are brutal and gruesome. It is not for the faint of heart! Now, let’s get to it:
^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!
Lucy is a college student and is back in Hawaii with her dad, little sister, and a few friends who tagged along for summer break. She is also returning home to Ben, the family’s pet chimpanzee. Not the usual choice for a pet, but her deceased mother was a linguistics professor who was studying communication between humans and animals. One day she just brought Ben home and he has been a family staple since. He’s clever, silly, and completely harmless, right? So wrong. Ben recently got infected with rabies and his once beloved family is now his prey.
While Lucy and her friends enjoy a dip in the infinity pool, Ben begins his rampage and gravely injures her little sister. As he cannot go into the water, that is where they remain. But they can’t stay there forever and medical help is needed immediately for Lucy’s sister. The only thing that can be done is to get to a phone. Phones that are all in the house. Phones that they will have to get past Ben to use. His blood lust is palpable, his strength is unmatched, and his kill count is rising rapidly. Will Lucy be able to rescue what remains of her friend group? Or will Ben destroy his family in one night? Watch Primate to find out!
Long story short, Primate was a wild ride. I didn’t know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t all of that! About three minutes in is Ben’s first kill and if you thought that scene was bad, wait until you see the rest because holy shit lol. Brutal is seriously the only way to sum this movie up. I have seen countless horror movies in my day but I can’t recall any with kills that compare to Primate. Some of them were legit throw up worthy and all of it came from a pet chimpanzee.
I had to laugh when I saw the initial trailers for Primate that showed people in the theater reacting to the movie. It reminded me so much of when Paranormal Activity came out! In these trailers, the people watching Primate were jumping, screaming, and at the edge of their seats. My sentiments were exactly the same! My heart was pounding and my stomach was clenched for the entire duration of this one and a half hour powerhouse. Honestly, thank goodness it was a short movie because I genuinely don’t know how much more I could take and that’s really saying something!
Overall, I am going to award Primate with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was a game changer to horror and not just the specific creature genre. Best of luck if you go to see it!
What were your thoughts on Primate if you have seen it? Are there any movies you are looking forward to seeing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Howdy! My blogging bestie, Kate, is the Christmas Queen and I’m pretty sure she has been prepping for the holidays since the last holiday season lol. She has a deep love of Christmas movies and I love that for her because she watches enough for the both of us! I have a handful of holiday flicks that I enjoy but my favorite of all is a good seasonal slasher. I was SO excited to see Silent Night, Deadly Night in theaters and it did not disappoint. Before we begin our discussion in a spoiler free setting, as always, I’ll be placing a trigger warning for graphic violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:
^^^ I have no rights to this video!
Our main character, Billy, has lived a… colorful life. As a child, he witnessed the murder of his parents by a man named Charlie who was dressed as Santa. Since that fateful night, Santa Charlie has lived on in Billy’s head. With Billy’s eyes, Santa can see all and guides Billy to the people who have been naughty. Their punishment? Death. For every day of the Advent calendar, Billy must kill one person on the naughty list or someone innocent will take their place. After the seasonal murder spree, Santa and Billy can rest until next year’s holiday season.
Due to these unusual circumstances, Billy is a drifter and finds himself in the small town of Hackett to continue his holiday justice. He snags a gig at a local antique store and uses his job to scope out potential victims. And, oh yeah, scope out the gorgeous Pamela whose family owns the shop. Billy doesn’t want Pam to think of him as a bad person but he doesn’t want innocent blood to be shed, either. However, their two worlds are about to collide in a major way and they might be able to do some good after all. Will Billy have his happily ever after? Or will he drift through life alone with Santa Charlie forever? Watch Silent Night, Deadly Night to find out!
I have to admit, I have never seen the original Silent Night, Deadly Night *gasp*. I guess I am going to have to add it to my watch list because I absolutely loved this flick! This was a perfect slasher with a healthy mix of camp, comedy, and gruesome kills. It followed a classic slasher playbook to the T with a holiday twist and it was most definitely my kind of Christmas movie. It was a wacky story, yes, but it was also scary fun. 😀
The first fifteen minutes or so of Silent Night, Deadly Night had me feeling a bit ambivalent. Then, the pace picked up and it was nonstop thrills for the rest of the movie. There were great jump scares, a little romance, and two unlikely characters that you couldn’t help but want a happy ending for. This was a short and sweet flick at barely over an hour and a half and I wish it was longer. After the stage was set, I felt like I blinked and the movie was done. Once I was in, I was so in and I can’t wait to watch it again!
Overall, I am going to rate Silent Night, Deadly Night with an eight out of ten stars. If you love a seasonal slasher too, this is a must see!
What is your favorite Christmas movie? How about your favorite seasonal slasher? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, now is your time to shine. There are countless new scary flicks on the horizon that look awesome and previous releases that share the same sentiments. One movie that I was particularly looking forward to is The Strangers – Chapter 2 because I absolutely love that franchise. I saw it this past week and I really enjoyed it despite the reviews raking it through the coals.
I never go into watching a horror movie with the expectation of a masterpiece and view them as popcorn flicks instead. Regardless of the outcome, I will be entertained and that was very much the case for the newest addition of The Strangers. It was a popcorn flick through and through! Let’s discuss in a spoiler free setting, as always. But, before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on the film for harm to animals, disturbing content, and graphic violence. Now, let’s get to it:
^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!
The Strangers – Chapter 2 picks up exactly where Chapter 1 left off. The lone survivor, Maya, is recovering in the hospital after her terrifying first ordeal with The Strangers and is grieving the loss of her beloved fiance. She is wounded, in pain, and an emotional wreck but her problems are far from over. She is the only one who has ever survived an encounter with The Strangers and they aren’t going to let it stay that way. They have already infiltrated the hospital and the mad chase begins.
As Maya becomes the hunted once more, she emerges from the hospital into the rainy night in Venus, Oregon. Is there anyone she can really trust, though? Everywhere she turns, it seems like the whole small town is in on it and The Strangers know her every move before she even makes it. During moments of blessed solitude when Maya tends to her wounds, we learn flashbacks about Pin-Up Girl and Scarecrow when they were children in school as well as the origins of the question on everyone’s mind: Who is Tamara? Maya’s time alone is always short lived and she is outnumbered and has no one or nowhere to turn for help. Will she survive her second night being hunted by The Strangers? We’re going to have to wait for Chapter 3!
As I mentioned earlier, the reviews for The Strangers – Chapter 2 were anything but flattering and it scored a whopping eighteen percent on Rotten Tomatoes. The main qualms being that The Strangers should have been a stand alone film and that we don’t need a backstory into the three villains. My thoughts? The first Strangers movie was brilliant. It’s actually one of my favorite movies and I can see why people would say that it should have just been left alone. Its predecessors pale in comparison but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t entertaining. As for the backstory on The Strangers themselves, I am so there for it. Yes, it’s harrowing that their original reason for their murderous spree was “because you were home”. However, it is enticing to me to learn exactly why that is and how the whole town plays a part in it.
The Strangers – Chapter 2 was fast paced and clocked at just under an hour and forty minutes. For its entire duration, I was on the edge of my seat. It had plenty of good jump scares and the fact that The Strangers always seem to be everywhere was so suspenseful. Even more so because it was easy to root for Maya – seriously can that poor girl catch a break? I was genuinely bummed out when the movie ended on a To Be Continued because I wanted it to keep going and wanted to know more. I don’t know, I really liked it!
Overall, I am going to rate The Strangers – Chapter 2 with a seven out of ten stars. If you are a fan of this franchise, go into it with no preconceived notions. I think you will like it too!
What is your favorite scary movie? What did you think of The Strangers – Chapter 2? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, it is your time to shine because there are SO many good scary flicks that have come out or are due to be released soon. One that I was particularly looking forward to was the fourth installment of The Conjuring called Last Rites. I think we can all agree that the first movie was excellent, the second was so so, and the third one sucked on ice. However, those sentiments did not deter me one bit from wanting to see what happens next and I’m glad for it. The Conjuring 4 was better than the second and third one combined! As always, this will be a spoiler free review but I’ll be placing a trigger warning on the movie for pregnancy difficulties, injury to an animal, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:
^^^ I have no rights to this video!!
Ed and Lorraine Warren are getting older and have decided to put their paranormal investigations on an indeterminate hiatus for Ed’s declining heart health. Their days are now spent lecturing and doting on their beloved daughter, Judy, who is now all grown up and dating a young man named Tony. Like her mom, Judy is increasingly having visions of the dead and things that have already happened and are yet to come. It’s a balancing act but both of the ladies manage it the best that they can. Aside from these visions, the Warren’s lives are quiet and peaceful which is in sharp contrast to the Smurl family in a small town called Pittston in Pennsylvania.
The Smurl family compiles of the parents, four daughters, and the father’s parents. They are a devout Catholic family who is in the process of celebrating the confirmation of Heather. The family has a good meal, cake, and Heather is treated to a huge gift from her grandparents: An antique mirror that is as beautiful as it is creepy. Just as soon as the mirror is unwrapped, the entire family begins experiencing paranormal activity to the highest degree. We’re talking levitation, items moving, terrifying spirits, injuries to the family, and a puke storm that would make the little girl in The Exorcist jealous.
Try as they might, the Smurl family cannot find help to rid their home of the angry spirits and take their scary story to the news. The Warren’s are none the wiser about this case but Judy has been keeping up to date and feels the Smurl household drawing her in. After tragedy strikes a dear friend who tried to help the Smurl family, Judy heads to Pennsylvania and her parents follow suit. By the time they arrive in Pittston, Grandma Smurl is being wheeled into an ambulance because something pushed her down the stairs. Judy has already offered her assistance and Ed and Lorraine reluctantly agree to help too. What happens next? You’re going to have to see The Conjuring: Last Rites to find out!
For the most part, I enjoyed this movie. My main qualm I had with it was the pacing because this was a slow burn and I mean slow. The first forty minutes or so of Last Rites was a back and forth situation. It got you up to speed on the Warrens and Judy’s relationship while showing minor instances of the Smurl family haunting. All the while, I was mentally willing this part of the flick to hurry the hell up because I wanted to get to the good stuff. The scary stuff! What transpired in the Smurl home really was scary but it felt like it was over before it even began. The major portion of their haunting consisted of roughly the last thirty-five minutes of the movie and it didn’t feel like it was enough. I always felt like The Conjuring films had an issue with pacing and Last Rites was a shining example of my complaints.
Other than the choppiness of the movie, it really came together once all of the key players of the film were together. Last Rites provided scares reminiscent of the first Conjuring movie – perhaps even more scary. I will never forget my level of fear seeing the first one in theaters and definitely was having similar reactions all of these years later. Also, it is worth saying that any movie with Patrick Wilson is alright by me because he is a dreamboat! If you are a fan of The Conjuring franchise, Last Rites is definitely a must see. Was it great? Absolutely not. But all in all it was a pretty good conclusion to the series.
I am going to rate The Conjuring: Last Rites with a six out of ten stars. It was certainly above average and I will happily watch it again when it comes out on streaming services!
What is your favorite scary movie? What is the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
