Tag Archives: star rating

Mar11

Reanimal Review

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Reanimal Review

Hello! Johnny and I absolutely love playing puzzle solving video games together like Unraveled and Little Nightmares. We were incredibly excited for Little Nightmares III and were thoroughly disappointed by it. Blessedly, shortly after, a new game called Reanimal came on the market and Johnny got it for me for Valentine’s Day. Reanimal was made by the same people who created Little Nightmares I and II and it begs the question of why the heck it wasn’t just Little Nightmares III to begin with. Reanimal completely blew it out of the water!! Let’s discuss:

Reanimal is everything that Johnny and I like. It is a fast paced horror driven puzzle solver revolving around a little boy and girl. Very similar to Little Nightmares! In fact, we lovingly just call our characters “Little Boy” and “Little Girl” which reminds me of Bird Box. In Reanimal, Little Boy and Girl must traverse through a war ravaged world to rescue their friends and defeat an overgrown sheep who is destroying everything in sight that remains. Whether they are hoofing it, traveling by boat, or vehicle there is imminent danger with every second that passes by. Little Boy and Girl are armed with nothing but lanterns, a knife, and a wrench to protect themselves. Combined with their smarts, they might be able to save the world yet!

From start to finish, Reanimal was a wild ride and was jam packed with gorgeous imagery. Like Little Nightmares, it was quite short and Johnny and I beat it in three or so sittings and we plan on playing it again ASAP. It is that good. This world that has been created is terrifying but simply amazing to behold and every moment felt noteworthy. I was especially partial to the first “boss” which definitely felt like a tip of the cap to the first two Little Nightmares. Upon its completion, however, is when things really started to pick up.

About midway through the game, a WWI arc began and that blew our freaking minds. We had to run through trenches, cross No Man’s Land, and inch our way further with puzzles without being shot. These scenes were such a white knuckle moment and any misstep resulted in fatality. While Reanimal was wicked fun to play, part of the delight came with communicating with Johnny. There were countless times when we had to put our heads together, workshop possible solutions, try them out, and alter our course to what we found. It was so interactive and was a game that you simply did not just play but worked through with your teammate. If Little Nightmares III didn’t do it for you, either, then you are going to love Reanimal just as much as we did. Highly recommend!

To me and Johnny both, Reanimal was a ten out of ten star experience. Buckle in and hang on tight because Reanimal is one of the craziest, best games we have ever played!

What was your favorite Little Nightmares game? Do you have a favorite puzzle solving game? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar6

Groovy Movies: Scream 7 Edition

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Groovy Movies: Scream 7 Edition

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

Mar2

Lil Red’s Book Club: Ward D By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Ward D By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a thriller by Freida McFadden called Ward D. Freida McFadden’s books have always fell under my “just okay” category. They are quick reads and twisty but are they mind blowing? No. Are they far fetched? Always! However, Ward D was probably one of the best books that I have read by her and landed under my “pretty good” ranking. Honestly, it’s quite a boost! Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Ward D for mental health, child abuse, disturbing content, and graphic violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Amy is a medical student and tonight she is scheduled to work and learn in Ward D, the mental health unit of the local hospital. It’s not that she’s nervous or anything. More like terrified. It will be the night shift in a locked ward with people who are potentially dangerous. Her biggest fear, though? Being mistaken for a patient as Amy has had her own share of mental health issues too. It’s safe to say that Amy has no interest in studying psychiatry further, but it’s just for one night. All she needs to do is make it through.

After being buzzed into the locked ward, Amy gets the lay of the land from Dr. Beck and nurse Ramona. It would be a relatively quiet night in Ward D but there is a glaring issue. A dangerous patient is in one of the seclusion rooms and will be transferred to a more secure setting in the morning. All of the other patients are fearful of him and have made this perfectly clear to Amy with claims that he is going to kill all of them this very night. Dr. Beck’s advice? Stay far away.

The atmosphere in Ward D is tense with patients acting out and it only gets worse. There is a ghost of Amy’s past who is also a patient tonight. Her name is Jade and she was Amy’s best friend in the world until the girls turned sixteen. Jade went from a good girl to an absolute wild child in a matter of years and put Amy into a lot of problematic situations. Some would result in a grounding or possibly a suspension from school. Others would put both girls behind bars. Since then, Amy has turned her life around and is fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor. Jade, on the other hand, has been in and out of mental health wards for the past eight years.

Between the stress of the patients and the fear that Jade might reveal Amy’s darkest secret, her own mental health begins to deteriorate swiftly. Amy begins seeing shadows, hearing animal like noises from the seclusion room, and even seeing blood on the floor. Is she hallucinating or is something far more sinister happening on Ward D? As the night continues, coworkers and patients alike seem to have simply disappeared. Amy no longer has to get through the night but survive it. Will she evade the man in the seclusion room? Or is this just all in her head? Read Ward D to find out!

One of my biggest qualms with Freida McFadden books are their lack of originality. They all read like plots of thriller books that I have read before with sloppy twists that feel like an afterthought. This, combined with the far fetched nature of her plots has always made her books lackluster for me. Ward D, however, actually read like something new and made for an unputdownable experience. I finished the book in a day! Although I figured out all of the twists and turns in Ward D, is was still a refreshing read with a plot that I was actually interested in that took place in a unique setting.

Ward D was definitely a page turner and I really liked that it all transpired in the course of one night shift. It made the situation at hand feel so much more dire because you just knew that something major was going to happen as the hours counted down. This book also flip flopped to eight years prior which gave a chance to learn more about Amy and Jade’s friendship as well as the hallucinations that Amy suffered from. These flashbacks made Amy shift into an unreliable narrator to the point that it was hard to tell what was real at all. I would never call myself a huge McFadden fan but she was onto something with Ward D!

Overall, I am going to rate Ward D with a six out of ten stars. This is the highest I have ranked any of McFadden’s work since reading The Housemaid series and I have no problems with recommending this book!

What is your favorite Frieda McFadden book? What is your favorite thriller novel? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb28

Lil Red’s Book Club: The First Time I Saw Him By Laura Dave Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The First Time I Saw Him By Laura Dave Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the sequel to Laura Dave’s thriller, The Last Thing He Told Me, called The First Time I Saw Him. I read The Last Thing He Told Me five years ago and I have to admit that I don’t remember much of it. However, I guess I liked it well enough because I gave it an eight out of ten stars in my review! Perhaps I would have liked the sequel more if I had a better recollection of its predecessor because The First Time I Saw Him really missed the mark for me. There is no content in this book that requires a trigger warning so let’s get right to it:

It has been over five years since Hannah’s husband, Owen, has disappeared off of the face of the earth due to providing evidence against a dangerous crime organization. It was all for the safety of Hannah and his daughter Bailey and they have been rebuilding the pieces of their lives since he vanished. Bailey is now a college graduate and Hannah is still making fantastic pieces of hand carved furniture. They have also grown very close to Bailey’s maternal grandfather, Nicholas, who was also part of the crime syndicate that Owen turned against. Nicholas also played an integral role in protecting Hannah and Bailey. After decades of loyalty to the big boss, he left with the promise that as long as Nicholas is alive that no harm would come to those he loves.

Unfortunately, that promise is swiftly broken upon Nicholas’s passing and the crime family wants blood. They still hold a grudge towards Owen for his betrayal and as he is in hiding, the only way to get to him is to get to Hannah and Bailey first. Almost as soon as the death of Nicholas is announced on the news, snatchers from the organization are deployed to Hannah and Bailey’s homes. Luckily, they have prepared for this situation for a long time. They hoped that their plan of escape would never have to happen but they are now thrust into it with both of their lives on the line.

Hannah and Bailey are on the run and the name of the game is to get as far away from their usual haunts as possible. Through back roads, safe houses, and the help of a friend with a private jet, they end up in France. Who they meet upon their arrival is certainly not who they were expecting but their help could provide the protection they need and a way to find Owen again. While Hannah and Bailey prepared and perfected their escape plan for over half a decade, other plans were being made too. Plans for a last ditch effort should the truce between Nicholas and his former employer no longer be honored. Hannah and Bailey have one final go at a normal life with or without Owen. Will the help from an unlikely ally see it through? Or will the family they could be simply vanish? Read The First Time I Saw Him to find out!

The only thing I really remember from The Last Thing He Told Me was essentially a wild goose chase. Hannah and Bailey on the run, their initial poor relationship, plans being made, plans changing, and the ever watchful organization hot on their tail. The First Time I Saw Him was basically the same thing minus Hannah and Bailey being besties now. Regardless of how long it has been since I read the first book, I had the nagging feeling as I read its sequel that I have read it all before. The bones of The First Time I Saw Him were so similar to its predecessor that it felt more like a review than a brand new book.

What I remember liking the most about The Last Thing He Told Me was its sense of urgency that was so palpable on each page. Both Hannah and Bailey had no idea what was happening as they avoided peril and I could feel their anxiety so clearly. That swell of emotion was just not there as I read The First Time I Saw Him because its plot had already been done before. Yes, it was scary that Hannah and Bailey were put in this situation once again but it was also such a crazy story that it felt like a really bold move to rinse and repeat it. While I enjoyed Laura Dave’s writing, the sense of deja vu was much too prominent and The First Time I Saw Him felt like something borrowed over something new. This might sound harsh but it just felt like a lazy effort on Laura Dave’s part and I was happy to be done with the book or, rather, the CliffsNotes of the first one.

Overall, I am going to rate The First Time I Saw Him with a three out of ten stars. It was well written but that didn’t save the repeat plot one bit!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb16

Lil Red’s Book Club: A Killing Cold By Kate Alice Marshall Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: A Killing Cold By Kate Alice Marshall Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Kate Alice Marshall called A Killing Cold. My sister, mom, and I tend to read the same books and this was passed down to me from my big sis once she was done reading it. About halfway through the book, she told me she was enjoying it. Then, upon completion she changed her sentiment as it was far too far fetched for her liking. I agree with this wholeheartedly. It started strong enough but I was SO ready for it to be over when there was about sixty pages left. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on A Killing Cold for domestic violence, general violence, child abuse, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

Theo and Connor met at a party and both of them felt like they had seen each other before. But where? And when? Call it fate, but a whirlwind romance began and after six short months they are engaged to be married. Theo came from a troubled background. She has no idea who her real parents are and is permanently estranged from her adoptive family after years of trauma they caused. Connor, on the other hand, lived a life of wealth and privilege. His family, the Daltons, are powerful in ways that regular people would never understand. They protect their own, keep secrets buried, and go through life with the air of those who are untouchable.

Every Christmas, the Daltons spend two weeks in their luxury mountain retreat and it will be Theo’s first time meeting them. As she braces herself for their interrogations, she begins receiving texts that warn her to stay far away from Connor. She chalks it up to a jealous ex or perhaps one of Connor’s siblings looking out for him for moving too fast. Besides, it’s too late to cancel the trip now and she is head over heels for her fiance. To the mountains they go and upon their arrival, Theo can’t help but feel that she has been there before.

Her welcome from her new family is icy, if not frigid. They are sizing her up and appear to have every intention of scaring her away. After all, Theo is a poor girl who now has unimaginable wealth falling into her lap. As much as she would like to turn on her heels and run, she holds firm. Of course, she is there for Connor, but for the first time fragments of memories from her early childhood are returning to her. What used to be dicey images pulled from nightmares are piecing together. Real or imagined, one thing is for sure: The Dalton family has something to hide.

As the days on the mountain drag on, Theo begins to explore. She is particularly drawn to an abandoned cabin that the family no longer has use for. In this cabin, a small semblance of truth is revealed. Theo can remember the small bed with flowers on the sheets. It was hers. And, tucked away, she finds a photo of a little girl with Connor’s late father smiling in the snow. There is no longer any denying it. Theo’s childhood began and ended in the mountains. She remembers fleeting moments of her and her mother pretending they live in an enchanted forest. Until it all came to an abrupt halt because her mother was wearing a blue scarf that turned red. What happened to Theo’s mother? And how far will the Daltons go to keep the truth buried? Read A Killing Cold to find out!

A Killing Cold was a shining example of a disappointing thriller. Sure, it had the twists and turns. Were they any good? Not really lol. When I am reading a novel of suspense, I love when they are just plausible enough to have some truth to it. Alice Kate Marshall spun a story with A Killing Cold but it was a plot that couldn’t stand on solid ground. As I read, all I could think about was the example of a Hallmark movie where a girl ends up with her childhood pen pal. It’s a story, yes, but it is as unlikely as the grass being purple.

As I turned the pages, A Killing Cold became more and more convoluted and there came a point when I just had enough. With a quarter of the book left, I was damn near begging for it to be over. The poorly placed Red Herrings, overplayed dysfunctional family trope, and the constant shifting of blame was just too much. It felt like Kate Alice Marshall threw Every. Single. classic thriller writing tool at the wall to see what stuck. Sadly, few of these attempts helped push the painstakingly slow plot forward and I felt nothing but sheer relief by the time the last page was read. A Killing Cold was a total and complete dud.

In a shocking plot twist of my own, I will be rating A Killing Cold with zero out of ten stars. I understand this book has received a fair amount of hype and I promise you it is not worth it. I wasted my time so you don’t have to waste yours! ❤

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb1

Lil Red’s Book Club: Anatomy Of An Alibi By Ashley Elston Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Anatomy Of An Alibi By Ashley Elston Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing Anatomy Of An Alibi by Ashley Elston. I have been reading a fair share of Stephen King and was excited to give Anatomy Of An Alibi a go. I love horror but I also love a twisty thriller and was ready for a change of pace. I have also never read anything by Ashley Elston and it’s fun to explore new authors. I suspect this will be the last thing I read by Elston, however, because this book was not it for me in the slightest. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Anatomy Of An Alibi for car accidents and general violence. Now, let’s get to it:

From the outside, Camille’s life looks picture perfect. She is married to a successful defense lawyer named Ben, has a gorgeous home, and a bank account with more money than she knows what to do with. Everything would be perfect if the people in her life were too. Ben is a controlling husband who watches her every step and tracks her phone. This is rich because Camille has done nothing wrong but has every reason to believe that Ben is up to no good. He is secretive, spends hours tucked away in his home office, and their marriage is disintegrating. She could divorce him but there is a clause in the prenup she signed that she can only have her cut if there is wrongdoing. IE: Ben cheating on her or abusing her.

After some snooping, Camille thinks she has her way out. She finds a woman named Aubrey’s name, home address, and work address on a napkin in Ben’s briefcase. Jackpot! She’ll meet the woman he is cheating on her with, have her admit it, and get this divorce moving. Camille decides to pay Aubrey a visit at the bar she tends at and learns that she is not a cheater at all. She only knows Ben’s name as he’s somewhat of a local celebrity. But Ben certainly knows her.

Aubrey was orphaned at sixteen when her parents got hit by a drunk driver. Paul Granger is the man who was convicted of the hit and run but he has maintained his innocence. In a letter he wrote to Aubrey, he informs her that there has been new evidence in his case that was given to him by a dirty cop. A dirty cop who is dying and wishes to make good with anyone he harmed. With this information, Aubrey makes it her mission to uncover who really killed her parents while Camille focuses on finding a way to escape her husband.

As the story weaves on, the ladies find common ground and must work together to prove that Ben isn’t who he says he is. He either killed Aubrey’s parents or is covering it up. What they need is a plan to prove Paul’s innocence and force Ben to spill what he knows. So they concoct a perfect alibi. One that will allow Aubrey to pose as Camille while Camille spies on Ben through security cameras. Then, the unthinkable happens. Ben is murdered while Aubrey and Camille touch down at their meet up spot and both of their lives are now on the line. Will they get the information they need? Or is one of them going down for murder? Read Anatomy Of An Alibi to find out! (Or don’t lol)

I absolutely love thriller novels and I say the twistier the better. I revel in the surprises and being at the edge of my seat. Anatomy Of An Alibi was twisty, yes, but it was a mess. This book was so incredibly convoluted and read like the twists were just being thrown in for the sake of having them. Every page felt like an eternity to read for a story that just wasn’t that good to begin with. This book was exhausting and, to be frank, poorly written. For all of the poorly crafted plot twists, there was a character that was equally as poorly crafted and I didn’t care for any of them. Normally I can live with one or the other but when both the plot and characters don’t move me, reading feels like a chore rather than something enjoyable.

I finished this book during my surprise snow day and almost didn’t bother with it. It was boring and predictable. The only saving grace was the budding relationship between Aubrey and one of her roommates. Who doesn’t like a little romance?! Other than those fiery moments, Anatomy Of An Alibi was a snooze fest through and through. Perhaps it would have been better written by another author because I think Ashley Elston bit off a bit more than she could chew with this book!

Overall, I am going to rate Anatomy Of An Alibi with a zero out of ten stars. Do not waste your time on this one because it was one of the worst books I have read in recent memory!

What is your favorite twisty thriller? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan26

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Running Man By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Running Man By Stephen King As Richard Bachman Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing The Running Man by Stephan King writing as Richard Bachman. Johnny and I live for an Arnold Schwarzenegger flick and one of our all time favorites has got to be The Running Man. Who loves you and who do you love? DAMON! Oddly enough, neither of us has read the book and I decided to rectify that. I am so glad I did because it was excellent and I will be looking forward to seeing the new(ish) movie as I understand it follows the book more closely. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Running Man for graphic violence and disturbing content. Now, let’s get into it:

Ben Richards and his family are destitute. Ben is currently unemployed while his wife turns tricks to make ends meet. Their baby daughter, Cathy, is incredibly sick and needs a doctor like three days ago. Of course, they will never be able to afford the care she needs and she seems to be getting worse by the second. There is only one thing that Ben or really anyone in his dilapidated neighborhood can do for money. To head to the Games Network headquarters and apply to be a contestant.

The games that the Network hosts are not like The Price Is Right. No, they are violent, dangerous, and could potentially kill you all for trying to make a buck. But it’s Ben’s only option and he takes it. After a grueling process, Ben lands a spot on the most popular show on the Games Network – The Running Man. In this show, contestants are free to move and travel wherever they please and all the while they are being hunted. For every hour a contestant lives, money is earned. Should a contestant make it the entire thirty day challenge, they will be rewarded handsomely. This has never been done before.

At the start of The Running Man, Ben will get a grace period of twelve hours to get as far away as humanly possible. To create a disguise, get weapons, and formulate some semblance of a plan. After the twelve hours are up, Ben is fair game to be hunted. Winning won’t come easily and his daughter’s life is on the line. But if no one has won before, why not Ben? He is savvy, creative, and strong. But will that be enough to last thirty days on the run? Read The Running Man to find out!

Can I just start out by saying that The Hunger Games is literally just The Running Man? There, I said it. It’s so true, though! Down on their luck people competing for stability all for the entertainment of the rich. I just know that Suzanne Collins is a Stephen King fan! Having said all that, holy WOW was The Running Man good. It was so fast paced and something new was happening with every turn of the page. Ben’s situation was dire and as it was nothing like my beloved Schwarzenegger movie, I had no idea what was going to happen. I seriously couldn’t stop reading and my jaw dropped on the last page!

The Running Man really is an underdog story and it is impossible to read this book and not root for Ben every step of the way. This is his chance to save his family. His chance to stick it to the man. And his chance to maybe bring some changes to the messed up world that they live in. Every step back was agonizing but every step forward was one closer to the ultimate prize. I was on the edge of my seat to see if he could pull it off. As a funny anecdote, The Running Man is set in the future (now past) year of 2025. This book came out in 1982 and, honestly, Stephen King was definitely onto something with his glimpse into the future. Just my brief synopsis alone is enough to make you see why. -_-

Overall, I am going to rate The Running Man with an eight out of ten stars. It wasn’t my favorite Stephen King/Richard Bachman novel but it was very, very good!

Have you seen either of The Running Man movies? What did you think of the newest one? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan24

Groovy Movies: Zootopia 2 Edition

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Groovy Movies: Zootopia 2 Edition

Hi! This past weekend was full of entertainment for me. Some excellent and some that actively sucked – just take a look at yesterday’s Stereophonic review lol. On Friday, I took my big nieces to see Zootopia 2 together and we had the best time. My bestie girls and I love going to the movies. Of course, we all love the snacks but that time spent watching a show together on the big screen, laughing, and cheering the characters on can’t be beat! I have to admit that I don’t remember the first Zootopia very well as it has been several years since I watched it with my oldest niece. However, that did not deter from my enjoyment of its sequel one bit. It was such fun! Let’s discuss:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Thanks to the ingenious invention of weather walls to control the climate, Zootopia is a home for all creatures big and small. All creatures except for snakes, of course. Snakes have not been seen in Zootopia since forever and any member of the reptile family is looked down upon. However, after Judy and Nick make a bust at a loading dock, they believe that a snake has touched down in Zootopia after finding its shed skin. No one believes their discovery as a snake being in Zootopia would be simply impossible, but Judy and Nick work the case anyway. Through their detective work, they learn that the snake might be going to a gala to celebrate Zootopia’s centennial anniversary. It’s time for them to go undercover.

The party is hosted by a powerful family of lynxes who are descendants of Zootopia’s original founder. Our snake friend named Gary would say otherwise and that is why he is in Zootopia. To prove that the lynx family are frauds and to help his own family who has been in hiding since they took something very important away. A journal that would show where the original patent for the weather walls is located. A patent not created by the lynxes at all. Gary manages to get the journal back but in the chaos Judy and Nick are accused of aiding him. Now, they are all on the run to clear their names.

With the help of countless new friends, the unlikely trio sets to work to solve the mystery of the missing patent. They race across Zootopia seeking information about how it was founded and just what happened to all of the reptiles. And, wouldn’t you know that there was a time when they coexisted with the other animals peacefully despite their differences? Little does Judy and Nick know, the real snakes are not the snakes at all. If the patent is not found, there will be nowhere safe for the reptiles to go and the powerful will remain so based on a farce. Will Judy, Nick, and Gary save the day and make Zootopia a home for all once more? Watch the movie and find out!

From start to finish, Zootopia 2 was an absolute blast. It was hilarious, exciting, and had an all star cast to voice all of Zootopia’s inhabitants. Not to mention that the adults in the audience would find shocking similarities to our current political times. It was incredibly apparent and I was living for it. But the best thing about Zootopia 2 is its message. That being different isn’t a bad thing. It’s a beautiful thing that makes the world colorful and special. And when you dare to be different and let your true self shine is when magic and changes can happen.

I wasn’t sure if my girl squad was going to sit through Zootopia 2 in its entirety without getting the jitters. It was a bit longer at one hour and fifty minutes and I sometimes get the jitters with too long movies! That was not the case in the slightest. This movie completely held our attention and I think we were all a little sad when it was over. Zootopia 2 was an amazing family flick that will be just as enjoyable for the adults as it is for the children. Highly recommend!

My Zootopia 2 outing was a ten out of ten stars experience hands down. We all loved it and are planning on watching the first one together next time!

What is your favorite animated movie? Have you seen anything at the theater recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan16

Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

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Groovy Movies: Primate Edition

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

Jan10

Lil Red’s Book Club: Wild Dark Shore By Charlotte McConaghy Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Wild Dark Shore By Charlotte McConaghy Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy. This book had it all – suspense, romance, and a riveting whodoneit. It was, at times, painfully sad but I enjoyed every moment of this three hundred page powerhouse. Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Wild Dark Shore for natural disasters, animal cruelty, general violence, and sexual assault. Now, let’s get to it:

Dominic Salt lives and works on remote Shearwater Island with his three children, Orly, Fen, and Raff. Dom is the caretaker to this island that is home to wondrous animals like seals, albatrosses, and penguins as well as a seed bank should the world ever fall into a time when plants would need to be restored. Once a bustling place with scientists and researchers is now left to the Salt family. Everyone else has fled the island or vanished and it is up to them to maintain the seed bank until they are scheduled for extraction. They have their tasks and routines down to a science until it goes haywire when a woman washes up on shore.

Despite her hatred of the water, Rowan must get to Shearwater Island for someone she wants back desperately. She hires a boat and a captain and sets sail into rough waters. Then, catastrophe strikes when a major storm hits, destroying the boat and sending Rowan into the sea. By some miracle, she is rescued by Fen who mans the beach at Shearwater. She is barely conscious, badly injured, and is nursed back to health by the Salt family with a lot of help from the youngest, Orly, who refuses to leave her side.

After Rowan returns to the land of the living, she can’t help but shake the feeling that the Salt family is lying to her. They tell her that all sources of communication have been destroyed, they are the only people on the island, and Rowan must stay until their extraction date. As the days continue and Rowan recovers, she finds that she cannot stay still with idle hands for weeks. While she investigates her cause, she begins to grow a fondness for the family through their shared labor, living quarters, and experiences. She might even be growing fond of the patriarch, Dom.

Of course, feelings are always subject to change and as her love for the Salt family blooms, she begins to uncover their lies. There is no way off the island. No way to reach anyone and Rowan is stranded and in probable danger. Were these lies meant to cover something sinister? Or were they to protect Rowan from a hard truth? Read Wild Dark Shore to find out!

I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I began reading Wild Dark Shore. This is the first book by Charlotte McConaghy that I have read and I suspect it won’t be my last because this book was excellent. Wild Dark Shore flip flopped between Dom, Rowan, Orly, Fen, and Raff with chapters that were short and sweet. It was no secret that the Salts were hiding a secret and each point of view came together to paint a clear picture. It kept me turning the pages SO quickly and I also liked that I didn’t figure out the grand reveal completely. While this was a family based plot with a delicious “Will they, won’t they?”, this was still a novel of suspense through and through. It was a welcome change of pace from my usual thrillers and I have to say that the make you blush sex scene was a nice touch too! 😀

The cast of characters in Wild Dark Shore has zero complaints from me because I honestly loved them all. I adored Orly and his passion for nature. I related to Fen as she healed from trauma. I rooted for Raff as he battled his anger. And although I didn’t know the lie keeping Dom and Rowan at arm’s length, I was pulling for their relationship every step of the way. These characters were expertly crafted and the book was beautifully written. From McConaghy’s vivid descriptions, it felt like I was right there on Shearwater too. I marveled at its splendor as Rowan took it all in with fresh eyes. I mourned for the losses the island experienced. I kept my hopes up that this broken woman and family would find peace in any way they could salvage. And I closed this book feeling sad but immensely satisfied by this profound read.

Overall I am going to award Wild Dark Shore with the coveted ten out of ten stars. I can’t put into words how fantastic this book was. You are just going to have to trust me and read it for yourself!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah