Movie Review - Mortal Kombat II

Director: Simon McQuoid
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 116 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Karl Urban, Adelie Rudolph, Martyn Ford, Tati Gabrielle, Jessica McNamee, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Josh Lawson, Hiroyuki Sanada
 
Description: The fan favorite champions, now joined by Johnny Cage (Karl Urban) himself, are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
 
Review: “Mortal Kombat II” attempts to correct the mistakes of its 2021 predecessor by going all-in on pure tournament chaos, but unfortunately gets bogged down in a muddy stream of soulless computer-generated effects and a virtually nonexistent script.

The story picks up where the invasion of Eathrealm left off. Cole Young and the remaining protectors travel to Outworld to recruit allies, including the arrogant movie star Johnny Cage. However, they are immediately lured into a trap by the tyrannical Shao Kahn, who organizes an illegal, decisive tournament to subjugate Earth once and for all. With this premise, director Simon McQuoid delivers a film that, unfortunately, feels like a two-hour, exhausting string of cinematic fights without a shred of dramatic impact. Karl Urban is the highlight, as Johnny Cage, with his weary Hollywood charisma. And if you are a fan of hack-and-slash action you are in for a treat, as the film fully lives up to its R-rating. The iconic fatalities from the games are brought to life with plenty of blood and spectacle.

However, as soon as the characters stop fighting and start talking, the film collapses like a house of cards. The plot surrounding Shao Kahn’s tournament is paper0thin and serves purely as a pretext for action, resulting in wooden dialogue and forced explanatory scenes.

Ultimately, the film lacks real tension. Because death is meaningless in this universe and characters are just as easily brought back to life, the emotional stakes during the mission to save Earth are nonexistent. “Mortal Kombat II” offers plenty of mindless entertainment and bloodshed for the hardcore games, but as a movie, it’s a messy, noisy, and soulless product. Take me back to the “Mortal Kombat” movie from 1995 please.

Rating: 2/ 5

Book Review - Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Title: Pet Sematary
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Published: 1983
 
Description: The House looked right, felt right to Dr. Louis Creed.
 
Rambling, old, unsmart and comfortable. A place where the family could settle; the children grow and play and explore. The rolling hills and meadows of Maine seemed a world away from the fume-choked dangers of Chicago.
 
Only the occasional big truck out on the two-lane highway, grinding up through the gears, hammering down the long gradients, growled out an intrusive threat.
 
But behind the house and far away from the road: that was safe. Just a carefully cleared path up into the woods where generations of local children have processed with the solemn innocence of the young, taking with them their dear departed pets for burial.
 
A sad place maybe, but safe. Surely a safe place. Not a place to seep into your dreams, to wake you, sweating with fear and foreboding.
 
Review: Did I just read my new favorite Stephen King book?  A terrifying epic about the limits of human grief. “Pet Sematary” is an absolute masterpiece. After closing that very last page, I can only conclude one thing: this is officially my favorite Stephen King novel. Over the years I have devoured many of King’s books, but this particular story grabbed me by the throat from the very first chapter and never lets go. It’s dark and compelling and will haunt your mind for days afterwards.
 
The story follows the young, successful doctor Louis Creed. He moves with his wife Rachel and two young children Ellie and Gage, and the family cat Church to the seemingly idyllic countryside of Maine. Their fresh start seems perfect, but appearances can be deceiving. They soon befriend their elderly neighbor, Jud Crandall, who takes them to a mysterious pet cemetery deep in the woods: the “Pet Sematary”.
 
What begins as a melancholic place where local children commemorate their deceased pets, however, turns out to be a dark façade. Deeper in the woods lies an ancient Mi’kmaq Indian burial ground that is possessed by a malevolent, supernatural force. The ground there is literally and figuratively acidic: whatever is buried there returns from the dead. But they never return exactly the same. When tragedy strikes the Creed family without mercy, Louis is driven by intense grief to defy the laws of nature. He makes a fatal decision with horrific irreversible consequences.
 
I can say with complete conviction that this is one of the scariest books I’ve ever read in my entire life. King doesn’t build tension with the cheap shock tactics of supernatural jump scares, but with a deep suffocating psychological terror that slowly creeps under your skin. From the very first page, the atmosphere is stifling, ominous, and uncomfortable. As a reader, you sense the impending catastrophe, but you’re just as powerless as the characters themselves. The climax is so intense and terrifying that I simply couldn’t put it down, despite the chills running down my spine. The last 100 pages were top tier.
 
What truly elevates this book to the level of a literary masterpiece is its emotional and philosophical depth. Pure grief is the central, most important theme of this story. King dissects the human psyche to the bone and painfully reveals just how blinding, destructive, and isolating intense grief can be. The book poses the chilling question: How far would you go to get a lost loved one back? It explores the universal fear of death and our inability to let go. The conclusion is brutally harsh: sometimes death really is better. “Pet Sematary” undoubtedly has one of the darkest and most hopeless endings Stephen King has ever written.
 
It’s dark, emotionally draining, psychologically complex, and terrifyingly relatable. It’s Stephen King at the absolute peak of his power. An absolute must-read for anyone who loves horror of the very highest caliber. I can’t believe it took me so long to read it.
 
Rating: 5/ 5
 

Book Review - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl (Fangirl # 1)
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Young Adult/ Romance
Published: 2013
 
Description: Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan… But Cath, being a fan is her life, and she’s really good at it. She and her twin, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.
 
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
 
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a grumpy roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words… and she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
 
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living on her own And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
 
Review: “Fangirl” by Rainbow Rowell is a tender and relatable coming-of-age story that explores the intense transition from the safety of adolescence to the overwhelming world of college.
 
The book follows Cath, an extremely introverted freshman who goes through an identity crisis when her twin sister Wren decides she doesn’t want to be her roommate on campus. While Wren throws herself wholeheartedly into college life with parties and alcohol, Cath retreats to her shared room. Her only true refuge is the online world, where, under the pseudonym Magicath, she writes an immensely popular fan fiction series based on the fiction Simon Snow wizard series. Cath balances her fear of the real world, caring for her mentally fragile father, and her looming deadline to finish her own story before the official final Simon Snow book is published. Only when she is forced to connect with her gruff roommate Reagan and Reagan’s ever-smiling friend Levi does Cath being, very slowly, to come out  of her shell.
 
Author Rainbow Rowell excels at making loneliness and social anxiety of a young adult palpable. The characters are multi-layered. The friendship between Cath and Levi feel authentic, which grows organically and slowly blossoms into a sudden romance. With his honest-to-goodness characters and unconditional support, Levi is a beacon of light in Cath’s chaotic life.
 
In addition, the story tackles heavier themes, such as the dynamics of a broken family and the impact of mental health issues, without ever becoming overly heavy.
 
Rowell portrays the love of writing and the safe haven that internet culture can offer outside with great respect. The reason this novel falls short lies primarily in its structure and uneven pacing. Rowell chooses to constantly interrupt the story with excerpts from the Simon Snow books and Cath’s own fan fiction. Although these interludes are intended to reflect Cath’s inner world, they repeatedly slow down the actual plot. I was more interested in Cath’s realistic struggles and relationships. Especially about her fear of change and the anxiety of dealing with life by herself, without her sister, and the bond between Cath and Wren. I also wanted more of the family dynamic, her dad who is struggling with his mental health and her mother who had left their family when Cath was younger. I felt like Rowell could have done more with this.
 
“Fangirl” is not a book I would have picked up if it wasn’t recommended to me. It’s a charming and tender book. I loved Cath, I could relate to her on many levels. And even though Rowell already added a lot of emotional depth to the story, I wanted more from the family dynamic.
 
Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Review - The Odyssey

Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 173 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Lupita Nyong’o
 
Description: After the Trojan War, Odysseus (Matt Damon) faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens and Calypso (Charlize Theron) along the way
 
Review: With the latest adaptation of “The Odyssey”, director Christopher Nolan proves that classical Greek mythology can still be relevant, and , above all, spectacular. The film has become a visual and narrative masterpiece that relentlessly draws the viewer into an emotional battle of attrition for almost 3 hours. The end result is a grand cinematic experience that balances human drama with mythological action.

“The Odyssey” follows the heroic yet disastrous journey of the Greek king Odysseus, who, after the fall of Troy, tries to find his way back home. While his faithful wife Penelope fights off intrusive suitors at home, Odysseus braves deadly monsters, divine curses, and psychological trials on the raging seas to save his kingdom.

The film excels in its cinematography and set design. The wild, unpredictable seas and the terrifying encounters with mythical creatures are brought to life with a perfect balance of practical effect and CGI. Nolan modernizes Homer’s source material without losing the epic’s authentic, tragic atmosphere.
The prominent American accents of the main cast feels quite out of place in a historical Greet setting at the beginning. The dialect distracted me and felt weird. Fortunately, this was short-lived, after a while it didn’t bother me as much. The performances are so intense and believable that the accent quickly fades into the background.

With this star-studded cast, there is a lot to look for. The performances are very strong and Matt Damon has the difficult task to lead them in this epic adventure film. But he succeeds. But it is Anne Hathaway and Samantha Morton in particular who elevate this film by carrying the emotional core. While the visual spectacle dominates the action, these two actresses provide the much-needed psychological depth and humanity. Anne Hathaway shines thanks to her phenomenal transformation. She commands all the attention with her intense gaze and emotional range. She strikes the perfect balance between royal dignity and the raw, fragile despair of a character tormented by fate. Samantha Morton steals the show with her rock-solid, understated presence. Without resorting to melodrama, she brings a layered gravitas to the screen, in only a single scene. This all shows that “The Odyssey is not just another blockbuster, but also a memorable character-driven drama.

The second part of the film was the strongest. Is focusses more on the character’s internal struggles and the bitter reality of returning home. The cinematography becomes grimmer, the soundtrack gains depth, and the film builds at a perfect pace toward a breathtaking and emotional climax. “The Odyssey” is thus not only a visual spectacle but also a profoundly human epic that leaves an indelible impression.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - The Drama

Director: Kristoffer Borgli
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey Gates, Sydney Lemmon, Hannah Gross
 
Description: A happily-engaged couple (Robert Pattinsong, Zendaya) is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.
 
Review: “The Drama” is a film that will continue to haunt your mind long after the credits roll, though whether you’ll find that a pleasant experience is another matter.

Charlie and Emma are happily engaged, preparing for their wedding. But when Emma shares something about her past, the week before their wedding becomes a big challenge.

The film strikes a perfect balance on the fine line between a cinematic masterpiece and a pure test of the viewer’s endurance. The film is best described as a pitch-black comedy laced with extremely disturbing situations. The humor is so sharp and painful that laughter repeatedly gets stuck in your throat. The director and cast succeed in constantly confronting the audience with complex moral dilemmas, in which there is no clear moral winner to be identified. As a viewer, you’re forced to question your own ethical compass, which makes the themes incredibly powerful. At the same time, this is a very uncomfortable film to watch. The vicarious embarrassment, the underlying tension, and the moral decay creep so deeply under your skin that it feels suffocating at times.

There is especially one scene, that feels like an actual dumpster fire. And the longer it burns, the worst it gets. And you can’t watch it, but also can’t look away. If you have seen the movie, you know which scene I mean.

It’s an impressive piece of cinema, but the emotional toll is high. Precisely because of the intense, uncomfortable atmosphere, I’ll probably never watch this film again. It’s powerful experience that you absolutely must see, but one you’ll be glad to leave behind afterward.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Author: Shirley Jackson
Genre: Horror/ Classic
Published: 1962
 
Description: Living in the Blackwood family home with only her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian for company, Merricat just wants to preserve their delicate way of life. But ever since Constance was acquitted for murdering the rest of the family, the world isn’t leaving the Blackwoods alone. And when Cousin Charles arrives, armed with overtures of friendship and a desperate need to get into the safe, Merricat must do everything in her power to protect the remaining family.
 
Review: Shirley Jackson’s “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” is a masterful gothic novel. The story centers on eighteen-year-old Mary Katherine “Merricat” Blackwood, who lives in a large, secluded country house with her agoraphobic sister Constance and their ailing uncle Julian. Six years earlier, the rest of the Blackwood family was mysteriously poisoned with arsenic in the sugar bowl. Although Constance was acquitted, the nearby village still believes she is the culprit. The sisters live in total isolation, protected by Merricat’s magical rituals, until their money-hungry cousin Charles arrives and brutally shatters their fragile peace.
 
Jackson excels at creating an ominous, claustrophobic atmosphere. The psychological depth of Merricat as an unreliable narrator is fascinating; her childlike logic mixed with dark tendencies makes her both sympathetic and terrifying. The book is a sharp social critique of groupthink, exclusion, and the suffocating nature of family ties.
 
Without giving away exactly what happens, the plot twist is powerful. Jackson forces the reader to reevaluate everything that has been told up to that point. You realize how manipulative the build-up has been. It both feels like a shock yet like the only logical truth.  
 
It’s a bit of a slow burn, with a good pay-off.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Molka by Monika Kim

Title: Molka
Author: Monika Kim
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Published: 2026
 
Description: Dahye can’t believe her luck when she finds herself in a whirlwind romance with handsome, charismatic Hyukjoon, the heir to a multi-million dollar fortune.
 
But then a shocking revelation: the couple has been caught on a spycam amid Korea’s growing molka epidemic, and the video is all over the internet. When Hyukjoon flees the country to avoid the intense public scrutiny, Dahye is left to grapple with the ramifications on her own; and the demons from her childhood, long dormant, begin to surface.
 
Amid the chaos, she catches the attention of Junyoung, a nerdy, introverted IT tech at work. Junyoung harbors a dark secret: he has been spying on the women at work with his own hidden cameras. As Dahye’s life begins to unravel, she unknowingly becomes the sole target of Junyoung’s perverse obsession.
 
When the facts surrounding the invasion of her privacy come to light, Dahye is faced with the humiliating truth. Her pain and hurt turn to rage as she faces her past. Her desire for vengeance is insatiable, and she will not rest until the men who have wronged her have paid in blood…
 
Review: “Molka” by Monika Kim is an absolutely breathtaking psychological horror/ thriller that grips you from the very first page and never lets go.
 
We meet Dahye, who can’t believe she is dating the charming Hyukjoon. But when the two are secretly filmed in a hotel room in a compromising video, Hyukjoon disappears without a trace and Dahye has to deal with the aftermath on her own. With that, she has drawn the attention of one of her colleagues, Junyoung, who hid cameras in the women’s bathrooms to spy on them. Dahye’s hurt eventually turns into rage and she will take sweet revenge.
 
Kim delivers a literary masterpiece that is as terrifying as it is socially relevant, transforming the dark reality of the modern digital world into a harrowing reading experience. The way Kim builds psychological tension is nothing short of genius.
 
The real-world voyeurism is turned into a furious, razor-sharp interrogation of systematic misogyny and toxic masculinity. The novel functions as a grim embodiment of the online manosphere, incel culture, and the “boys will be boys” mindset that leaves women defenseless while protecting male perpetrators. Every single man in this book is terrible and the lack of redeeming male characters is driving the central themes of the narrative. The story eventually channels pure, unfiltered feminine rage.
 
The plot is full of unexpected twists, subtle clues, and a constant, palpable threat that gets under your skin. Kim’s writing style is cinematic, elegant, and hypnotic, making it impossible to put the book down. Its an urgent, chilling page-turner that forces you to reflect on the world we live in. This horror book deserves to be on all the best of 2026 lists and is an absolute must-read. Warning: these men will make you very angry.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

 

Book Review - Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: Evidence of the Affair
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Romance/ Fiction
Published: 2018
 
Description: A desperate young woman in Southern California sits down to write a letter to a man she’s never met, a choice that will forever change their lives.
 
The correspondence between Carrie Allsop and David Mayer reveals, piece by piece, the painful details of a devastating affair between their spouses. With each commiserating scratch of the pen, they confess their fears and bare their should. They share the bewilderment over how things went so wrong and come to wonder where to go from here.

Review: “Evidence of the Affair” by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a compelling and emotionally nuanced short story that sheds light on the complexity of infidelity in a unique way. The book tells the story entirely through letters between Carrie and David, two strangers who discover that their respective spouses are having an affair with each other. This epistolary format works surprisingly well; it makes the reader feel as if they’re secretly eavesdropping on their deepest secrets, pains, and growing bond.
 
In just eighty pages, Reid succeeds in creating characters who feel genuine and relatable. Their grief and anger are palpable, and the evolution of their correspondence keeps the tension constantly high. I really wished this was a full-length novel. Some emotional shifts could have used a little more breathing room.
 
Nevertheless, the ending of the book felt satisfying and the story leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommended for a quick read.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Book Review - Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer

Title: Trad Wife
Author: Saratoga Schaefer
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Published: 2026
 
Description: When Camille Deming isn’t cooking, cleaning, or homesteading in her picture-perfect country farmhouse, she’s posting about her tradwife lifestyle for her online followers. She takes inspiration from other tradwives on social media, aspiring to be like them, but Camille’s missing a key component: a baby. And contrary to what she posts online, things with her husband Graham have been strained. Pressured by her eager followers, Camille fears that without a baby, her relationship will suffer and her social media will never frow out of its infancy.
 
When Camille discovers a mysterious, decrepit well in the wheatfield behind her house, she makes a wish for a baby. Afterwards, she has unsettling experiences that she convinces herself are angelic in nature, and when she’s visited one night by a strange creature, her wish comes true.
 
Camille’s pregnancy announcement gets more engagement than anything she’s ever poster. So what if Graham’s reaction is lukewarm? Camille’s life is finally falling into place. Never mind that her pregnancy is developing freakishly rapidly and she’s suddenly craving raw meat. Being a tradition wife is worth it.
 
Review: With “Trad Wife”, author Saratoga Schaefer delivers an intriguing horror thriller that grips you from the very first page.
 
We meet Camille, a 24-year-old influencer who curates a perfect, submissive tradwife lifestyle online. Desperate for a baby to fix her failing marriage and boost her social media metrics, she makes a wish at a mysterious well and is visited by a demonic creature. When she gets pregnant, her life finally falls into place, instead the pregnant is developing faster than usual.
The book masterfully weaves the oppressive atmosphere of a seemingly perfect traditional life with an underlying, constant sense of menace. Schaefer builds the tension with care, making the urge to keep reading irresistible.
 
We dive into the world of tradwives and Schaefer paints a nuanced portrait of a woman who consciously chooses a hyper-traditional role, driven by a deep longing for peace, control, and clarity in an overwhelming world. Instead of the simplistic black-and-white thinking.
 
The greatest strength of this novel lies in the psychological depth of its characters. Shaefer writes with a sharp, observant pen. I found it hard to relate to Camille though, since my view of feminism, autonomy and happiness is so very different from hers. And Graham is insufferable. But the socially critical undertone is palpable throughout and compels.
 
This is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves psychological fiction with strong social relevance.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Obsession

Director: Curry Barker
Genre: Horror/ Romance
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette, Cooper Tomlinson, Megan Lawless, Andy Richter
 
Description: After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic (Michael Johnston) finds himself getting exactly what he asked for, but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
 
Review: Socially awkward Bear is in love with his childhood friend Nikki, but no matter how much he practices with his friends, he just can’t bring himself to ask her out. Even when she asks him point-black if he has feelings for her, he’s too scared.  But then Bear finds a so-called “one wish willow” in an occult store: a wish stick that grants him one wish. You can guess what happens next: out of frustration Bear breaks the stick and wishes that Nikki loves him more than anyone in the entire world.

At first glance, Bear’s solutions seems like every incel’s wet dream in the manosphere, where the prevailing idea is that women should be subservient to their men. But the saying, be careful what you wish for, exists for a reason. And the longer Bear and Nikki are “together”, the crazier, more unpredictable, and more obsessive her behavior becomes.

Bear is such a naïve fool that you almost overlook the fact that something isn’t quite right from the very beginning. Director Curry Barkers initially cleverly positions Bear as the protagonist in a rom-com, making you root for his success in love. Things get more interesting after the wish, when none of Nikki’s bizarre actions prompt Bear to take concrete action. Not even when his friends are seriously concerned about her mental health. Until Bear finally gets a taste of his own obsession and that true love suddenly isn’t that great anymore.

Barker added a delightfully devilish sense of humor. This is largely thanks to Inde Navarrette, who plays Nikki. This is one of the best lead roles in horror I have seen in the last years. It’s amazing how Navarrette walks a fine line between grotesque, humor and mental torture. Even in a finale, that is so unhinged, she never lets us forget for a moment just how deeply unsettling it all is.

Curry Barker, who started out as a content creator on YouTube, proofs with this horror film that he is a lot more than just an internet sensation. He created one of the best horror films in modern history with a very small budget. It’s not an easy watch, it’s very uncomfortable, but this film will haunt you for a very long time. And that's a good thing.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Genre: Horror/ Comedy
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood
 
Description: Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving) battles old wounds with her estranged sister Faith (Kathryn Newton) while rival occult dynasties hunt them through a deadly contest that promises power, survival and betrayal before dawn.
 
Review: “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come” is a louder and more grotesque sequel to the 2019 surprise hit. While the original has a small-scale, claustrophobic atmosphere, the second installments opts for more chaos, blood and action, complete with an excellent cast.

The film picks up exactly where “Ready or Not” left us. Grace has just survived her in-laws during a deadly game of hide and seek. With the house burned down, the police is questioning Grace, since there were also human remains found in the house. And the blood on her dress is not hers. While she is being escorted to the police station, she is being hunted again. This time her estranged sister Faith is with her, while rival occult dynasties will hunt them down in a deadly contest for the ultimate power.

Samara Weaving was already the highlight of the first film and there is no difference for the sequel. As the indestructible Grace you are constantly rooting for her and this is the ultimate “good-for-her” story.

The sequel is so unhinged, it’s very fast paced, brutally violent and very gory. If you loved the first movie, you will not automatically like this one. But if you loved the first and appreciated the dark humor from the first, and don’t mind adding gallons of blood and over-the-top action, you will definitely have a good time. But it’s missing the suspense and simple structure from the first installment, and that might be a reason you wouldn’t like it. For that reason I believe the first movie was better, but I highly enjoyed “Ready or Not 2: Here I Come”.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - The Babysitter Lives by Stephen Graham Jones

Title: The Babysitter Lives
Author: Stephen Graham jones
Genre: Horror
Published: 2022
 
Description: When high school senior Charlotte agrees to babysit the Wilbanks twins, she plans to put the six-year-olds to bed early and spend a quiet night studying: the SATs are tomorrow, and checking the Native American/ Alaskan Native box on all the forms won’t help if she chokes on test day. But tomorrow is also Halloween, and the twins are eager to show off their costumes.
 
Charlotte’s last babysitting gig almost ended in tragedy when her young charge sleepwalked unnoticed into the middle of the street, only to be found unharmed by Charlotte’s mother. Charlotte vows to be extra careful this time. But the house is filled with mysterious noises and secrets that only the twins understand, echoes of horror that Charlotte gradually realizes took place in the house eleven years ago. Charlotte has to admit that every babysitter’s worse nightmare has come true: they’re not alone in the house.
 
Review: “The Babysitter Lives” is an atmospheric and psychological horror novella that keeps the reader in a stranglehold from the first page.
 
Charlotte is babysitting the Wilbanks twins and plana on studying for the SATs once the kids are in bed. What was supposed to be a quiet babysitting gig, turns into a claustrophobic nightmare. She discovers that a gruesome murder took place in the house years ago. As the evening progresses, the house literally begins to change and the children are behaving strangely.
 
Author Stephen Graham Jones is known for his ability to delve deep into the human psyche, and in this shorter novel, he uses the well-worn horror cliché of the babysitter in a creepy house to create something very modern and unique. The way the story builds atmosphere is definitely the strongest point. Jones creates a claustrophobic and feverish atmosphere in which the line between reality and paranoia constantly blurs.
 
Although the story excels in suspense and atmosphere, due to the novels length the plot doesn’t always get the space it deserves. As the story approaches its climax, the pace accelerates drastically that the finale feels rushed. And much of the interesting mythology and the background of the supernatural elements remain superficial.  
 
“The Babysitter Lives” is a clever, terrifying ride that ends just a little too soon, but is still worth the time due the original and creepy plot and strong ending.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Zootopia 2

Director: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Adventure
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Shakira, Patrick Warburton, Danny Trejo, Bonnie Hunt

Description: Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.

Review: “Zootopia 2” is a fantastic, fast-paced, and socially relevant sequel that lives up to the high expectations set by the first film.

The detective duo Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back. This time, they dive into a mystery that takes them to a whole new part of their city where the reptiles used to live.

Like its predecessor, the film dares to tackle bold social themes. Topics such as gentrification, abuse of power, and historical segregation are cleverly woven into the plot. Despite the heavy themes, the story remains manageable and understandable for the whole family thanks to its humor.

Adults will revel in the countless pop culture reference and clever puns and there are some new characters like Gary De’Snake and Nibbles Maplestick, bringing a fresh, dynamic energy to the film.

The film is an absolute must-see for Disney fans and people who loved the first “Zootopia” film. Rock-solid humor, stunning animations and a layered message.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Voicemails for Isabelle

Director: Leah McKendrick
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Comedy
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Harry Schum Jr. Leah McKednrick, Nick Offerman, Lukas Cage, Ciara Bravo, Gil Bellows, Tanis Dolman, Toby Sandeman
 
Description: Jill (Zoey Deutch) leaves voice messages to her deceased sister telling her about her chaotic life in San Francisco. Unwittingly, a mysterious Austin TX real estate agent (Nick Robinson) begins to receive their confessions..
 
Review: “Voicemails for Isabelle” is a beautiful, bittersweet drama that leaves a deep impression from the very first minute.

To cope with the sudden loss of her younger sister, aspiring pastry chef Jill begins leaving long, hilariously candid voicemails on her late sister’s phone number. Unbeknownst to her, the number has been reassigned to Wes, a real estate agent living across the country. As Wes listens to Jill’s vulnerable, stream-of-consciousness confessions about her grief, her chaotic dating life, and her demanding boss, he slowly starts to fall in love with her voice from afar.

The film excels thanks to its intimate atmosphere and original concept, in which grief and unrequited love ar made tangible through abandoned voicemails. This emotional foundation is supported by rock-solid performances from both Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson, who deliver authentic portrayals that never feel forced or overly melodramatic.

Romance is not my go-to genre, but I can really fall in love with one if the characters are ones I can relate to and the story has emotional depth. And that is exactly what “Voicemails for Isabelle” has and why I loved it so much.

I will be recommending this movie to everyone, it makes for an absolute must-see.  

Rating: 4,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - The Long Walk

Director: Francis Lawrence
Genre: Horror/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Cooper Hoffman, David Jonnson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez, Joshua Odjick, Mark Hamill, Judy Greer Josh Hamilton

Description: A group of teenage boys compete in an annual contest known as “The Long Walk”, in which they must maintain a certain walking speed or get shot.

Review: “The Long Walk” is based on the book by Stephen King. Director Francis Lawrence delivers an intense, psychological battle of attrition that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

The concept is as simple as it is terrifying. In a totalitarian America, fifty teenage boys compete in an annual, live-broadcast walking race. There’s only one rule: keep walking at a minimum speed of about 5 km per hour. If your pace drops, you’ll receive a warning. After three warnings, the penalty is death. Only one can win. The prize? A massive sum of money and the fulfillment of all your wishes.

The film excels thanks to its raw atmosphere and fantastic acting performances. Cooper Hoffman (son of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) and David Jonnson, who play Ray and Peter, carry the film with their fragile, soulful performances. Their growing friendship forms the emotional heart of the film.
Although the characters are outdoors, the film feels oppressive, and escape is impossible. Mark Hamill as “The Major” shines as the cold-blooded, terrifying dictator overseeing the race.

The film is fast paces and just under two hours long. I wouldn’t have mind it to be a little longer. Some of the characters fade into the background before you really get to know them.

“The Long Walk” is a brutal, emotional rollercoaster that will stay with you for a long time. It’s one of the best Stephen King adaptations of recent years. An absolute must-see for fans of pitch-black survival thrillers.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Title: Yesteryear
Author: Caro Claire Burke
Genre: Fiction/ Historical Fiction
Published: 2026
 
Description: My name was Natalie heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive.
 
Nathalie lives a traditional lifestyle. Her charming farmhouse is rustic, her husband a handsome cowboy, her six children each more delightful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers behind the scenes, her kitchen hiding industrial-grade fridges and ovens, her husband the heir to a political dynasty? What Natalie’s followers – all 8 million of them – don’t know won’t hurt them. And the Angry Women? The privileged, Ivy League, coastal elite haters who call her an antifeminist iconoclast? They’re sick with jealousy. Because Natalie isn’t simply living the good life, she’s living the ideal. And just so happens to be building an empire from it.
 
Until one morning she wakes up in a life that isn’t hers. Her home, her husband, her children – they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Her kitchen is warmed by a sputtering fire rather than electricity, her children are dirty and strange, and her soft-handed husband is suddenly a competent farmer. Just yesterday Natalie was curating photos of homemade jam for her Instagram, and snow she’s expected to haul firewood and handwash clothes until her fingers bleed. Has she become the unwitting star of a ruthless reality show? Could it really be time travel? Is she being tested by God? By Satan? When Natalie suffers a brutal injury in the woods, she realizes two things: This is not her beautiful life, and she must escape by any means possible.
 
Review: “Yesteryear” is without a doubt one of the most talked-about books and most fascinating debuts of the year so far. The book takes the popular social media trend of tradwives and brilliantly takes it to the extreme. What begins as sharp social commentary quickly turns into a gripping psychological thriller with elements of social horror.
 
We meet Natalie Heller Mills, a highly successful influencer who, at her Yesteryear Ranch, puts on the perfect Christian pioneer life for her millions of followers. Behind the scenes, however, her reality is a fabrication of nannies, exorbitantly paid producers, a lazy husband, and pure pretense.
 
But then the unthinkable happens: One morning, Nathalie wakes up and suddenly finds herself in the harsh, filthy reality of the actual year 1855. Without ring lights, without modern luxuries, and facing the brutal hardship of the nineteenth century, she must find a wat to survive and figure out whether she has landed in a bizarre reality show, a timeless nightmare, or a test of God.
 
Natalie is calculating, hypocritical, and remarkably lacking in self-awareness, but her razor-sharp, cynical inner voice makes her as intriguing as she is reprehensible. With her she has created a sort of MAGA version of Amy Dunne (“Gone Girl”).
 
The humor in the book is dark. The way Natalie dissects her own marriage and modern culture is, at times, painfully funny. The book tackles deep, timely questions about the gap between online identity and lived reality, the commercialization of motherhood and the dangerous romanticization of a violent past.
 
By shifting between Natalie’s past at Harvard, her life as an influencer and the raw struggle for survival in 1855, the tension remains palpable throughout.
 
The big plot twist is unpredictable and dark, but the end felt a bit rushed. That was my only complaint. Because overall, because it’s a fast-paced book you just can’t put down. “Yesteryear” is definitely worth the hype.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5