The Fear Review

We revisit Krampus (2015), a Christmas horror movie we return to every year.

What makes it work is the balance. The film pairs dark, uncomfortable family dynamics with creature designs that feel playful, practical, and unsettling at the same time. That contrast keeps the movie from becoming too bleak and gives it a strange rewatchability that few holiday horror films manage.

We break down the monster designs, the heavy use of pract...

There are three rules. They’re simple. And every single problem in Gremlins (1984) exists because nobody follows them.

This week on The Fear Review, we revisit one of the most beloved — and sneakiest — horror-comedies ever made. It’s a Christmas movie, a monster movie, and proof that Gizmo is perfect and everyone else is the problem.

William breaks down why the movie still works decades later, while Amy focuses on what really matte...

Better Watch Out (2016) is often praised as a clever, subversive holiday horror movie — but for us, it never comes together.

In this episode of The Fear Review, William (lifelong horror fanatic) and Amy (casual fan who really wanted this to work) break down why Better Watch Out fails on almost every level. We talk about the unbelievable kid performance, the movie’s confused tone, and why it doesn’t work as a horror film, a thriller...

We went into Silent Night, Deadly Night (2025) cautiously… and walked out genuinely impressed.

In this episode of The Fear Review, William and Amy talk about why this Christmas slasher reboot works far better than expected. From its gritty holiday atmosphere to a surprising anti-hero twist, this movie balances camp, violence, and heart in a way that completely caught us off guard.

We start spoiler-free, then dive into spoilers to d...

Episode 36 — Black Christmas (1974, 2006, 2019): The Definitive Ranking

This week, William and Amy tackle all three Black Christmas films: the 1974 classic, the 2006 gore-heavy remake, and the 2019 supernatural/social-commentary hybrid that left us with more questions than answers.

Amy confronts vulgar phone calls she wasn’t prepared for, William explains why the 2006 version almost works, and together we attempt to understand the ...

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025) improves on the first one — faster, louder, and with more actual danger — but does it work for adults who didn’t grow up on FNAF lore? William says yes (mostly). Amy says no (absolutely not).

This episode covers:

• Our honest emotional reactions

• What the sequel actually gets right

• What still doesn’t work

• The villain, the kills, and the bizarre theater experience

• Why this franchise is cle...

In today’s episode, we’re reviewing Queens of the Dead, a drag-fueled zombie comedy that leans more into laughs than scares. We break down the tone, the jokes, the glam, the chaos — and whether it deserves a spot on your watchlist.

Ratings: Amy: Renter William: Streamer

Spoilers near the end.

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This week, Jon joins me to take on one of the biggest sci-fi horror franchises of all time: Alien. We’re ranking every movie from worst to best, and the conversation goes exactly the way you’d expect when two fans have strong opinions and no referee.

We dig into the franchise highs, the frustrating lows, the lore threads that never pay off, and the scenes we still talk about decades later. If you love Alien, this episode is for you...

We finally sat down to review Thanksgiving, Eli Roth’s chaotic, funny, surprisingly smart holiday slasher. After rewatching this movie several times, we’re convinced it’s earned its place as a new Thanksgiving tradition.

In this episode we cover: • A clean, spoiler-free breakdown • The wild Black Friday opening • The most creative kills (including the one neither of us can watch without flinching) • Patrick Dempsey’s killer New Eng...

Glen Powell is running — literally — and he might just be giving Tom Cruise a little competition. This week, William and Amy break down The Running Man (2025), the latest Stephen King adaptation that blends action, satire, and a cautionary tale about AI, deepfakes, and media manipulation.

We start spoiler-free with pacing, performances, humor, and how this version compares to the 1987 Schwarzenegger original. Then we head into spoi...

In this episode we review Final Destination Bloodlines, one of the strongest entries in the series and easily the bloodiest since the early films. We break down how the movie connects to the original universe, why the “bloodline rule” works, our favorite death sequences, and the emotional impact of Tony Todd’s return to the franchise.

We start spoiler free, then dive into the full kill breakdown and lore expansion for long-time fan...

We watched Keeper (2025), the newest supernatural horror film from Osgood Perkins, and this one might be the slowest and most painfully boring horror movie of the year. In this episode we break down the trailer expectations, the visual style, the surreal editing choices, the endless water imagery, the confusing mythology, and why none of it pays off. We give you a full spoiler free review, then dive into the plot, creatures, and en...

A cabin in the woods, a mysterious second couple, and an arrow straight through the... well, you’ll see. Bone Lake starts with shock, drifts into boredom, and ends in full mayhem — chainsaws, incest, and electric car trouble included.

William and Amy try to figure out if this is a horror movie, a couples therapy session, or just the most awkward Airbnb weekend ever. From Knock Knock vibes to Funny Games absurdity, this one’s equal ...

In this episode, William and Amy review Coyotes (2025), a horror-comedy starring Justin Long and Kate Bosworth. A family in the Hollywood Hills must survive the night as killer coyotes descend on their neighborhood — and what follows is 90 minutes of wild, bloody fun.

We break down what makes Coyotes so entertaining, why the comic-book-style visuals work, and how it manages to balance humor, horror, and heart without getting preach...

Black Phone 2 takes us back into the world of The Grabber, four years after the first movie. This sequel brings in dream sequences, creepy Christian camp vibes, and plenty of snow… but does it bring the scares?

In this episode:

• Spoiler-free impressions

• Does Ethan Hawke still deliver as The Grabber?

• Why the pacing nearly put Amy to sleep

• The one jump scare that actually worked

• Full spoiler breakdown

• Our ratings &...

Amy’s a lifelong Disney superfan. William's a lifelong horror addict. So obviously, we spent an entire day watching Disney-inspired horror movies — from Haunted Mansion to Screamboatto Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood & Honey 2. It was magical… until it wasn’t.

Join us as we rank every movie from “shockingly fun” to “please make it stop,” debate whether Screamboat is secretly brilliant, and try to figure out why Blood & Honey 2 was a...

We’re diving into Traumatika — a possession-meets-slasher horror that left Amy genuinely terrified (and reconsidering her life choices). From jump scares and demonic artifacts to the kind of real-world trauma that sticks with you, this one’s not for casual horror fans.

William praises its craft. Amy says she needs a full season of The Great British Bake Off to recover.

🎟 Ratings:

• William: Full Price

• Amy: Don’t Bother

We just watched Good Boy (2025) — a haunted-house horror told entirely from a dog’s perspective — and it might be the most unexpectedly emotional horror film of the year.

William and Amy dive into the story of Indy (the director’s real-life dog!) and how this low-budget, family-made horror movie manages to deliver jump scares, heart, and a surprisingly touching story about loyalty and fear.

In this episode:

• Why Good Boy works...

We watched The Strangers: Chapter 2 and… let’s just say it wasn’t worth the drive. From cheap jump scares cranked to 11, to baffling character choices, to an actual killer boar subplot, this sequel proves not every mask needs a sequel.

In this episode:

• Quick spoiler-free verdict (spoiler: we’re leaning “Don’t Bother”)

• Why the jump scares felt cheap instead of earned

• How the film wasted its setup with filler flashbacks

• A...