Let's Talk About Brand New Cherry Flavor and THAT scene!

If you’re into weird creepy horror, than you’ve probably already heard about the new Netflix limited series Brand New Cherry Flavor. Based off a book by the same title published in 2011 by Todd Grimson, this show tumbles viewers down a twisted dark rabbit hole filled with occult fever dreams and a sex scene (yes, THAT scene) that will forever be seared into the my brain.

Enter Lisa Nova, our fearless young protagonist who dreams of directing her own movie and making it big in show business. She is in possession of cinematic gold, an artsy black-and-white feature with an ending that leaves viewers wondering, “how did she pull that off?” Lisa puts her trust into Lou Burke, an industry veteran who is hungry for a hit. The two strike a deal which quickly goes sour leaving Lisa Nova fuming and wanting revenge. Lucky for her, she’s introduced to a mysterious woman named Boro who promises to make Lou pay if only Lisa agrees to a few concessions.

This show dazzles and disturbs from start to finish. The relationship between Lisa and Boro navigates between hunter and prey as the two women (played by Rosa Salazar and Catherine Keener) dance the line between life and death. Revenge plays a major role inciting the action, but there is a clear “be careful what you wish for” vibe that resonates with each episode. If viewers feel a strong “Channel Zero” (they absolutely will), it’s because Nick Antosca created both. Here he works alongside Lenore Zion to once again produce a high tension experience with jolts of terror. And kittens.

There’s plenty of memorable scenes, but it’s THAT scene in episode four that comes up most often on social media. Antosca and Zion hold nothing back when it comes to finding imaginative ways to equally arouse and disgust their audience. While the show leaves a few questions unanswered and the possibility for a second season, Lisa Nova’s journey feels complete even if the show doesn’t get a chance to expand with more bonkers adventures. This is a show that will have viewers glued to their television set, and rightfully so.

Sweet Home 5 Star Review *No Spoilers*

Sweet Home 5 Star Review *No Spoilers*

Sweet Home on Netflix

When people start transforming into deadly monsters, a ragtag group of neighbors, confined to their apartment complex, must come face-to-face with their own inner demons and answer the question, who are the real monsters? Released on December 18, 2020, Sweet Home became the first South Korean series to hit Netflix’s top ten list, and it’s much deserved. With incredible performances by young and seasoned actors, this show lands every punch.

Despite many characters getting a moment in the spotlight, the main protagonist Cha Hyun-su (Song Kang) is where the focus resides. He’s a minor whose family has died, leaving him little money or prospects, and has been forced to move into the apartment complex where he spends lonely days playing video games and dreaming up his death. We are introduced to the other main protagonists including Seo Yi-kyung (Lee Si-young), a firefighter who is grieving the loss of her fiancé, Lee Eun-hyuk, (Lee Do-hyun) an aspiring medical student who quickly becomes the brains of the group, a teenage ballet dancer Eun-yu (Go Min-si) who is Eun-hyuk’s younger sister, Jung Jae-heon (Kim Nam-hee), a devoted Christian who happens to know how to wield a sword, and Pyeon Sang-wook (Lee Jin-wook), a mysteriously man who everyone thinks is a gangster. Together, these and other neighbors must ban together to fight the growing number of monsters infiltrating their building.

Available on Netflix

The monsters are awesome, and it’s no surprise considering the team had $2.4 million dollars an episode to play with. The many different types of creatures jump off the screen, including a giant eyeball looming outside the complex, a half-headed elf-ish creature that can’t see, and a version of the Hulk except much more blood thirsty. The concept behind the monsters is even cooler. They are us. We are them. They spawn from what most desire, and no one is immune from transforming.

The real beauty of this movie is the balance between external and internal struggles. We get glimpses of backstories and discover that each character has something to hide, and each character has a secret desire that could easily cause their inner monster to spawn given the right circumstances. The actors do an impeccable job of displaying this turmoil in their actions and dialogue creating plenty of tension mixed with many empathetic moments and a few shed tears. The ending leaves viewers with plenty of questions and high hopes that another season is on the way.