From Haunted Mansion to Zoey 102, Should You Add These To Your Watchlist?
These shows and movies are filled with spooky ghosts, mind-bending mysteries, and scariest of all… high school reunions! Should you add these to your watchlist? The writers of Pop Culture Planet are here to help you out.
FROM
I'm obsessed with the mystery in FROM and I think you're gonna be too!
If you're a fan of shows like Lost or The OA, projects that make you think, or trying to piece together mysteries and puzzles, then you’re really going to love this one. It follows a group of people who are stuck in a small town that they can’t escape. At night, mysterious creatures come out to try to kill them. While that sounds terrifying enough, that’s just the first layer of horror. It's clear that there's something trying to keep them there… something maybe even more dark and sinister than those creatures.
The characters don’t always keep you enthralled, some of them can be downright frustrating, but what really draws you into the story is the mystery, lore, and atmosphere that they set up. You’ll feel spooked and there are some really good jump scares, plus there’s very high stakes. Are they dead, trapped in limbo, lost in a Bermuda Triangle-type effect? We have no idea. You don’t know who will survive, or even where these characters really are — that alone will have you hooked. The second season explores deeper secrets and mysteries around this town and ends with a can’t miss cliffhanger. Luckily, the show has been picked up for a third season that will hopefully give us some answers.
The first two seasons of FROM are streaming on MGM+.
- Kristen Maldonado
Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion wasn’t originally on my radar, but it ended up being one of the biggest surprise of the year! It follows a woman and her son who enlist a motley crew of so-called spiritual experts to help rid their home of supernatural squatters.
It’s laugh out loud funny, spooky, and explores layered themes of grief and loss. I love that it examines that journey particularly for Black men and boys. I was in awe of its ghostly effects and movie magic, it’s truly impressive — plus there were so many Easter eggs to the classic Disney ride that they really made a part of the story. Not only is this a great first time spooky movie for kids, it’s a perfect film for the whole family!
LaKeith Stanfield, Rosario Dawson, Chase W. Dillon, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more star.
Haunted Mansion is playing in theaters.
- Kristen Maldonado
Talk To Me
I love scary movies, but this one was too much for me.
Talk To Me is the feature directorial debut of Australian YouTube creators and twin filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou, best known for their special effects skills. The film, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival this year, follows a group of friends who discover how to conjure spirits by using an embalmed hand. They become hooked on the new thrill — until one of them unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.
I'm not a big fan of movies that try to be too gratuitous just to freak you out. I thought this film went too far sometimes in that way. However, it paid particularly good attention to the sound editing, which was really booming and added to the experience. At the same time, there were moments where they didn't wrap up the story very well. The last third of this movie is where the story got interesting, but then it ends abruptly. There's a lot of plot holes that you're trying to piece together that aren't fully explored. If you're a fan of horror movies and like when they go to the extremes, you're probably going to enjoy this one, but it wasn't for me.
Talk To Me is playing in theaters.
- Kristen Maldonado
They Cloned Tyrone
A pimp (Jamie Foxx), a sex worker (Teyonah Parris), and a drug dealer (John Boyega) discover a government conspiracy in their community in They Cloned Tyone. Their city’s residents have been cloned in an experiment and the trio attempts to discover who is behind the mass mind control.
The first few minutes of the movie depict a violent story of gang violence, drug dealing, and sex work. The real plot doesn’t seem to develop until a bit further into the film when the trio discovers suspicious activity of their peers being brainwashed. The movie is a bit slow and confusing in some moments given that a lot of characters are clones. It is hard to keep track of who is who and in what iteration of clone. The details of the experiment and who is in charge are also muddled down by scenes of violence and action. The mystery fantasy film seemed more like a sci-fi comedy with commentary on race and government power. They Cloned Tyrone is like a combination Get Out and The Truman Show. Overall, it’s a great new take on the simulation and conspiracy trope with refreshing comedy and unconventional protagonists.
They Cloned Tyrone is streaming on Netflix.
- Jordan Bohan
Zoey 102
There’s been a lot of hesitation around the Zoey 102 movie… so was it worth the watch?
This continuation follows the alumni of PCA as they reunite for Quinn (Erin Sanders) and Logan’s (Matthew Underwood) wedding. Zoey (Jamie Lynn Spears) is the maid of honor, but tries to play double duty in the wedding and producing the big finale of the reality show she works on… plus can she prove to Chase (Sean Flynn) that she’s doing well without him? There was a lot to tackle in this rom-com and they pulled out all the stops with a wedding, a reality TV show, a fake boyfriend, and a true crime mystery. There’s even a hilarious karaoke scene complete with a Dirty Dancing lift.
It was cool to see where everyone was now in life and they even reference some past characters that don’t appear, as well as what happened to their beloved PCA. Actor Dean Geyer was a real stand out of the film as a new addition playing Zoey’s fake Australian Hemsworth-cousin boyfriend. There’s even a subplot with him that will definitely have you raising your eyebrows. Zoey 102 is quirky, fun, nostalgic, and perfect for a girls night in.
Zoey 102 is streaming on Paramount+.
- Kristen Maldonado
