Sneha Jaiswal's Blog

Shine Review: Bangkok Love Stories in Shimmery Retro Orbit

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“Are you seriously sad because John Lennon quit the Beatles?” a mildly bewildered Trin, the protagonist of ‘Shine’ asks Thanwa, the other lead, as they stand hand in hand in a circle of flower-crowned hippies around a bonfire. It’s a comical scene, but it also highlights the stark divides in the realities of the show’s various characters.

Directed by Pond Krisda Witthayakhajorndet, and Ning Bhanbhassa Dhubthien, ‘Shine’ is a period drama set in 1969, starring ‘KinnPorsche’ stars Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat and Mile Phakphum Romsaithong as Trin and Thanwa respectively. Trin, an economist and adjunct professor, has returned from France determined to aid his country’s progress, while Thanwa is a blue-blooded brat and hippie, living in his own happy bubble of sex, love, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. Their unexpected love story, set against Thailand’s political upheaval, drives the primary plot of the series.

The steamier romance in ‘Shine‘ belongs to Trin’s Uncle Krailert (Son Yuke Songpaisan) and Naran (Euro Yotsawat Tawapee), whose love story starts in print, dueling as pseudonymous music critics in a national newspaper. Their sharp exchanges quickly capture the public’s attention, playfully shown in scenes of people gleefully reading newspapers at their homes, coffee shops, and offices. When they secretly decide to meet at a private library, the reveal of their real identities only intensifies the attraction.

Krailert is a high-ranking military officer, and Naran an ambitious journalist, their forbidden romance is further tangled by the fact that Krailert is married, while Naran is investigating corrupt land deals that may implicate him. In flashbacks, we see how Dhevi (Kob Pimolrat Pisolyabutr) became Krailert’s wife, after her influential military father pressured him into the marriage, fully aware of his preference for men. Por Unnop Thongborisut plays Veera, Krailert’s faithful military sub-ordinate, silently in love with Dhevi.

Son Yuke Songpaisan is electric as Krailert, a morally grey figure torn between his public duties as a military officer and his secret queer life. Euro Yotsawat Tawapee’s Naran, by contrast, feels more like a stock journalist character, though he shines when voicing his column on music and matters of the heart. Their story begins as a battle of wits in public and becomes something far steamier in private, as Krailert’s library turns rivals, a decorated officer and a relentless reporter, into secret lovers.

Meanwhile, newcomer Peter Deriy, possibly the breakout star of ‘Shine’, plays Victor, a fiery student activist leader who constantly organizes headline-grabbing protests against the corrupt Thai government and military. Victor’s story ties back to the main plot as he attends one of Trin’s economics classes, where he challenges the professor’s privileged background, but over time, he also finds himself drawn to Trin.

It’s comedic to see Victor start out as the quintessential angry young man, all fire and fury against the corrupt regime, but the moment Cupid’s arrow hits, he’s suddenly soft-eyed and following Trin around like a lovestruck pup. When he senses sparks between Trin and the carefree Thanwa, his jealous glares are downright funny. The love triangle adds some laughs to ‘Shine’, with Trin’s older, dignified presence balancing it all as he kindly lets Victor down.

My biggest gripe with ‘Shine‘, and this might just be a personal peeve, is that Mile Phakphum Romsaithong feels miscast as the lead singer of a popular band. His portrayal of Thanwa is hit-and-miss: while he delivers the show’s biggest laughs as the childlike hippie, the more serious aspects of his character don’t land, and the supposed ‘rockstar’ persona never really comes through. In ‘KinnPorsche‘, his chemistry with Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat was sizzling, yet here the romantic blaze feels oddly lukewarm. Possibly also because the playful Thanwa never seems sincere, not even the rare times the character is being genuine.

But let’s talk about Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat now. He was last seen in a lead role as a Thai dancer in the period piece ‘Man Suang‘, where I noted, ironically, that while he looked stunning, he lacked the natural gait and grace of a professional artist. In ‘Shine‘, however, he is pitch-perfect: poised, charming, dashing, and convincing as an intellectual. If anything, his debates could have used sharper writing, but that shortfall isn’t on the actor.

Nok Sinjai Plengpanich appears as Moira, the elegant owner and hostess of ‘Grand Paradiso‘, a lavish hotel frequented by the town’s elite. The venue becomes the stage for several pivotal encounters, with Moira’s significance emerging fully in Shine’s climactic episode. Away from the glittering banquets, she is also spotted letting loose at the hippie parties hosted in Thanwa’s record store.

‘Shine’ is a well-crafted tale of love, desire, power, corruption, and student activism, with several scenes crafted for cinematic effect, existing in its own orbit, because some complex sub-plots are resolved too easily. The original soundtrack outshines many other elements of the series; ‘Am I in Love’ by Slot Machine is one of the most memorable numbers in the series, which plays like a romantic hit from the 1970s. Another song titled ‘Hold Your Hand’ is faster and fun too.

Episode seven brings some of the most tragic moments in ‘Shine’, blunting the impact of the climactic finale. A brief time skip at the end offers viewers clearer closure on the fates of the main characters. A cruel twist reframes one supporting character in an unsettling way, strange at first, but also a sharp reminder of how irrationally obsessive people can become in the name of love.

‘Shine’ closes on a surprisingly romantic note for some, while others are left with devastating grief. The ending threads feel a bit contrived and the writing stumbles, yet despite its flaws, this retro romance remains worth a one-time watch.

Rating: 7.5 on 10. Watch ‘Shine’ on WeTV.

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‘I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right’ Review – Sad Girl Horror Runs

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

How do you not click on a title that goes ‘I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right‘, if you’re a horror fan? Although, if the protagonist is truly okay with dying, watching them being hacked to death by a demon, ghost, monster, or serial killer might not be that entertaining, if it’s that kind of horror film.

With those thoughts, I streamed ‘I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right‘, a nineteen-minute horror film written and directed by A.K. Espada. The story follows a woman who offers herself as a meal to a flesh-eating creature haunting the woods near her neighborhood, but instead of dying like she thought she would, she wakes up as an undead immortal creature. Talk about subversion of plans.

Courtney Locke plays the unnamed protagonist, a depressed young woman who likes to go running at 3:30 a.m. in the morning. Although at that point my brain was like: damn, that’s some next-level motivation for a person who wants to die. But okay, everybody has different ways to deal with melancholy, some go to sleep at 3:30 a.m., others go for a run then.

From the moment Courtney Locke’s character appears on screen, you can sense her despair and defeated outlook on life. So where she gets the strength to venture out for a run remains an amusing mystery, although perhaps it’s just her way to get away from her husband (played by Chris Mayers) and home. In a realistic choice, she wears no make-up and exudes a world-weary exhaustion that justifies the title: I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right.

Most of the story is narrated through the young woman’s conversations with a suicide helpline, where she asks strange questions and admits to suicidal ideation. A dark, broody atmosphere pervades the runtime, with the short blending modern-day anxieties with folklore creature horror elements. Expect generous amounts of blood and gore too. Although, the exact source of the protagonist’s sorrows is never explained. It seems she is simply crumbling under the pressures of living a standard life and doing things that are ‘expected’ of her.

Since I saw this on YouTube, there was a director’s statement attached in the description of the film, which stated ‘I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right‘ was the creator’s effort to show how sometimes one needs a life-changing miracle or ‘curse’ to jolt them out of their fugue state and appreciate life.

The way I perceived the story was completely different: the protagonist lives with a husband, a caring, nurturing type, making her pancakes and constantly encouraging her in different ways. “I don’t know if he is oblivious or delusional,” the wife wonders about her husband ignoring her deteriorating mental health. Although, it seems he is very well aware of the tense atmosphere and tries not to escalate tensions.

When his wife transforms into a blood-sucking monster, the film plays almost like a metaphor: some people drain the life out of others when they refuse to help themselves, dragging loved ones down in the process. The husband, unusually for this trope, is always there for her, enduring her lowest lows and letting her consume him bit by bit. What that means for their marriage, however, remains uncertain.

Overall, I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right is an intriguing one-time watch that ends on a cryptic, abrupt note, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions. Is it about breaking free from the clutches of depression through extreme, even dire means? Or is it about dysfunctional relationships, where one partner drains the other with their selfish inability to give back? ‘I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right‘ leaves the answer open, making it as much a psychological reflection as it is a horror tale.

You can stream ‘I Could Just Die and That Would Be All Right’ on YouTube.

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Ayushmann, Nawazuddin Unleash Fangs in ‘Thamma’ Trailer, a horror comedy

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Everybody wants a slice of the horror-comedy pie, so Ayushmann Khurrana and Nawazuddin Siddiqui turn into fanged demons in ‘Thamma’, an upcoming folklore-horror tale.

Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, who also helmed horror comedies Munjya and Kakuda, the official trailer for ‘Thamma’ opens with a sweeping shot of an ancient temple hidden deep in the forest.

“Tum betaal ho, tumhe prithvi aur insaano ki suraksha ke liye banaya gaya hai,” Rashmika’s voiceover declares over the temple shot.

“Arrey ghantey ki suraksha,” Nawazuddin cheekily responds, before vowing to lead a new era of blood-drinking demons. But he is soon captured and locked away in a cave.

The story, however, isn’t really about him. ‘Thamma’ shifts focus to Ayushmann Khurrana, whose character accidentally turns into a vampire and must now struggle through the strange, hilarious, and dangerous life of being a monster among men. Rashmika Mandana plays Ayushmann’s romantic interest, appearing to help the new vampire navigate the supernatural world of demons.

The film also stars actors Paresh Rawal, Faisal Malik, Rachit Singh, and Geeta Agarwal. With Paresh Rawal playing Ayushmann’s onscreen father, the kind who is quick to give up his son to the cops as soon as he senses something off about him.

In a fun twist, actor Sathyaraj looks like he is reprising his role as Elvis Karim Prabhakar, the comical exorcist and faith-healer from Munjya. “Don’t worry son, the hand of God is with you,” he declares when the hero visits him for guidance. Although, it might’ve been more fun if the Sathyaraj cameo had remained under wraps.

From the looks of the trailer, ‘Thamma’ promises to be a funny desi take on vampires, even though it feels like the makers give too much away in the three-minute long teaser.

The film is set to release on 21st October.

You can watch the trailer on Youtube, it’s also embedded below.

My Bias Is Showing Review: Fanboy Fantasies and K-drama Love

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

For the uninitiated, a K-pop “bias” is simply a fan’s favorite band member. The 2025 K-drama romance ‘My Bias Is Showing’ plays on that idea, following a sweet teacher struggling to hide his fan-boy side when his bias, Choi Si Yeol of A-One, shows up to film a show at his school. So this series is every fan-boy/girl’s dream come true, if only on screen.

Adapted from the webtoon by Nabit and Eol, the 10-episode series is directed by Baek Min Hee and casts K-pop idol Kevin as the ever-cheerful teacher Na Ae Jun. Opposite him is actor Kim Kang Min as Ae Jun’s bias, the dazzling singer Choi Si Yeol. To Ae Jun’s utter disbelief, Si Yeol handpicks him as co-host of a school program and almost immediately starts flirting with him too. But beneath the glittering smiles, Si Yeol may have an agenda of his own.

Kevin is hilariously endearing as closet fanboy Ae Jun, while Kim Kang Min turns on the charm as the romantic lead, looking every bit a shiny K-pop star and heart-breaker. Together, they make a cute onscreen pair, with romance fans likely swooning over their height difference and clashing personalities. Ae Jun delivers the nerdy giggles and shy fanboy energy, while Si Yeol plays the classic ‘tsundere’: cool and aloof on the surface, but soft at heart.

However, weirdly, ‘My Bias Is Showing’ was more stressful to watch than entertaining, especially in the first half. The plot is tailor-made for some great laugh-out-loud moments, but the writers fail to milk its comic potential, instead making the story more serious than necessary. The secondary subplot involving Si Yeol’s beloved senior, Yeon Ju Ha (Lee Byung Hun), and his romantic struggles, though linked to the main story, remains half-cooked through the show.

Maybe I sound like a broken record at this point, repeating the same critique for shows in the romance genre, I said something similar about ‘10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40‘ and the Taiwanese drama ‘Secret Lover‘, both show that were streaming at the same time as ‘My Bias Is Showing’. But until something truly fresh comes along, I’ll just have to keep circling back to the same notes.

One of the weakest aspects of ‘My Bias Is Showing’ is its forgettable soundtrack, a real letdown for a series centered on K-pop idols. The makers likely didn’t have the budget to secure stronger tracks, which is a shame, since this is exactly the kind of show where music should feel integral to the story.

Overall, ‘My Bias Is Showing’ is predictable, leaning on familiar K-drama tropes, including the leads’ first meeting via the classic hallway collision. The romance unfolds at a surprisingly brisk pace, only to unravel just as quickly. Still, for those in the mood for something light-hearted, the fantasy of a fanboy winning over his K-pop idol makes this a sweet, one-time watch.

Rating: 6 on 10. ‘My Bias Is Showing’ is on Wavve and iQIYI.

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Dan Da Dan Season 2 Review: Yokai Rage, Alien Mayhem, and Action RomCom Hilarity

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

The creepy aliens and demons are back in ‘Dan Da Dan‘ Season 2, this time joined by a sinister new Yokai, wild rock bands, colossal Kaiju, and a massive mecha! Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura AKA Okarun, barely get to breathe easy in this anime adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s supernatural-action-comedy-romance manga.

If you remember, ‘Dan Da Dan’ Season One closed with a criminal cliffhanger: Momo and Okarun head to Jin Enjoji’s hometown after he seeks their help with his haunted house. While exploring the town alone, Momo ends up at a hot spring, where she’s suddenly surrounded by a gang of predatory men, and the season wraps mid-crisis.

So, ‘Dan Da Dan’ season 2 dives straight into the tense hot springs scene, where Momo fights off the sleazy old men trying to harass her. Titled “Like, This is the Legend of the Giant Snake,” episode 1 of the new season then follows Momo visiting a popular shrine in town, where she learns of a horrifying mythical snake which is both feared and revered by the locals. Meanwhile, a group of eerie old ladies knock on Jin’s door, immediately creeping out Okarun, and their sinister intentions are obvious.

The first three episodes of ‘Dan Da Dan’ season 2 were released together as the Evil Eye movie. (Minor spoiler ahead: “Evil Eye” is the name of the Yokai that ends up possessing Jin Enjoji.) In fact, the first four episodes mainly follow Momo and Okarun battling not just the unsettling townsfolk, but also a monstrous serpentine entity and the immensely powerful Yokai that takes control of Jin’s body.

The ‘Evil Eye’ Jin is the ultimate ‘bad boy’ demonic thirst trap, with bulging muscles, uncontrollable rage, and terrifying strength. Taking him down feels impossible, and on top of that, Momo is tasked with saving the town from a volcanic eruption. The ‘Evil Eye’ receives a poignant origin story, one that reveals the town’s dark past and stirs Jiji’s compassion for the spirit, despite its clearly malevolent nature.

‘Dan Da Dan’ season 2 can be divided into three segments, with the first one purely focused on Momo and Okarun firefighting the many supernatural challenges plaguing Jin’s little town, including a possessed Jin. By episode 4 the mission wraps up, and everyone relocates to Granny Seiko’s place, where Aira Shiratori also joins the gang from episode 5 onward. The middle arc is all about trying to exorcise the Evil Eye from Jin, while the final three episodes shift toward alien Kaizu, embracing sci-fi chaos and neon green vibes.

Turbo Granny steals scenes in her adorable cat form, cussing at the kids and insulting them at every turn. Comedy also comes from Jiji’s frequent shirtless transformations into Evil Eye, reinforcing Dan Da Dan’s long-running gag of characters losing clothes mid-battle. Aira in her acro-silky Yokai form is just as funny, calling everybody ridiculous names.

While the middle episodes revolve around strategies to rid Jin of Evil Eye, Granny Seiko comes up with a temporary fix, though her house gets wrecked in the process. She begins training Jin to keep the Evil Eye Yokai under control, Okarun seeks Turbo Granny’s help to grow stronger, and Momo even picks up a part-time job to help rebuild the house.

The whole Evil Eye mess gets wrapped up not with brute force, but through some crafty scheming by Turbo Granny and Okarun. Does it make sense? Not really. Is it funny? Absolutely – and let’s be honest, no one’s watching this anime for logic anyway. There’s non-stop action, comedy, and an engaging pace that makes it the perfect over-the-top time-pass anime.

And of-course, when the teens are not locked in supernatural or extra-terrestrial gladiator matches, ‘Dan Da Dan’ also indulges in teen awkwardness as Okarun and Momo’s romance continues to simmer, while Aira’s crush on Okarun sparks hilarious catfights. Meanwhile, Jiji and Okarun’s budding bromance adds some sweetness to the chaos.

Episode 9 of ‘Dan Da Dan’ introduces Kinta, Takakura’s (Okarun’s) classmate, a sci-fi nerd on a laugh-inducing quest to figure out why Okarun is so popular with girls, since both Momo Ayase and Aira Shiratori, two of the prettiest ladies on campus, are always around him. Poor Kinta however doesn’t expect himself dragged into the bizarre world of freaky demons and unknown entities when he stalks the protagonists.

From crazy violent face-offs, freaky new enemies, awkward teen romance, comical bickering, laugh-inducing swearing, and unhinged chaos, ‘Dan Da Dan’ season two has all the ingredients that made it popular in the first place. New characters only fuel the madness, especially when Momo and Okarun go on a ridiculous quest to retrieve his missing family jewel (yes, that ball).

The animation studio ‘Science SARU’ remains fantastic for this Dan Da Dan season, with the art style and tones constantly changing depending on the theme and mood of the chapter. Whenever Momo and gang are in combat mode, the colors become gloomy, dark, and the scene featuring the ‘Evil Eye’ spirit are dominated by dark purple shades. The comedy scenes brighten up with colorful quirks. The soundtrack matches the mood swings, tense beats for fights, playful notes for banter.

Episode the 12, the season finale of ‘Dan Da Dan’ delivers a pretty epic ‘Space Kaiju Vs Buddha Mecha’, where Momo, Aira, Okarun, Jin and new character Kinta struggle to maneuver giant Mecha that looks like the Buddha, to fight off a Godzilla-sized monster that appears out of nowhere. Introduced back in episode 10, the creature fuels an extended climax packed with both carnage and comedy.

‘Dan Da Dan‘ ultimately wraps with a jaw-dropping-hilarious-twist: a brand-new character reveal that leaves Momo Ayase (and the audience) stunned. The cliffhanger makes the wait for the next season all the more excruciating.!

Rating: 9 on 10. Stream Dan Da Dan on Netflix and CrunchyRoll.

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Gen V Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Gender Bender Vs Blood Bender

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Well, well, well… nothing good ever comes from pissing off powerful people in The Boys’ universe, right? It’s no different in Gen V. After Jordan (played alternately by London Thor and Derek Li) claims the number one spot at God-U, their moment in the sun quickly crumbles when they ‘expose’ the university and defend Starlight supporters, earning boos and villainization instead. In a hilarious twist, Dean Cipher (Hamish Linklater) cooks up a wild idea: pit Jordan against Marie (Jaz Sinclair) in a public showdown, marketed as “The Gender Bender vs. The Blood Bender.”

Quick Recap of Gen V Season 2 Episodes 1-3:

After escaping Vought’s lab, Emma, Jordan, and Marie are back at Godolkin University, but their freedom comes with strings attached. With Cipher installed as the new dean and Cate firmly in his corner, the trio dig into a secret 1960s program while Sam struggles to control his violent impulses.

Campus life swings between parties and gore, but the bigger storm is the rising “humans versus supes” conflict, leaving the group unsure how long their fragile freedom will last. Episode three of ‘Gen V’ ends with Jordan giving a public speech exposing Godolkin University, while also confessing that Jordan and friends attacked Cate Dunlap, not Starlighters.  

Titled “Bags”, Episode 4 of Gen V Season Two comically kicks off with the TV segment Truthbomb with Firecracker, where the Supe host accuses Jordan of chasing clout with lies. The chyron flashes funny shit like “A Woke Plague at God-U” and “Pronouns: He/She/Liar.” In her brief appearances as Firecracker, Valorie Curry is pure comical/satirical chaos, spouting right-wing conspiracies while decked out in spandex.

Most of the episode zeroes in on Jordan, Marie, and Emma as they reel from the fallout. To spin the scandal, the university plots to paint Jordan as a duplicitous, attention-seeker, while propping up Marie as one of the “good ones.” The negative buzz around Jordan’s confessions gets milked into a made-for-TV showdown for the number one spot, with Marie set up to win.

With no interest in fighting each other, Marie and squad scramble to dig up dirt on Cypher, so that they can stop the showdown. Marie suggests they turn to Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips) for help, even though they nearly almost killed her a few days ago. He he. With no allies, and little powers left, Cate readily agrees to assist her former friends, although of course there is a lot of tension and resentment between them all.

Hamish Linklater’s Dean Cipher is shaping up to be the most fascinating new face in ‘Gen V‘, portraying the character with the right amount of sly menace. The first three episodes teased his secrets, and Episode 4 finally offers a glimpse into what he’s hiding, just enough to deepen the mystery. The real eyebrow-raiser is his attention to Marie Moreau, inviting her into a personal combat training class.

Not too surprisingly, the most fun bits were once again the scenes with Lizze Broadway’s Emma, who’s joined a secret pro-starlight group by Harper (Jessica Clement) and Ally (Georgie Murphy). Emma volunteers to spy on Cypher with the help of her new friends, and their plan doesn’t go as smoothly as anticipated, delivering some humorous moments.

Packed with minor and major twists, but surprisingly light on gore, this ‘Gen V’ chapter leans more on dialogue than action, especially in the first half. Some of the character exchanges feel oddly stiff in a few sequences, as if the cast’s energy dipped just for this round. But of well, you’ll be adequately distracted by the ‘bags’ of blood Marie trains with.

The episode closes with a big reveal about Dean Cipher, setting the stage for even greater villainy ahead.

Stream ‘Gen V’ on Prime Video.

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‘Wait Till Helen Comes’ Review: Family Drama Devours Horror

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

How spooky is the cover art for this graphic novel version of ‘Wait Till Helen Comes’? I’ll have to admit, it made expect some serious creepy stuff from the story, but most of it turned out to be disappointing family drama. A patchwork family of five move in to a new place in the outskirts, with no neighbors for at least a mile, and the youngest kid starts to creep the oldest one out by claiming she’s made a ghostly friend at the graveyard close to their new home.

Siblings Molly and Michael are forced to look out for their little stepsister Heather when their mother remarries. And even though Molly is the eldest child, it turns out she is also the most easily scared. So when Heather starts spending more and more time talking to herself in the nearby graveyard, Molly is convinced she is speaking to a suspicious spirit called Helen, whereas the practical Michael is sure no such thing exists. To make things worse, a manipulative Heather keeps accusing the siblings of mistreating her, which adds to the tension and negative atmosphere in their remote new house.

While I haven’t read the original gothic novel by Mary Downing Hahn, the ‘gothic’ element is largely limited to living by a graveyard and tall talks about a ghost. Maybe the novel is more nuanced in exploring the fraught dynamics in the family, but this illustrated version of ‘Wait Till Helen Comes’ is packed with unlikable characters. Both parents are frustratingly bad in the way they deal with the problems between the children, and the 12-year-old Molly often behaves like a paranoid superstitious old lady on the verge of losing her sanity.

Molly’s mother Jean keeps advising the kids to be kinder to Heather, rarely taking their side, and step-dad Dave obviously coddles his bratty daughter. The parents simply expect the older kids to take care of Heather, while secluding themselves in their work-spaces for most of the day. I wish there had been some healthy interactions between the two generations, but there barely any. Molly & Michael are almost always made to feel guilty for making things tough for Molly, while Heather has dad Dave wrapped around her fingers.

Since this is a graphic novel adaptation of ‘Wait Till Helen Comes’, let’s talk about the artwork. The visuals are lively, with colors that pop, yet the storytelling feels weighed down by words. Every panel is either crammed with dialogue or narration, leaving little room for the art to breathe. Ironically, the artwork on the cover is the spookiest part of this book.

Now, as far as Helen the ghost is concerned, the book does provide an interesting backstory to the malevolent spirit, which siblings Molly and Dave uncover through some amateur detective work. However, Helen’s role is so minimal that she comes across more like a little girl throwing a tantrum than a figure meant to send chills down a reader’s spine, at least not an adult’s. With its heavy-handed themes of family strife, guilt, and death, this isn’t a story I’d ever hand to a child.

My expectation were probably too high from this horror story, and I’m glad I got myself the eBook instead of the more expensive paperback.

Rating: 2.5 on 5.

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‘10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ Series Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Japanese series ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ follows a 39-year-old shy lonely office worker Tojo Suzume, single for almost ten years, in the closet, and armed with a little list of things he wishes he could do before his next birthday, hopefully with a new boyfriend.

Directed by Ikeda Chihiro, Kosuge Noriyoshi, the 12 episode series is based on the manga series”40 Made ni Shitai 10 no Koto” (40までにしたい10のこと) by Mamita. The show stars Kazama Shunsuke as primary protagonist Tojo Suzume, while Shoji Kohei plays Tanaka Keishi, a younger co-worker who discovers Tojo’s list and offers to help him out with it. As the two set out to tackle the bucket list, romance ends up being the very first item Tanaka ticks off.

So, ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ is a lot like the Japanese series ‘Old Fashioned Cupcake’, but seven episodes longer. A runtime that’s overdrawn and needed to be chopped down by at least 4 episodes. Sadly, the chemistry between lead actors Kazama and Shoji never really clicks, hovering between “awkward” and “very awkward” right until the finale. Their dynamic is akin to two colleagues exploring a new city together and trying to become friends.

Maybe some viewers might manage to find ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ to be a quiet comfort show, watching shy Tojo slowly open up under Tanaka’s brighter energy. But the glacial pacing makes it a slog, and without comedic touches, it lacks the spark it desperately needs. Worse still, the second half keeps shifting focus to side characters, time that would’ve been better spent developing the central romance.

The cinematography is cozy-cute, and most of the things on Tojo’s list are simple, doable, and sweet, like eating ice-cream with lots of topping at a popular store, or getting himself a custom-made pillow. Tojo’s personality is ‘cute but annoyingly self-conscious’, with his house filled with adorable stuffed toys. Honestly, if ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ was just a buddy-comedy, where the boring Tojo finally gets a charming new friend, maybe this show would’ve been more endearing.

If you’re looking for slow-burn Japanese romances, I’d recommend ‘My Love Mix-Up’ or ‘Cherry Magic’, although they’re both romantic-comedies. For some more recent 2025 J-dramas, you could check out ‘Hishakai Shindo (Depth of Field)’, or ‘When It Rains, It Pours’, they’re more sombre in their tone and themes.

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Haq Teaser Trailer: Yami Battles Emraan in Tense Courtroom Drama

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“I’m fighting for my haq, my rights.”

The teaser for Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming film ‘Haq’ is finally here, and it wastes no time in pulling you into the emotional storm at its center. Just a little over a minute long, the teaser is a mix of retro-styled glimpses of Shazia’s (Yami) happier times with her husband Ahmed Khan (Emraan) : laughter, shared moments, the kind of everyday intimacy that paints a picture of warmth. But those smiles quickly fade when the scene shifts to the courtroom, where the same couple now stands as bitter opponents.

The film is directed by Directed by Suparn Varma, best known for dramas like Rana Naidu, and The Trial. Yami Gautam plays Shazia Bano, a character inspired by the landmark (and highly controversial) Shah Bano case of 1985. The teaser opens with Yami reflected in a car’s rear-view mirror, perhaps a subtle metaphor for how her identity is filtered through the gaze of others.

Emraan Hashmi gets to fire the first shot in the teaser, patronizing Shazia on what it means to be a ‘good Muslim’. “Had you been a true and righteous Muslim, a loyal and dutiful wife, you wouldn’t have never said such things,” he charges. But as the seconds unfold, Yami as Shazia brings fire to the screen, standing tall and proclaiming she is fighting for her ‘haq’, her rights’.

Her courtroom stand makes it clear: she isn’t defined solely as a “Muslim woman” or a “wife,” but as an Indian citizen who expects the law to treat her equally. It’s a line that sets the tone for what promises to be an emotionally charged legal drama about justice, faith, and identity. The talented Sheeba Chaddha is seen playing Shazia’s lawyer in the teaser.

‘Haq’ is set for a November 7 release in theaters. On the career front, Yami Gautam was last seen earlier this year in ‘Dhoom Dham‘, while Emraan Hashmi has been keeping busy too, with a fun cameo in Netflix series ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’, which had the internet talking. With both actors stepping into meaty roles, the film looks set to deliver a story that’s not only socially relevant but also emotionally gripping.

Watch the teaser-trailer for ‘Haq’ on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.

Neighborhood Watch Review: Crazy Neighbors, Fake Detectives, Real Trouble

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“I know who you are. You’re the batshit loon that lives next door”

Director Duncan Skiles and writer Sean Farley deliver an offbeat thriller in ‘Neighborhood Watch’, where two wacky neighbors team up to solve a case that might not even be real.

Jack Quaid (‘The Boys’, ‘Novocaine’, ‘Heads of States’) plays protagonist Simon McNally, a young man fresh out of a mental health center, who witnesses a woman being beaten and kidnapped, but the cops don’t believe him. So he turns to neighbor Ed Deerman (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a former security guard, for help. To his surprise, the old man agrees, though it seems to be more out of boredom than faith in Simon’s account.

It’s an oddly entertaining mismatched duo: Ed, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is a smug, overconfident curmudgeon, while Jack Quaid’s Simon stumbles through life haunted by cruel voices in his head. There’s a bit of The show cleverly makes viewers as doubtful as the cops: was there really a crime, or just Simon’s imagination?

An ironical parallel sub-plot in ‘Neighborhood Watch’ shows Detective Glover (Cecile Cubiló) choosing to investigate what Simon is up to, instead of taking his ‘missing girl’ complaint seriously. The film thus takes a jab at the way authorities dismiss people with troubled pasts. Simon’s credibility is constantly questioned, not just because of his shaky mental health and time in an institution, but also because of his criminal record. The cops barely entertain his pleas, writing him off as unstable or unreliable, which makes his fight to be believed just as gripping as the mystery itself.

Malin Akerman plays Deedee McNally, Simon’s older sister, studying to be a nurse and looking after her brother, but their relationship is clearly strained, owing to traumatic childhood experiences. Though the sibling interactions are brief, they provide crucial insights to why Simon is the way he is.

Thankfully, ‘Neighborhood Watch’ doesn’t end on an open-ended cliffhanger. By the finale, we get concrete answers as Ed and Simon slip into private-detective mode, chasing down the case through a crucial lead: Simon remembers the license plate of the van the girl was allegedly kidnapped in. Whether it’s bluffing as cops or getting smacked around by local goons, Simon and Ed land themselves in plenty of trouble while poking around for clues.

With a tight 90 minute runtime, ‘Neighborhood Watch’ moves at a crisp pace, borrowing from the familiar buddy-comedy setup but twisting it into something darker and moodier, with a touch of subtle humor. Simon constantly teeters on the edge of a breakdown, spouting frantic word salads, while Ed gradually learns to temper his grumpiness with a surprising tolerance for the young man’s chaos.

Rating: 7.5 on 10. ‘Neighborhood Watch’ is on Prime Video.

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