Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 55

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Review- High-Speed Thrills, Some Glitches

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Watching Cyberpunk: Edgerunners feels like speeding down a highway that’s only 70% finished. The first part of the ride is fast, smooth, and thrilling, but then it gets bumpy, and by the end, you might find yourself off-road completely.

Set in the neon-drenched metropolis of Night City, this animated mini-series follows David Martinez, a teenager forced to drop out of Arasaka Academy, a prestigious high school his single mom worked tirelessly to get him into. After her untimely death in a senseless accident, David leaves school and becomes an edgerunner – a rogue outlaw – teaming up with a mystery woman called Lucy, a data thief who targets the rich.

What makes David stand out from the average cyberpunk in Night City is a stolen piece of high-tech gear he illegally integrates into his body, turning him into a super-fast killing machine. In a twist, Arasaka Academy tries to lure him back to the high school for its own agenda, but David chooses to work with a new criminal crew instead. With his mom gone, the edgerunners become his surrogate family, and sparks fly between him and Lucy, who is essentially an expert hacker, or “netrunner” in the Cyberpunk universe. But the real scene-stealer is Rebecca, a short, fiery, and unhinged mercenary who seems inspired by Harley Quinn, adding a wild edge to the crew. She is loud, cute, and endearingly loyal to the people close to her.

The first few episodes of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners are exhilarating, packed with violent action, sharp comedy, and plenty of unexpected twists. Whether or not you’ve played the Cyberpunk games, the show quickly establishes the hierarchy and brutal realities of Night City – a city run by corrupt corporations and teeming with criminals who obsessively enhance their bodies with cybernetic upgrades. My favourite concept in the show is called “cyberpsychosis”: a condition where excessive cybernetic modifications strip away a person’s humanity, pushing them closer to a psychological breakdown and eventual self-destruction. The metaphorical implications are clear, the less human you become, the lesser connected you are with the real world.

David’s transformation from a lanky, average teen to a buff cyberpunk is vividly animated, it’s like watching a scrawny Peter Parker turn into the hulk! But as far as the story is concerned, once the stakes surrounding David are fully revealed, the story starts to lose its grip. By episode seven, the plot falters, and I found myself tempted to stop watching. After taking a two-week break, I finally finished the series, driven more by curiosity than excitement. Unlike most shows, where slow pacing is the problem, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners starts at a breakneck speed but stumbles toward the end. Too many characters die too soon, leaving little time to form emotional connections. Aside from one death (which becomes quite predictable), the losses feel more like checkboxes than gut punches.

If you’re in the mood for a violent, futuristic action anime made for adults, this one’s worth a watch.

You can watch Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on Netflix.

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The Blue Drum Review: An Underwhelming Thud

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A woman mourning her father’s passing is spooked by eerie noises in her family home, leading to the unraveling of some terrible secrets.

Directed and written by Angelita Mendoza, The Blue Drum follows a young woman called Leticia (Crystal Hernandez) who is hosting her father’s funeral and is upset by the indifference of her immediate relatives. For Leticia, her father was “good” enough, but others seem to disagree…

Only about 15 minutes long, The Blue Drum is a glum horror movie that needed more time to build its characters and themes. Crystal Hernandez, as the grieving Leticia, doesn’t pull the viewer in, and her frustrations over relatives behaving like “vultures” as soon as her father is gone don’t have the emotional weight needed to make a small film like this hit you in the gut.

While director Angelita Mendoza does convincingly build some suspense around Leticia’s family house and its dark history, the eventual climactic twist feels anticlimactic, despite packing in a solid twist. The Blue Drum basically ends with a soft, underwhelming thud instead of an exciting bang.

You can watch The Blue Drum on Netflix.

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Dan Da Dan Episode 12 Review: Creepy Town Trip

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Momo and Okarun head to Jin Enjoji’s house to exorcise the spirits he claims are haunting the location. As they pack their bags, catch a train, and arrive in Jin’s town, they discover the area is also famous for its hot springs. So, Momo cheers up, hoping for a relaxing mini-vacation on the sides, but it’s more likely to turn into a “vacation of horrors,” given the anime’s penchant for blending humor with supernatural terror.

Titled “Let’s Go to the Cursed House,” episode 12 of Dan Da Dan opens with a mildly amusing scene of Momo, Okarun, and Jin begging Seiko to let the odd lady mannequin from episode 11 stay at her place. The story then shifts its focus to Okarun’s confused feelings and jealousy over Momo’s growing friendship and closeness with Jin. As the trio travels to Jin’s town, Okarun’s feelings about the handsome newcomer become increasingly complicated, but in a humorous way.

Contrary to the title, this episode doesn’t feature much ghostly activity, though there’s definitely something unsettling about Jin’s entire town, not just his house. While the episode isn’t as high-energy or laugh-out-loud funny as earlier installments of the season, it benefits from a better pace and a less grating portrayal of Jin compared to his introduction. Jin also serves as a much-needed catalyst to fast-track the ambiguous romantic tension between Momo and Okarun. Viewing Jin as a potential rival, Okarun becomes more certain of his feelings for Momo, ready to fight, if necessary, for her affection.

The last few minutes of “Let’s Go to the Cursed House” take a stark tonal shift. What starts as lighthearted suddenly becomes unexpectedly dark. Can Momo and her friends truly handle the cursed spirits or malevolent forces lurking in Jin’s town? We’ll have to wait for answers.

You can stream Dan Da Dan on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

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Don’t Move Review: Thrills Paralyzed by Missteps

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Directors: Brian Netto, Adam Schindler

Writers: T.J. Cimfel, David White

Reviewer: Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

If a strange woman shows up on your remote property, unable to move, unable to talk, and clearly distressed, wouldn’t you immediately call emergency services and request assistance? Apparently not. Even if you’re a smart, experienced man with no ill intentions toward the woman.

That’s one of the biggest problems with the 2024 thriller movie Don’t Move – illogical character decisions make the film more frustrating to watch than thrilling. The premise is intense: Kelsey Asbille plays a grieving mother named Iris, targeted by a serial killer (Finn Wittrock) who injects her with a paralytic agent. She must find a way to escape his clutches before her entire body shuts down. Her survival instincts kick in almost immediately, but it’s a race against her own body for Iris.

Don’t Move begins with a poignant scene of Iris visiting her son’s memorial at a national park. There, a stranger strikes up a conversation with her. While their brief interaction is initially life-changing in a positive way for Iris, it takes a scarily dark turn when he kidnaps her. Unfolding largely in the wild, the movie offers an engaging juxtaposition of serene, scenic forested landscapes and the dangerously deadly predicament Iris finds herself in.

Finn Wittrock is a good fit for the role of the serial killer. With his good looks, he embodies the kind of man women might unknowingly trust, while deftly channelling the cold, calculating confidence of a predatory psychopath. That said, he isn’t as scarily intimidating as many other memorable onscreen villains—take Stephen Lang, for example, who played the blind murderer in Don’t Breathe, another thriller produced by Sam Raimi (also the producer of Don’t Move).

The cinematography, the acting, and the background music are all adequately engaging. But the most important ingredient—the writing—is sorely lacking. Nowhere near as tense or nail-biting as Don’t Breathe, this thriller is just about passable in the genre.

Rating: 5/10. You can watch the film on Netflix.

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Groupies Comic Book Series #Issue 3 Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“The elements celebrate our vitality and abundance. With my feet on the ground and my eyes to the sky, I pulse with the power that feeds and connects us.”

Issue #3 of Groupies by Helen Mullane and Tula Lotay (art) is narrated by Gaia, another member of the group of girls touring with the rising rock band The Moon Show. While Issue #2 focused on Vera, whose fiery temper took center stage, Gaia comes across as far more laidback, relaxed, and spiritual. Unlike some of the other young women, Gaia also has a few ground rules to ensure she doesn’t get too emotionally entangled with the men she’s sleeping with.

For readers who aren’t into spiritual, hippie-type personalities, this issue may feel like a bit of a slog. Gaia takes acid with her friends and the band, launching into a long philosophical ramble about her lifestyle and beliefs. Despite this, the story maintains its suspense over the mysterious demonic or violent events unfolding. In an intriguing twist, Gaia dreams about a disturbing incident she is convinced was too vivid to be just a dream.

The artwork in this issue isn’t as dreamy as in previous installments and some of the character illustrations look noticeably different. For instance, Si, a member of The Moon Show, appears older and less visually appealing than in earlier issues. This could be a deliberate artistic choice, as his true nature – a short-tempered prick – is revealed. Perhaps Tula Lotay wanted his inner ugliness to bleed through the pages.

Issue #3 of Groupies reads like a slow-paced filler chapter, even at under 30 pages. The issue ends with a bloody cliffhanger, leaving readers to wonder whether the events are real or just the hallucinations of a drug-addled groupie.

You can read Groupies on Kindle Unlimited.

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Camp Crasher Review: Desperate Mom Vs. Bratty Kid

Rating: 2 out of 5.

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Director: Martino Zaidelis

Writers: Andrés Gelós, Natacha Caravia, Andrés Pascaner

Patri is a workaholic running her father’s business and also an overbearing mother whose son wants to live with his father. Desperate to win over her son, she first decides to make a dream ‘game room’ for him but instead crashes his school camping trip and does all she can to become ‘the coolest mom.’

Natalia Oreiro plays the primary protagonist, Patricia, aka Patri, in the family comedy Camp Crasher (original title: Campamento con mamá), which begins with a funnily relatable (for parents) scene of Patri checking her son Rami’s (Milo Lis) social media account, only to see that her request to follow his private account is still pending. It instantly reminded me of a recent conversation I had with a friend who hasn’t accepted her mother’s request to follow her—and unlike Rami, she is a grown woman in her 30s. Avoiding parents like the plague isn’t just a pre-teen or teen thing. Anyway…

After the funny little opening scene, Camp Crasher immediately begins to struggle in its first half. While Patri is shown to be someone who never takes a break from work, her son Rami is a total brat, constantly gaming and making a horrid mess at home. Clearly, Patri is struggling with her parenting skills, and Camp Crasher wants us to believe that one little camping trip can fix all her problems – which, it kind of does.

“Hi Dad, Mom is making the camping trip all about her. Save me.” —This is a voice note Rami leaves his dad on day one of his camping trip. And that’s one of the biggest problems with Camp Crasher—it’s too much about Patri and not enough about Rami and the kids at the camp. Although the second half does have a few fun moments of the kids playing pranks and having a good time camping, another helicopter mom is on the trip, practically stopping her introverted daughter from making friends. However, Patri intervenes and helps the girl bond with others.

For a family comedy, Camp Crasher isn’t comedic enough but might serve as a mild entertainer for those looking for a light film exploring a desperate parent’s attempt to win over her kid.

Rating: 2 stars out of 5. You can watch Camp Crasher on Netflix.

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Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Episode 24 Review

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“It’s okay. I will catch the killer!”

For the first time in Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions, Totomaru Isshiki might have to solve a murder mystery – a serial murder mystery, no less – on his own!

Episode 23 ended with exciting revelations about Ron’s life when a guest at the Auberge remarked that Ron looked exactly like a man he met seventeen years ago. When the man mentioned a crescent-shaped scar, Ron recalled a childhood memory of a man with the same mark and realized that this man might have been his father. Episode 24 of Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions delves deeper into Ron’s childhood memories and the mystery of the man with the scar.

Titled “The Case of the Highland Auberge Serial Murders (Part 2),” this episode begins with Ron and Toto examining the body of the second murder victim. Ron deduces some intriguing connections and reveals an interesting link between all the guests invited to the mysterious dinner. However, when another guest points out Ron’s resemblance to the man from seventeen years ago, Ron is deeply shaken by the possibility that his father was a wicked criminal – and might still be alive.

This episode strongly emphasizes Toto’s fierce protectiveness toward Ron, as he unwaveringly defends his brilliant detective friend in the face of a crisis. But with Ron’s personal connection complicating the case, Toto may now have to push his intellectual limits to uncover the orchestrator of the killings.

From the invitation postmarked seventeen years ago to the elaborate full-course menu and the gem Ron received with it, everything is pieced together in this episode. It’s a fast-paced, tense installment that plunges Ron into an existential crisis. Despite the suspense, viewers are also given subtle hints about the mastermind behind it all. Can Toto truly crack the case without Ron? We’ll have to wait and see.

Stream the series (Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri) on Netflix or CrunchyRoll.

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Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii Episode 11 Review

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The new reality is going to take some time to sink in—Yoshino and Kirishima are finally dating, all because our girl lost a game of rock, paper, scissors! While Yoshino remains unsure about how this will change things now that Kirishima is officially her boyfriend, he, on the other hand, is basking in the glory of their new status.

For Plot Overview Read: Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii Episode 1 Review

Titled “A Pet That Becomes Unruly as It Grows,” episode 11 of “Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii” begins with Yoshino paying her respects to her late father alongside her grandfather and other members of the Somei family. During a dinner/party hosted by the family, Yoshino’s grandfather confronts Kirishima about his activities in Osaka.

The episode largely focuses on Kirishima’s jealousy and resentment toward Shoma, who shares a closer bond with Yoshino, having grown up with her in Osaka. The tension between the two escalates into a bitter verbal and physical clash, hilariously interrupted by Yoshino’s intervention. However, this confrontation effectively highlights the conflicting philosophies of both men regarding Yoshino. It also reveals a more complex side to Kirishima than what has been shown so far.

Shifting between violent and comedic moments, this episode of “Yakuza Fiancé” is an engaging blend that further develops the evolving dynamics between Yoshino, Kirishima, and Shoma. While a potential love triangle has been hinted at throughout the series, this episode provides concrete developments pointing in that direction.

“Do you like me?” Yoshino asks Shoma seriously at one point.
“Gross,” he immediately responds.
“I was only kidding!” a flustered Yoshino fires back.

Yet, a warm moment passes between the two, making it clear that Yoshino’s feelings for Shoma are far stronger than anything she currently feels for the arrogant Kirishima… at least for now! For Kirishima, Shoma might just be family ‘pet’ or slave of the Somei family, but he promises to be formidable rival.

It will be interesting to see how this rivalry plays out in the next chapter.

Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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The Resemblance: Short Film Review

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Unable to cope with the loss of their son, a grieving couple turns to an agency that provides actors to role-play the deceased for families hoping to find closure. But when a man who eerily resembles their late son arrives at their doorstep, their emotions spiral into uncharted territory.

Written and directed by Derek Nguyen, the short film The Resemblance offers a thought-provoking exploration of grief and its complexities. It examines how far people are willing to go to process loss while poignantly highlighting how we often fail to appreciate our loved ones until it’s too late.

At just 15 minutes, The Resemblance is haunting in a way many full-length horror films aspire to be, unsettlingly blurring the line between role-play and reality. François Chau and Sumalee Montano deliver moving performances as David and Yuko, a couple struggling to let go of their son’s memory, while Tom Dang portrays the actor hired to play their son, Daniel. The unsettling similarity between the actor and their real son shakes David, but Yuko insists on continuing the charade, yearning for one last chance to reconnect with Daniel, even through pretense.

Nguyen skillfully establishes the fractured father-son dynamic between David and Daniel, subtly suggesting how Yuko’s avoidance of conflict may have exacerbated the situation. David’s inability to accept his son for who he was and Yuko’s tendency to bury problems under the surface reveal a family dynamic steeped in unresolved tension. The film’s climactic conversation offers the parents a heartbreaking realization about their role in their son’s loss, but it comes far too late and at an unbearable cost.

Overall, The Resemblance is a gripping, emotionally resonant film that delves into the devastating impact of dysfunctional families and childhood trauma.

Watch the short film on Netflix.

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Unstable Season 1 Review: Kooky Father-Son Comedy

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

A genius biotech engineer faces a severe existential crisis due to his wife’s death, he is on the verge from being ousted by his own company, so his manager reaches out to his son, who ends up joining the firm while he battles his father’s newfound eccentricity.

Created by Victor Fresco, John Owen Lowe, and Rob Lowe, the Netflix comedy Unstable stars the real-life father-son duo Rob Lowe and John Owen Lowe as estranged father and son, genius Ellis Dragon and aspiring flutist Jackson Dragon. The story follows their reconciliation after Ellis’s CFO, Anna (Sian Clifford), persuades Jackson to travel from New York to Los Angeles to help prevent the grieving Ellis from completely losing his marbles.

Most of the action in Unstable takes place at Ellis Dragon’s firm (it’s called Dragon btw), where the board is contemplating ousting him due to his deteriorating mental health. Sian Clifford (Fleabag, Life After Life) is riotously good as Ellis’s no-nonsense CFO and right-hand woman, doing everything in her power to ensure he retains his position in the company. Rachel Marsh and Emma Ferreira are adorable as Luna and Ruby, two young scientists working under Ellis on a groundbreaking project that could mint millions if successful. A major comedic subplot involves a potential love triangle between Luna, Ruby, and Jackson. However, it’s all kept lighthearted, funny, and amicable, steering clear of toxic drama or catfights. Aaron Branch plays Malcomn, another staff member at

Spanning eight episodes, Unstable maintains a brisk pace with sharp, concise dialogue – there’s hardly any time wasted on hemming and hawing. It captures the vibe of a workplace sitcom, minus the distracting recorded laughter playing at the back, yet retains a subtle, stage-like construction in the way interactions and scenarios unfold with quick precision. As a result, some interactions may feel a bit stilted at times. A particularly annoying trope in the series involves two wealthy twin brothers, who come across as if they were lifted from a Dumb & Dumber sketch. They despise Ellis and are determined to push him out.

One of the funnier twists in Unstable unfolds in the very first episode, where Ellis kidnaps the company therapist, Leslie (Fred Armisen), to stop him from submitting a damning report. In a hilarious turn of events, Leslie and Ellis become co-dependent best friends, leaving Jackson baffled by their odd relationship. At the heart of the series is Ellis and Jackson’s love-hate dynamic: while Ellis is a celebrated scientist featured on the cover of TIME magazine, Jackson resents the immense pressure of living up to his father’s legacy. A brilliant scientific mind in his own right, Jackson chooses an offbeat musical career to escape Ellis’s shadow, until his mother’s death forces him to follow his father’s footpath.

Overall, Unstable is a fun, easy watch, with some kooky characters who keep things entertaining until the end.

Rating: 3.5 on 5. Stream “Unstable” on Netflix.

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