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In a world where movie tickets are pricey and you could spend hours browsing streaming platforms, Zoe is here to help by giving you the nuts and bolts of a movie or TV show without the spoilers! But movies and shows are more than just mindless consumables, they’re stories that tell us something about our world and the people around us. Zoe invites you into a deeper conversation about media and how to navigate modern storytelling.
In some ways, it's hard giving this a spoiler free review because most people have already made up their minds on whether or not to go see the latest big blockbuster like Spiderman: Brand New Day. If you are a fan of the Tom Holland Spiderman movies, Marvel movies, etc., you'll probably enjoy this one! Zoe did hear some people say they were "bored" during this movie, and to that Zoe frankly questions their doomscrolling attention spans...
It is tragic we do not get to experience Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender in theaters, but on the bright side, this movie exists. Zoe highly recommends this film to those who love the original animated series Avatar the Last Airbender from Nickelodeon, and discusses in a spoiler-free way why exactly she loved this movie, from the animation, the characters, voice-acting, to the storytelling.
Imagine describing a dog to someone who’s never seen a dog and then asking that person to draw a picture of a dog… They might get some stuff right, but some stuff wrong… Thats kinda what its like trying to describe the new movie Backrooms, which is a feature length film based on a YouTube found-footage series based on an internet creepy pasta, about a subliminal space that just isn’t quite right, and in fact something very creepy is going on.
A YouTuber known for his video-game play-throughs, "Markiplier", has made an independent, feature-length film--it is an adaptation of an indie horror game of the same name: Iron Lung. Iron Lung achieved a "smash hit" opening, grossing over $21 million globally against a reported $3 million budget. His success proves to the world that we don't need Hollywood. Zoe found it surreal and inspiring to see his hard-work, blood, sweat and tears finally end up on the big screen, but she didn't necessarily love the movie's story.
"Wake Up Dead Man" is a part of the Knives Out Mystery series on Netflix and released on November 26, 2025. The response online caused a lot of curiosity in Zoe, especially since she loves a good murder mystery and thrillers. She finally gave it a watch and has a recommendation with a few caveats, but is overall very surprised by the movie's themes and gospel-sharing priest protagonist.
The blue people version of dances with wolves is back in theaters! That's right, Zoe is unpacking Avatar: Fire & Ash, the third movie in the franchise. This spoiler free review is short and sweet: if you liked the other movies, you'll probably enjoy this continuation. Zoe does recommend it with that caveat for the theatrical experience as the movie is visually gorgeous, the sound effects are great, and it's very entertaining. However, Zoe cautions parents wanting to take smaller kids, as there's lots of foul language and gun violence. The film is rated PG-13.
CAUTION - This is a SPOILER FILLED deep dive discussion between two giant nerds: Zoe and her brother, Christian. Zoe and Christian grew up together watching theory YouTube videos and playing the Five Nights at Freddy's Games. Zoe self-classifies herself as a knowledgable fan, and Christian would describe himself as more of a casual fan. They have disagreements about the movie and go back and forth on several plot points, what they liked verses disliked, and what they predict the future holds for this franchise.
This recommendation boils down to one major factor: Are you a fan of the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise? This sequel movie highly depends on a viewer's previously knowledge of the games lore and online theories and encourages the continued online theorizing, which is part of what makes this franchise what it is. Zoe, as a big fan of the franchise, really enjoyed the movie personally but understands this is for a very small and specific audience and most people will have no idea what is going on. Additionally, Zoe has found even the fanbase has been split on the film. She still recommends it for the fans, but she doesn't believe it's "peak." It is good, but "suffers from second movie in a trilogy syndrome." Lastly, Zoe tells parents this is NOT a kids movie or family-friendly. It is fine for teenagers, it is rated PG-13, but she again reminds parents this is an indie horror franchise produced by Blumhouse and is about child possessed animatronics.
Wicked: For Good is now in theaters and now it's time for a spoiler FILLED discussion! Zoe invites her friend Olivia Lee to compare the movie to the musical, dive into the "bad guy is misunderstood trope" and explore how parents and kids can unpack the themes of this story.
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