Watch or Nah?: Come Play (2020)

 Hello World,

Here is my review of Come Play. I saw this movie at the movie theater back in October, and it's apparently still showing at some theaters, but it is available to watch on video on demand. This review was originally posted at mysteryandsupsense.com 

Film/ Television Show Information

Name: Come Play
Genre:  Horror, Thriller
Director : Jacob Chase
Main Cast:  Azhy Robertson, Gillian Jacobs , John Gallagher Jr

Ratings

	1 = Trash	2 =Meh	3 = OK	4 = Solid	5 = Bomb
Acting/ Performance				X
Comments:   Overall, the film is well acted, with Robertson giving a particularly good performance as Oliver. He embodies every essence of the character, while not making Oliver seem like a charcuterie of tics and mumbles.
Writing/Screenplay			X
Comments:  This film had a lot of potential, but ultimately fell flat due to underdeveloped themes and ideas. I think Chase had a clear message he was trying to portray through the film, but it gets jumbled up in the uneven tone.
Cinematography			X
Comments: Chase does a good job of setting the tone with music and sound effects, and even the camera pans and angles to really build up the mood for that crazy, adrenaline-rushing scare you know is coming but still scares you anyway. Except when the actual fright comes it is just underwhelming. The buildup was more frightening than the actual event.
Costume Design				X
Comments: There was nothing special nor wrong with the costume design, which is to  be expected for a modern film about a more or less normal family.
Editing/Special Effects			X
Comments: Over-reliance of jump scares and sound effects that adds to overall uneven tone of the film.
Sound/Music			X
Comments:   Nothing outstanding, but nothing shockingly bad.
Overall Rating (average the rating numbers above)  - 3.3/5.0

Recommendation: Watch(ish)! 😐

Come Play is an ambitious film that attempts to tackle the topics of isolation, bullying, and modern technology through the lens of a monster story. I applaud the creativity, but the actual execution was not up to par. This film is by no means a bad movie, but it’s certainly nothing to write home about. It is just okay. would I recommend this movie? Sure. Like I said before, this is not a bad movie. It is not a good movie, but it’s not bad. I would recommend this film for a younger audience that enjoys the horror genre, but do not  want to see something this overly violent, bloody or gory. This is a good kid-friendly horror movie. It is sort of like a twisted fairy tale, you could say. Also, if you are a fan of the horror genre in general, you might enjoy it as well. It has good elements. They just do not all work together all the time. But, I will say this film was better than I expected, so why not give it a watch? You might be surprised.

See full review on mysteryandsupsense.com. 

Au Revoir,

~Kerin

P.S. Follow me on twitter and instagram @kerinskorner to stay up to date!

Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2021

 Hello World,

Last week, I gave my top ten most anticipated TV shows of 2021, so this week I will be discussing the movies I'm most looking forward to that are coming out this year.  I've been waiting a long time for a lot of these movies. Thank you corona 😡. So fingers crossed that all these movies are released this year and don't get pushed back.  Here, in no particular order,  are my top ten most anticipated movies of 2021: 

1. The Little Things

Rami Malek, Denzel Washington, and Jared Leto - nuff said. 

2. No Time to Die

Also Rami Malek ... but I've really enjoyed Daniel Craig's Bond movies, and I'm excited to see how it ends... and also Rami Malek!

3. To All the Boys: Always and Forever 

Love the books, love the movies, so my Galentine's Day will filled with Lara Jean.

4.  A Quiet Place Part II

I'm interested in seeing what's next in this story, because I thoroughly enjoyed the first movie. See my review here! 

5. In the Heights

Sure this movie seems like just Hamilton-esque, but I really liked Hamilton so...

6. Matrix 4

The Matrix is one my absolute favorite movies, so when I heard they were making another one, I was all the way here for it. 

7. The King's Man

I liked the two original movies, but I'm curious to see what the franchise has in store without Taron Egerton. 

8. Morbius

I'm a Jared Leto fan so... it is what it is

9. Space Jam 2: A New Legacy

Who doesn't like Space Jam? It's basketball and Looney Tunes. Also, Klay Thompson is in this movie, so #DubNation!

10. Dune

I don't know much about what exactly this movie is about, but it's based on YA fantasy novel, which you know I am always here for and Zendaya's in it, so sign me up!

Au Revior,

~Kerin

Growing from Seeds: Beginner Herb Garden Tips

 Hello World!

I'm writing this on MLK Day, so Happy Belated MLK Day! I had to work on MLK Day, which is blasphemous, so I didn't do anything to celebrate. But work is back in full force now. When I said work was picking up last week, I was not kidding. I literally have so much work to do, after basically two weeks of doing nothing. Fortunately, I'm still working from home, which makes things a little easier. 

So garden update - last week I was going on and on about how I excited I was for my garden,  and how great it has been. Well, this week things have taken a turn. My cilantro is not thriving as it once was, but it appears to recuperating now. Here are some tips and things I have learned in my herb garden journey:

 

1.  Water your herbs about once week. The top soil should be dry before you water again to avoid over watering.

2. Water thoroughly. When water is dripping out the bottom of your pot, then you've watered enough.

3. When warm, let your seedlings sit outside in direct sunlight for a few hours. I've found this to most helpful for growth, since most of my apartment is shaded.

4. Don't leave your seedlings out at night.

5. Water with warm water. This is easy way to keep your seedlings warm, when it's cold or there isn't much sunlight.

6. Once your seedlings grow to about 4 inches, cut away the weaker sprouts, so the stronger ones can grow fuller. This was the hardest for me because I didn't want to lose any of my sprouts, but not thinning out my cilantro caused it to start to wilt,  so this is a very important step.

7. Buy drip trays. Unless you want a mess in your house, these are a must.

8. Check on your seedlings everyday. This is the fun part. You get to see the progress and address any issues. 

9. Turn your pots regularly. I find that my herbs tend to stretch in the direction of sun, so turning them regularly allows them to grow straight. 

10. Have patience. Growing from seeds takes time and it's a learning process.

Overall, I am still very excited for the future of my garden, and I'm looking forward to learning more. I can't wait until Spring, so I can get my raised garden bed and move seedlings outside! I apologize for all the unsolicited garden advice but that's where I am.

Weekly Obsession:  P37:four - My sister started her own company I could not be more proud of her.  If you're looking for luxury candles and other luxe self-care goodies, check them out. Follow P37:four on Instagram and #GetdiLIGHTed. 

What I'm Reading: I'm still listening to Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. I literally only have  1 hour left. I would definitely recommend this series if you're a fan of YA fantasy. 

What I'm Watching:  Teen Wolf - particularly Season 3B and Season 6A because those are the Stiles' seasons, so they're the best. 

Au Revoir,

~Kerin

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P.S.S. Follow me on twitter and Instagram @kerinskorner to stay up to date!

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Skincare Routine for Dark Circles & Dark Spots

 Hello World, 

I said I'd be sharing my current skincare routine in my last Makeup Monday post, and here I am making good on that promise. For reference, I have oily-combination skin, and my main skin concerns are dark spots or hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and dark circles under my eyes. I have different routines for day and night, and I will be sharing both. I will say I do always like to try new products, so this routine could change, but without further ado here is my current skincare routine that has been working for me lately. For more skincare, see my previous post about my top ten skincare products. This post was from 4 years ago, and it's fun to see how much my skincare routine has changed.

 

 

 

	Day	Night
Step 1. Cleanse	I don’t wash my face in mourning anymore. Gasp! I know. But I felt like I was drying out my skin washing twice a day, so I stopped.	If I’m wearing makeup, first I remove my makeup using the No.7 Radiant Results Revitalizing Cleansing Wipes. Then I wash my face using the Olay Daily Facials. I think they come 3 different types. I use Deeply Purifying Clean, because it has an exfoliating side which is great for a deeper clean.
Step 2. Tone	I tone my skin using the Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner. Now this toner has been discontinued, which really sucks because it’s great, but if anyone has any suggestions for toners let me know in the comments.	At night, I use the Olehenriksen Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner. I ‘ve only been using this toner for about a month, but I have already seen an improvement in my skin, so I really like it.
Step 3. Treat	For my dark spots, I apply the Ambi Fade Cream. This stuff is great. It’s made for darker skin tones, and it has sunscreen in it as well to help prevent further darkening.  Then, I apply the StriVectin Anti-Wrinle Wrinkle Recode.  My makeup used to always settle into my smile lines, which is super annoying, but since I started using this serum, I no longer have that problem. I just apply it to my smile lines and the frown lines on my forehead, but you can apply it wherever you need it.	First, I apply the No. 7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex.  I was using a Retinol from the Ordinary, which was fine, but I like this one better simply because it’s a cream which it just easier for me personally. The one from the Ordinary was a liquid serum.  I then follow this up with Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.
Step 4. Eyes	First, I apply the Sephora Instant depuffing roll-on gel. I really like this one because it has a metal roll-on application that’s really cooling. Honestly, sometimes I apply this first thing in the morning just to wake myself up. Unfortunately, this is also discontinued, so if you guys know any eye gel that has the same sort of applicator, please let me know.  Next, I apply the Olehenriksen Truth Banana Bright Eye Crème. I use this cream because it visibly brightens you under eyes after application.	At night, my main goal is just adding moisture, not so much correcting the appearance of dark circles, so I use a very moisturizing eye cream. I use the StriVectin Intensive Eye Concentrate.
Step 5.  Moisturize	Now, I switch up moisturizers all the time because I’m always looking for something.  If it is not too heavy or greasy, I’m game. Lately, I’ve been using the StriVectin Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Moisturizing Concentrate.	At night, I like a thick moisturizer, because like I said my main goal is adding moisture. Lately, I’ve been using the Vichy LiftActiv Night Cream.  I like it because it’s really thick and creamy, and leaves my skin feeling soft.
Step 6. Sunscreen	Super important step for everyone, but especially if you’re using products with skin lightening agents like I am. First off, I would like to say I love the Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, and I think it’s the best, but I don’t have it right now, so I’ve been using the La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60. It’s really good, not as great as the Supergoop, but still good!	Obviously, I don’t wear sunscreen at night 😊 Au Revior ~Kerin