Brendan Kelly – Google

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what makes this show so special but that's exactly what it is. It is a soothing balm that coats your (sometimes painful) memories of youth in a gentle way. It's not just the sights and sounds of the 90s and early 2000s that evokes memories of halcyon days. It is the capturing of the emotions that we all felt in some way as we grew up - the highs and the lows displayed with precise authenticity. I wrapped up the show feeling as if I'd been able to send a letter to my past self with calming words of encouragement. The letter reads "yes it was hard sometimes but sometimes it was so so good, don't forget that." For me, Pen15 was not just a nostalgic joyride, it was much more personal. It was special. Maya and Anna, we would have been friends. I'm certain of it.

Could have been better. I think the biggest issue for me was that this was a plane hijacking movie with a monster twist when it should have been a monster movie with a plane hijacking twist. I felt Elias' character was mostly unlikeable and Nadja herself, though clearly with a mystery surrounding her, was hard to get behind as a lead. If the movie had begun with the flashback scenes and had reached a crescendo as Nadja is traveling to finally try to end her curse, that would have given the audience a reason to root for Nadja. The way the story is told now essentially foregoes this chance to get a cheap surprise as Nadja is revived on the floor of the airplane. The supporting characters are written so shallowly that it made me roll my eyes more than once. Overall this movie is OK. It's not likely one you'll remember, though.