Movie Reviews — FilmSpeak

'Exit 8' Review: Breaks the Video Game Curse [TIFF 25]

Skillfully adapted from the minimalist psychological horror video game, Genki Kawamura’s ‘Exit 8’ is an eerily worthy adaptation that truly breaks free of the bad luck surrounding the genre.

TIFF, Video Game Movie, Sci-Fi, Movie Review, Live-Action, Independent Film, Foreign FilmLuca MehtaSeptember 8, 2025TIFF 2025, Genki Kawamura, Exit 8Comment

‘The Secret Agent’ Review: Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Lesson in Film and Political History [TIFF 25]

Kleber Mendonça Filho gives us the most important political film of the year with ‘The Secret Agent’, a thriller fluent in both film and political history, with a captivating performance from Wagner Moura anchoring the picture.

'Orwell: 2+2=5' Review: Raoul Peck's Latest Has A Strong and Eerily Relevant Thesis [TIFF 25]

Frighteningly prescient, renowned documentarian Raoul Peck navigates through generations of fascism with the words of George Orwell.

Documentary, Festival Review, Movie Review, TIFFArjun PersaudSeptember 8, 2025Orwell 2+2=5, Orwell 2+2=5 Review, Movie Reviews, TIFF25, TIFFComment

'Poetic License' Review: Hoffman Steals The Show in Sweet Campus Comedy [TIFF 25]

‘Poetic License’ is sweetheart, laugh-out-loud comedy, well-acted by the entire cast. Taking place on a university campus at the beginning of the Fall semester, is a perfect movie to watch on a cozy autumn day – fresh and unexpectedly great, this isn’t one to miss.

‘Sirāt’ Review: Óliver Laxe’s Descent into Hell [TIFF 25]

Óliver Laxe crafts an unrelentingly cruel picture with the explosive ‘Sirāt’, questioning human morality at the center of his scorching, pulse-pounding thriller.

Festival Review, TIFF, DramaMaxance VincentSeptember 7, 2025Sirat, Oliver Laxe, Thriller, TIFF 2025, ReviewComment

'Tuner' Review: This New Thriller Reaches a High Pitch [TIFF 25]

Oscar-winning documentarian Daniel Roher makes his narrative debut directing ‘Tuner’ - a film with shades of Michael Mann and Nora Ephron.

'Hamlet' Review: This Visceral New Take on The Bard Proves Its Reason 'To Be'

Director Aneil Karia readapts Shakespeare’s masterpiece ‘Hamlet’ with Riz Ahmed and a distinctly digital and urban visual landscape.

Festival Review, Movie Review, TIFFArjun PersaudSeptember 5, 2025Hamlet, Movie Review of Hamlet, Hamlet (2025), Riz Ahmed, TIFF25, tiffComment

'The Conjuring: Last Rites' Review: Horror Finale Fails to Scare in Sendoff

'The Conjuring: Last Rites’ just doesn't come together in concept or on the page, and the film falls well short as a result. If you’re a fan of this franchise, it may be worth checking out to see the Warrens slow dance into the sunset. Otherwise, this is a wash of an experience at the cinemas.

Horror, Movie ReviewLane MillsSeptember 5, 2025Movie Reviews, Horror review, horror, The Conjuring, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Michael Chaves, James WanComment

Motor City Review: A Revenge Tale in Need of More Drive [TIFF 25]

Director Potsy Ponciroli brings us ‘Motor City’ into the Toronto International Film Festival and the film presents an interesting dynamic - There is almost zero dialogue. While Alan Ritchson, Ben Foster and Shailene Woodley give loud performances, it may not be enough to save this city without sound.

‘The Long Walk’ Review: A Minor Work from Lawrence

Because director Francis Lawrence is such a storied visual artist, ‘The Long Walk’ can mostly overcome its shoddily written screenplay as it continuously coddles the audience through a slow paced stroll of Stephen King’s first work.

'Caught Stealing' Review: Aronofsky Gets Grungy

After catapulting Brendan Fraser to his first Academy Award, Director Darren Aronofsky has his sights set on further showcasing Austin Butler’s versatility in ’Caught Stealing’, a wonderfully grungy tale of crime and chaos in 90’s NYC.

‘Lurker’ Review: Alex Russell’s Fascinating Directorial Debut

Alex Russell eviscerates our social media-obsessed era with the riveting and often terrifying ‘Lurker’, thanks to incredible turns from Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe.

Drama, Thriller, Movie ReviewMaxance VincentAugust 22, 2025Lurker, Lurker Movie Review, Review of Lurker, Lurker Movie, Alex Russell, Fantasia 2025Comment

‘Splitsville’ Review: A Cringe Comedy of Epic Proportions

Thanks to an assured sense of style and magnifying performances from its core cast, Michael Angelo Covino’s ‘Splitsville’ manages to stay afloat, despite a cyclical structure that makes some of its funnier beats less impactful.

Movie Review, ComedyMaxance VincentAugust 22, 2025Splitsville, Comedy, Michael Angelo CovinoComment

‘Honey Don’t!’ Review: Ethan Coen Makes a Mildly Amusing B-Movie

Thanks to a captivating performance by Margaret Qualley and an assured sense of style and hyper-violence, Ethan Coen manages to make ‘Honey Don’t!’ a memorable affair, even if it continuously stumbles along the way.

Comedy, Movie ReviewMaxance VincentAugust 22, 2025Honey Dont, Ethan Coen, Comedy, Movie ReviewComment

‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Review: Spike Lee Adapts a Masterpiece

Spike Lee’s adapts Akira Kurosawa’s original with ’Highest 2 Lowest’ - undoubtedly the best remake of his career, anchored by another magnifying lead turn from Denzel Washington, who continues to prove why he’s the greatest to have ever done it.

'Nobody 2' Review: A Lean, Mean Blast

Bob Odenkirk is back with his unique brand of justice in ‘Nobody 2’, an action sequel that doubles down on what made the original such a refreshing entry into the action genre and delivers a follow-up that may just be even more enjoyable than its predecessor.

Action, ComedyTom ChatalbashAugust 15, 2025nobody, nobody 2, nobody 2 review, bob odenkirk, sharon stone, rza, connie nielsen, colin hanksComment

‘Fixed’ Review: Nothing Can Fix This Dated and Unfunny R-Rated Animated Film [Fantasia 2025]

While Genndy Tartakovsky has not lost a touch animating expressive characters and worlds, his latest offering, the R-rated ’Fixed’, is painfully unfunny and contains far too much dated humor.

Animation, Festival ReviewMaxance VincentAugust 12, 2025Fixed, Movie Reviews, Animation, Fantasia 2025, Genndy TartakovskyComment

‘Freakier Friday’ Review: Nisha Ganatra’s Body Swap Riot

‘Freakier Friday’ is Disney’s best theatrical live-action release in ages, thanks in no small parts to the ineffable charm of both Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Comedy, Movie ReviewMaxance VincentAugust 8, 2025Freakier Friday, Comedy, Movie Review, Nisha GanatraComment

'Weapons' Review: A Wildly Compelling Puzzle Box

After taking the horror genre by storm with his debut feature ‘Barbarian’, writer/director Zach Cregger returns with ‘Weapons’, a wildly entertaining horror mystery that easily sidesteps the dreaded sophomore slump.

Horror, ThrillerTom ChatalbashAugust 8, 2025weapons, weapons review, zach cregger, josh brolin, julia garner, benedict wong, Alden EhrenreichComment

'She Rides Shotgun' Review: An Indie With A Killer Right Hook

In a summer movie landscape overcrowded with superhero blockbusters, ‘She Rides Shotgun’ is a refreshing change of pace, delivering a powerful story of unconditional love and lost innocence set against a thrilling backdrop.