TIFF Quick Thoughts – Part Three – Whatcha Want, The Last Photograph, Onwards and Sideways, Being Heumann, The Face of Horror​

This is a bit late, but here’s the third installment of my TIFF quick thoughts. It’s a neat batch of films, and I plan on writing longer reviews when they’re released in theaters or start streaming. Enjoy!

Whatcha Want (2026)

• Directed by – Mina Shum
• Starring – Isabella Wei, Ming-Na Wen, Tzi Ma, Helen Dang, Manny Fernandez
• Why I watched it – I wanted to catch a Mina Shum film. I made a point to watch Canadian films, and I’m really happy I did.

Quick thoughts:

• Isabella Wei is a star. She owns the screen
• The straightforward narrative is an asset for people looking for a comfort-food watch.
• Ming-Na Wen’s character has the most interesting arc. She’s accepted her situation and tries to make the best of it.
• It’s nice seeing Vancouver be Vancouver (instead of some other city).
• It opens up an interesting world of female “trophy wife” emigrants who live alone for most of the year because their husbands work overseas. They are at the complete mercy of their husbands. It’s a tough situation

Random Awards

• Best Dancing at TIFF Award
• Ming-Na Wen is an Immortal Award
• Of Course She Rolls her Ankle Award
• Most Conveniently Located Dance Class Award
• Most Interesting Way to Save Money Award

The Last Photograph

• Director – Zack Snyder
• Starring – Stuart Martin, Fra Free
• Why I watched it – I had to see the world premiere of Zack Snyder’s latest film.

Quick Thoughts

• The Last Photograph is an ugly film with memorable visuals
• I’ve been a Zack Snyder fan (within reason) since Dawn of the Dead (2005), so it was disappointing watching him create an ugly slog for his comeback film
• It would be interesting to hear a non-Snyder fan defend The Last Photograph.
• It features child murder, corpse nudity, child trafficking, pedophilia, excessive heroin use, gratuitous nudity, and a lot of ugly stuff. None of it is needed or organic to the film.
• I wish Snyder would direct another zombie film. I like Army of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead.

Random Awards

• Best Slow-Motion Drug Usage Award
• The “Hey I’m Making Apocalypse Now in South America” Award
• The “Hey, it would be cool if we showed little children being murdered” Award

Onwards and Sideways

• Director – John Madden
• Starring – Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney
• Why I watched it – Laura Linney is always good.

Quick Thoughts

• Rhys Ifans and Laura Linney are wonderful.
• It’s a warm/insightful look into living with Parkinson’s disease.
• Paul Mayhew-Archer uses his experiences with Parkinson’s to write an honest film.
• It’s very safe (which isn’t a bad thing). It didn’t need to be anything else.
• I learned a lot.

Random Awards

• Best Skydiving Advertisement Award
• Best 2026 Parking Space Argument Award
• Laura Linney is the Best Award

Being Heumann

• Director – Sian Heder
• Starring – Ruth Madeley, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Madeline Delp, Rob Delaney, Ray Fisher, Michael Patrick Thornton
• Why I watched it – Heder is an excellent director and I wanted to see her follow-up to CODA.

Quick Thoughts

• Taking place during a 28-day occupation of the San Francisco Federal Building, Being Heumann does a fine job exploring what led to sweeping accessibility regulations in 1977.
• It plays it safe, which will help with mainstream audiences, but you can feel the events being watered down.
• The ensemble cast is wonderful and filled with fresh faces.
• Ruth Madeley is excellent as Judith Heumann. She’s a human bulldozer who makes mistakes, fights for what she believes in, and becomes a better leader throughout the film. It’s neat.

Random Awards

• Best 2026 Rolled Ankle Award
• Best Elevator Loft Award
• Best Box Truck Award

The Face of Horror

• Directors – Anna Biller
• Starring – Jonah Hauer-King, Kristine Froseth, Ellie Bamber, Leo Suter, Bella Heathcote, Ben Radcliffe
• Why I Watched It – I love The Love Witch.

Quick Thoughts:

• Kristine Froseth is wonderful. She understood the assignment
• Don’t call it campy. It’s a brightly-colored adaptation of a famous Japanese ghost story that blends melodrama, violence, and vibrant designs.
• Since it’s an Anna Biller film, it feels handmade and carefully crafted. A lot of love went into creating it, and I like that.
• It made me want to rewatch some of my favorite Hammer Horror films.
• Anna Biller is the best.

Random Awards

1. Best 2026 Boisterous Laughing Award
2. Best Form-Fitting Armor Award
3. Best Face of Horror Award
4. Best Laughs That Come From a Cheeky Costume Award