Sort by

Tori has written 189 reviews for films rated ★★★★ .

  • The Old Guard

    The Old Guard 2020

    ★★★★ Watched 10 Jul, 2020

    Directed by a Black woman, main lead character that's a Black woman who's not just there to prop up Charlize who is herself excellent of course. It's queer. What more could you want tbh.

    tw/cw: blood/gore

  • Maggie May

    Maggie May 2018

    ★★★★ Watched 27 Jun, 2020

    This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

    This film does a killer job being deeply unsettling, and the concept really does hit home with the various things going on in the world at the moment. My only issue is with equating this lazy indifference and just sort of gross qualities to a plus sized woman feels......... unnecessary and hurtful.

    tw/cw: blood/gore/eye scream
    insects
    child death

  • Shirley

    Shirley 2020

    ★★★★ Watched 21 Jun, 2020

    This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

    Beautiful and exceptionally acted by both Elizabeth Moss and Odessa Young. Michael Stuhlbarg is also really good at being a charming piece of shit of a man.

    The intimate moments with Shirley and Rose were few, but every one had a delectable tension and electricity to it. Each woman felt complicated, messy, and real, and their relationship was also all of those things.

    Porch swing!!!!!!

    tw/cw: ableism
    nudity somewhat
    implied suicide/talk of it

  • Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street

    Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street 2019

    ★★★★ Watched 20 Jun, 2020

    This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

    I remember watching the Never Sleep Again documentary and seeing Mark in it and being intrigued as they dug somewhat into the utter gay quality of the second NoES film. Now, years later, finding out all the more about it, and him, through this documentary was both a heartwrenching but lovely experience in that his story deserved so much to be told. And to be told with care.

    I think one of the things that broke my heart most was…

  • Dolores Claiborne

    Dolores Claiborne 1995

    ★★★★ Watched 14 Jun, 2020

    "Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold onto" is something I will treasure from this day forth. Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh are both exceptional, and the focus on three complicated women's complicated relationships was SO good. David Strathairn is also unfortunately good at being a complete piece of shit.

    Taylor Hackford said it's time for Kathy Bates to wild an axe AGAIN but have you on her side and he was right.

    tw/cw: spousal abuse
    child abuse/sexual assault/incest
    suicide/self harm

  • Separation

    Separation 2020

    ★★★★ Watched 25 May, 2020

    This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

    Oh Boy yes

    tw/cw: body horror/blood/gore

  • Live Forever

    Live Forever 2020

    ★★★★ Watched 24 May, 2020

    Oh I love this SO much. The tapping foot really got me.

    tw/cw: blood/gore/body horror/eye scream

  • Gabby!

    Gabby! 2020

    ★★★★ Watched 24 May, 2020

    An excellent meditation on the struggle of prolonged creativity as a job, and entitled fans.

    tw/cw: blood

  • The Haunted Swordsman

    The Haunted Swordsman 2019

    ★★★★ Watched 24 May, 2020

    Beautiful puppetry, excellent designs including some Guy Davis work, what's not to love?

    tw/cw: body horror/eye scream

  • The Beach House

    The Beach House 2019

    ★★★★ Watched 23 May, 2020

    Excellent!! Truly unnerving, well acted particularly by Liana Liberato, and a sort of Innsmouth-y vibe. I haven't squirmed so much watching a horror film in a while, so this was a treat.

    tw/cw: eye scream/body horror
    blood/gore

  • Tombstone

    Tombstone 1993

    ★★★★ Rewatched 17 May, 2020

    A gorgeous heartfelt western that, in my opinion, is the best there is. I'm certainly biased, as it's a film that's been a staple in my home since I was a kid. I've had a crush on Doc "I'm your huckleberry" Holiday since then too, but everyone in this is just So good. I was expecting a shock coming back to this after many years in the form of racism and such, but honestly ESPECIALLY considering the genre? Not bad.

    tw/cw: blood
    emetophobia

  • Nightbreed

    Nightbreed 1990

    ★★★★ Rewatched 14 May, 2020

    I finally got to watching the director's cut of this, which to be honest it'd been so long since I'd seen the original I can't say I remembered it enough to notice the differences, but regardless it was excellent. I certainly appreciated a lot of things more with this watch. Also everyone is hot??? Damn.

    tw/cw: body horror
    blood/gore