Author | Kate MacDonald

Kate MacDonald

Kate MacDonald is a fourth-year Screenwriting student at York University who is excited to graduate and share her dreams with the world. She is passionate about writing and storytelling with a constant determination to hone her craft. She loves TV and aspires to be a showrunner. She has written short films that were produced at York University and many other scripts that she hopes to produce one day.

Articles by Kate MacDonald:

May 17, 2024
May 2024 Streaming Guide
Check out our May 2024 guide to ensure you don’t miss out on streaming releases like Atlas, Eric, Doctor Who, The Idea of You, and Jim Henson Idea Man.

April 1, 2024
April 2024 Streaming Guide
Check out our April 2024 guide to ensure you don’t miss out on streaming releases like Fallout, Anyone But You, Ripley and Sugar.

March 10, 2024
Cold Road Review: Freezingly Slow With Almost No Heat
Cold Road is a touching attempt at capturing an Indigenous woman’s difficult, thrilling journey, but it sadly fails to execute on its promising premise.

March 2, 2024
March 2024 Streaming Guide
Check out our March 2024 guide for big streaming releases like Napoleon, Damsel, and Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

February 20, 2024
Queen Tut Review: It Serves a Royally Wholesome Story
Queen Tut , starring Alexandra Billings, skillfully threads the needle between comedy and drama with a wholesome exploration of identity.

February 7, 2024
Allegiance Review: A Proudly Canadian Police Procedural
CBC’s new show, Allegiance, transcends the classic police procedural with a uniquely fresh perspective.

February 3, 2024
Weak Layers Review: A Ski Comedy That Fails To Carve Deep
Weak Layers attempts to carve deep, but only sticks a mediocre landing on its rocky slopes. A few chuckles, many cringes, and jokes that fall flat, but the film’s powerful message is what redeems our attention.

January 15, 2024
The Promised Land Exclusive Poster Premiere
Check out the new Canadian exclusive poster for the epic historical drama, The Promised Land , starring Mads Mikkelsen. It opens in Canadian theatres on February 9.

January 3, 2024
Milestone Movie Anniversaries in 2024
From Batman to Interstellar and from Ghostbusters to The Lion King, here are the notable movie anniversaries coming your way in 2024.

December 18, 2023
CONTEST: Win advance screening passes for Night Swim!
Win advance screening passes to see the supernatural thriller Night Swim. From the producers of films M3GAN, Saw, and Halloween Ends.

November 24, 2023
5 Surprising Facts About Leo, Adam Sandler’s Latest
Get exclusive insights into Adam Sandler’s newest animation, Leo, straight from the directors and Sandler himself!

November 20, 2023
Holiday Movie Guide 2023
Find out what’s coming your way with our 2023 Holiday Movie Guide, including Poor Things, Wonka, All of Us Strangers, Wish, The Color Purple, and more!

November 15, 2023
Jimmy Kimmel to Host 2024 Oscars
Following their Emmy-nominated performance last year, Jimmy Kimmel is back as host & Molly McNearney as executive producer for the Oscars on March 1.

October 17, 2023
Who’s Yer Father Trailer and Poster Premiere
Check out the new trailer and poster for the Canadian comedy Who’s Yer Father . Coming to theatres soon.

October 7, 2023
Our Flag Means Death Season 2 Review: Does it Sink or Swim?
Season 2 blows its previous season out of the water. It pays homage to its dedicated fan base as it embraces its trademark absurdity. This season provides a hilarious and developed take on these complex pirates.

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With just 34 days before reporting to federal prison, Elizabeth Holmes invites filmmakers Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim into her home for an unrestricted look at her life. What begins as an offer of complete access becomes an unsettling exploration of truth, performance, and the difficulty of knowing who someone really is. Balancing uncomfortable humour with a fascinating sense of ambiguity, the documentary refuses to offer easy answers about Holmes or her carefully constructed public image. Through intimate cinematography, intricate editing, and Fielder’s signature awkwardness, it challenges audiences to question what they’re seeing, making for an ambitious, thought-provoking film that lingers long after it ends. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
3 days ago
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Rest in peace, Tom Skerritt (1933–2026). A familiar and commanding presence on screen for more than six decades, Skerritt built a remarkable career across film and television, bringing a quiet authority and understated humanity to every role. From Captain Dallas in Alien and Viper in Top Gun to his performances in MASH*, The Turning Point, Steel Magnolias, and A River Runs Through It, he became part of some of cinema’s most enduring stories. On television, he earned an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences, a role that showcased his ability to balance strength, warmth, and humour. Whether playing a military commander, a father, or a small-town sheriff, Skerritt had a way of making his characters feel grounded and real. With a career spanning generations and more than 170 film and television credits, he leaves behind a body of work that will continue to find new audiences. Thank you for the performances and the lasting mark you left on cinema.
4 days ago
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Street Fighter brings the iconic video game franchise back to the big screen, following estranged brothers Ryu and Ken as they reunite for the World Warrior Tournament. But with M. Bison plotting to harness the fighters’ power for his own sinister purposes, the competition soon becomes a battle for the fate of the world. Packed with spectacular fight sequences, nostalgic references, and a soundtrack that takes audiences straight back to the ’90s, the film delivers a major upgrade over its predecessor. With a perfectly matched cast, genuinely funny dialogue, and faithful recreations of the game’s signature moves, it balances fan service with entertaining action that newcomers can enjoy, too. 📝 Full review by Sarah Gopaul now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
6 days ago
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Whalefall follows Jay Gardiner, a young scuba diver who finds himself trapped inside a sperm whale and facing an increasingly desperate fight for survival. But as he struggles to escape before his oxygen runs out, the experience also forces him to confront unresolved grief and his complicated relationship with his late father. Led by Austin Abrams, the film delivers an intense underwater survival thriller with impressive technical work and a convincing sense of claustrophobia. However, its exploration of grief and family trauma struggles to match the tension of its central premise, relying on familiar character arcs and heavy-handed emotional beats that leave its themes feeling muddled. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
7 days ago
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4/9

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What does it mean to see and hear yourself represented on screen? In his feature directorial debut, California Schemin’, James McAvoy tells the true story of Scottish rappers Silibil N’ Brains, who found success by pretending to be American. In this interview with That Shelf, McAvoy discusses the importance of staying true to the Scottish identity at the heart of the film, bringing the duo’s story to life, and why everyone deserves to see their own experiences reflected in cinema. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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5/9

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The Social Reckoning revisits the world of Facebook, following data scientist Frances Haugen and Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz as they investigate the company’s role in spreading harmful content and radicalizing users. Set between 2019 and 2021, the film examines the consequences of prioritizing profit over people in the social media industry. Despite tackling an urgent and relevant subject, Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up struggles to offer fresh insights into the damage caused by social media. While the story raises important questions about corporate responsibility and the power of technology, underdeveloped characters, an awkward central relationship, and uninspired direction prevent the film from reaching its full potential. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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Six seasons into Slow Horses, Gary Oldman continues to find new layers in Jackson Lamb, the sharp-tongued, dishevelled spy at the centre of the series. In conversation with That Shelf at TIFF, Oldman reflects on playing Lamb over multiple seasons, the character’s history and hidden vulnerabilities, and the parallels between Lamb and another of his iconic spies, George Smiley. He also shares how adapting Mick Herron’s novels allows him to keep discovering new details about a character who carries years of history and baggage. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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7/9

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Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother follows Latif, a devout Muslim and hitman whose life takes a turn after his wife’s death leaves him caring for their three children. With his infant refusing formula and their supply of breast milk running out, Latif must navigate a dangerous world of crime and violence while trying to provide for his family. Mahershala Ali delivers an extraordinary performance in this striking blend of crime thriller, dark comedy, and religious parable. Bassam Tariq explores faith, fatherhood, hypocrisy, and forgiveness without losing sight of the tenderness at the film’s heart. Despite some uneven pacing near the end, it’s a bold, moving, and unforgettable film that stands apart from anything else this year. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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8/9

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Eva Marie Saint, one of the last silver-screen icons, has passed away at 102. She burst onto the scene with a magnificent supporting role opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront — a role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She went on to memorable parts in North by Northwest, Raintree Country, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Summer and Smoke, Exodus, and The Rainmaker. Her more recent roles included parts in Winter's Tale, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Superman Returns. Originally from Newark, she auditioned for Elia Kazan and was accepted into the Actors Studio, becoming one of a new generation of strong, method actors. One of the last of her Hollywood generation, she leaves us with an impressive career and legacy of over 6 decades! RIP.
3 weeks ago
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9/9