Rachel Ho, Author at That Shelf

Rachel Ho

Featured Critic

Rachel Ho is the Film Editor for Exclaim!, a regular contributor for POV Magazine and That Shelf, and can be heard on Contra Zoom Pod. She is also a member of the Toronto Film Critics Association and received their 2021 Emerging Critic Award. In 2022, Rachel served as a jury member for the Lavazza IncluCity Festival and Festival du nouveau cinéma.

Articles by Rachel Ho:

October 20, 2021
Interview: Last of the Right Whales Director Nadine Pequeneza
That Shelf speaks with director and producer Nadine Pequeneza about her new documentary, Last of the Right Whales, and the power of films in raising awareness.

September 20, 2021
TIFF 2021: Aloners Review
The feature debut of Hong Sung-eun is a formidable meditation on the thin line between anti-social and asocial.

September 20, 2021
TIFF 2021: Together Review
Albert Shin’s latest film explores the high suicide rates in South Korea by focusing on human connections and the beauty of life.

September 18, 2021
TIFF 2021: The Humans Review
Driven by impeccable performances, Stephen Karam adapts The Humans from the stage into an uneasy, tension-filled film.

September 18, 2021
TIFF 2021: Silent Night Review
Silent Night uses gallows humour and an emotional heart to create a well-rounded British dark comedy that’s unfortunately overshadowed by our current reality.

August 19, 2021
Fantasia 2021: #Blue_Whale Review
Told through desktop and mobile screens, horror #Blue_Whale looks to uncover the cybercrime responsible for the deaths of many teenagers.

August 19, 2021
Fantasia 2021: Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes Review
There’s no getting around it, Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes is incredibly silly. So silly that many will be turned off by the first 10 minutes. But audiences should really just trust the process and ride it out. One of the most creative and inventive films at Fantasia Fest, Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes somehow […]

August 19, 2021
Fantasia 2021: The Righteous Review
The directorial debut of Canadian Mark O’Brien, The Righteous is a slow-burn, character-driven horror exploring trauma, faith, and guilt.

August 12, 2021
Nine Days Review
The movie we need right now, Nine Days reminds us to practice gratitude and appreciate the life we’ve been given.

July 24, 2021
The Last Letter from Your Lover Review
Love stories separated by decades, intertwine when a journalist discovers a series of love letters from the ’60s.

July 2, 2021
The Tomorrow War Review: ’90s Action With Modern Ideas
Chris Pratt’s latest film combines the action films of today with the energy of the ’90s. The prototypical alien invasion summer blockbuster.

June 17, 2021
”˜Fatherhood’ Review: A Sweet, Albeit Formulaic, Father-Daughter Dramedy
Fatherhood is a sweet, heartfelt, and predictable movie with some PG-rated Kevin Hart humour.

June 9, 2021
New Order Review: An Angry and Uncomfortable Look at Mexican Class Warfare
New Order is a horrifying and exceptionally angry film.

Search for:
Instagram
@thatshelf
THAT SHELF
@thatshelf
Film 🎥 TV 📺 Music 🎶 Podcasts 🎧 Contests 🏆 — News, reviews, interviews! —
View on Instagram

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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).
12 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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).
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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).
5 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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).
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
View on Instagram |
5/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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
View on Instagram |
6/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

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.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE #THESOCIALRECKONING! Inspired by true events and the whistleblower who started the social media reckoning we’re seeing play out today, this Aaron Sorkin original screenplay is a companion piece to the hit film The Social Network and a true David and Goliath story. Frances Haugen (Madison), a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz (White), a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network’s most guarded secrets. Follow the instructions below, and you'll be entered to win tickets to see the film when it hits theatres on October 9th, courtesy of @sonypictures, @thetarogroup and That Shelf! 📱 Follow That Shelf, 📱 Like this post, 📱 Tell us your favourite based-on-a-true-story movie, and, 📱 Tag the friend you'll bring with you to the movie! @TheSocialReckoning debuts exclusively in movie theatres on October 9, 2026. Giveaway closes on October 7 at 11:59 ET. Open to Canadian residents only. One entry per person. #giveaway #canadacontest #movietickets
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/9

@thatshelf

•

Follow

CONTEST: ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS TO BRAZIL FILM FEST That Shelf, and @brazilfilmfest want to send you and a friend to see the best of Brazilian cinema in Toronto! 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 pM) 🗓️ Film 4 - If I Were You 3 (Oct 10, 11:15 am) 🗓️ Film 5 - The Crime Genius (Oct 11, 11 am) Here's how to enter: 🇧🇷 Follow us and @brazilfilmfest 🇧🇷 Like this post 🇧🇷 Tell us which film you'd like to attend, and 🇧🇷 Tag a friend October 9–11, 2026 📍 TIFF Lightbox | Toronto 🎟️ Tickets & festival details: brazilfilmfest.ca Giveaway closes on October 7. Open to Canadian residents only. Winners will be contacted via DM. 🗓️ Film 1 - Malês (Oct 9, 11 am) Malês is a powerful story of resilience and courage set against the vibrant backdrop of Salvador in 1835. Torn from their homeland in Africa during their wedding ceremony, two young Muslims are enslaved in Brazil. Separated by a cruel fate, they struggle to survive and find one another again as they become caught up in the largest enslaved uprising in Brazilian history: the Malê Revolt. 🗓️ Film 2 - Zico, the Samurai of Quintino (Oct 9, 2 pm) An original portrait of the life and career of Arthur Antunes Coimbra—better known as Zico. The Samurai of Quintino explores the many dimensions of one of football's greatest legends, revealing the unique personality behind the icon. Drawing on Zico's personal archive—made public for the first time—the documentary weaves together stories from his remarkable journey with Flamengo, the Brazilian National Team, and Japan. Featuring Ronaldo Nazário, Maestro Júnior, friends, and family, the film offers an intimate look at the man behind the legend, leading to a surprising encounter with the "Spirit of Zico": an identity as fascinating as it is paradoxical, forged in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, yet shaped by values and discipline that found their perfect match in Japan. 🗓️ Film 3 - The Noise of the Night (Oct 9, 4:45 PM) Sônia is a woman who has spent her life burying the wounds of her childhood, feeling unseen and forgotten by her husband
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/9