Victor Stiff, Author at That Shelf

Victor Stiff

Senior Critic

Victor Stiff is a Toronto-based entertainment journalist and member of the Toronto Film Critics Association. He is the News Editor and Senior Critic at ThatShelf.com and host of UFO Movie Club on YouTube. Victor has contributed to the Canadian Academy, POV Magazine, Global News, The Playlist, Screen Rant, We Got This Covered, In the Seats, and Sordid Cinema. Victor received the TFCAâ€™s 2019 Emerging Critic award and served as a jury member at the 49th Festival du nouveau cinéma. Heâ€™s currently a programmer for the Rendezvous With Madness Festival.

Articles by Victor Stiff:

October 10, 2025
Orwell: 2+2=5 Review
Raoul Peck’s Orwell: 2+2=5 channels the authors prescient work to confront how propaganda erodes the truth and paves the road to political tyranny.

September 14, 2025
Motor City Review: TIFF 2025
Potsy Ponciroli’s joyfully unhinged Motor City is a blood-soaked revenge thriller delivering gritty old-school vibes.

September 13, 2025
Little Amélie or The Character of Rain Review: TIFF 2025
Little Amélie or The Character of Rain is a tender animated feature exploring grief, belonging, and the search for meaning.

September 5, 2025
Laundry Review: TIFF 2025
Zamo Mkhwanazi’s Laundry is a moving story of hope, strained family bonds, and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

August 8, 2025
Weapons Review: A Twisted and Terrifying Triumph
Weapons knows how to scare you, shock you, and make you burst out laughing. It’s one of the year’s best horror films and a must-see on the big screen.

July 25, 2025
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review: Marvel’s New Era Begins
The Fantastic Four: First Steps offers a heartfelt cosmic adventure that feels like a comic book come to life.

June 25, 2025
F1: The Movie Review: From Mach 1 to F1
F1: The Movie is a pulse-pounding summer blockbuster that roars across the finish line with speed, heart, and swagger.

June 24, 2025
Ironheart Interview: Ryan Coogler & Chinaka Hodge
That Shelf down with Ironheart showrunner Chinaka Hodge and executive producer Ryan Coogler to discuss Black joy, cultural pushback, and telling stories inside an evolving MCU landscape.

June 19, 2025
Elio Review: A Cosmic Celebration of the Alien Within Us All
Pixar’s soulful new sci-fi adventure Elio is a cosmic love letter to the socially awkward.

June 6, 2025
Predator: Killer of Killers Review: A Blood-Soaked, No-Brakes Animated Thrill Ride
Predator: Killer of Killers delivers a fast and furious animated gorefest sure to please the series’ longtime fans.

May 23, 2025
Lilo & Stitch Review: Stitch Happens
Dean Fleischer Camp’s live-action remake delivers a thunderbolt of nostalgia in a film sure to spark debate between critics and fans.

May 22, 2025
Lilo & Stitch Interview: Tia Carrere & Courtney B. Vance
That Shelf sat down with Tia Carrere & Courtney B. Vance to discuss their work in Disney’s latest live-action reimagining, Lilo & Stitch.

May 8, 2025
Friendship Review
In Friendship, Tim Robinson’s signature off-kilter persona finds a bigger stage, with an absurd cringe comedy destined for cult status.

May 2, 2025
Thunderbolts* Interview: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
That Shelf sat down with Julia Louis-Dreyfus to discuss her role in the MCU’s latest high-octane action movie, Thunderbolts*.

May 2, 2025
Thunderbolts* Review: Marvel’s C-listers Bring their A-Game
Thunderbolts* is a hard-hitting return to form for the MCU, packed with memorable characters, gritty action, and genuine emotional stakes.

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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).
1 day ago
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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 days ago
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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.
6 days ago
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3/9

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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
1 week ago
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4/9

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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
1 week ago
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5/9

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Verity follows struggling writer Lowen, who is hired to finish the latest book in bestselling author Verity Crawford’s series after an accident leaves her unable to communicate. But while staying at Verity’s home, Lowen discovers a disturbing manuscript that forces her to question everything she knows about the author, her family, and the truth behind what happened. With Anne Hathaway clearly having fun in the title role, Verity embraces the pulpy spirit of ’90s psychological thrillers while balancing darker themes with a playful sense of humour. Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett add strong performances, but it’s Hathaway’s larger-than-life presence and the film’s twists that make this a fun, unpredictable ride. 📝 Full review by Rachel West now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
1 week ago
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6/9

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Primetime takes a dark look at the rise of To Catch a Predator, following disgraced journalist Chris Hansen and the sensationalist television empire built around his “gotcha” investigations. Through the eyes of the people working behind the scenes, the film explores the blurred lines between journalism, entertainment, morality, and the pursuit of ratings. Robert Pattinson delivers a complex performance as Hansen, capturing both his commanding television persona and the contradictions beneath it. With its gritty late-2000s aesthetic and echoes of Network, Primetime becomes a sharp moral fable about the damage caused when sensationalism, ambition, and the desire for authority take priority over empathy and justice. 📝 Full review 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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Forgotten Island follows best friends Jo and Raissa as their final night together before graduation takes an unexpected turn, transporting them to the mythical island of Nakali. There, they face memory-stealing creatures, magical obstacles, and the possibility that returning home could mean losing the memories of their friendship. Fast, chaotic, and packed with Filipino mythology and pop culture influences, the film embraces its sensory overload rather than slowing down. Its kinetic animation, vibrant visual style, and spirited voice cast make for an exhilarating adventure, while at its heart is a moving story about friendship, growing up, and holding on to the memories that shape us. 📝 Full review by Pat Mullen 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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TRAILER PREMIERE! Catch the trailer for Toronto filmmaker @ajuniorgabriel s debut doc, #TheSickling. Badejo chronicles his personal and emotional journey with sickle cell disease–one of the world’s most misunderstood genetic diseases. Through intimate family moments, conversations with medical experts and fellow sickle cell warriors, and raw footage of Gabriel himself, the film reveals the massive invisible weight of chronic illness, the prevalence of systemic medical racism, and the personal cost of survival itself. The film opens in Toronto on October 3 @hotdocs_ and in Montreal on October 5 at @cinemadumusee, then airs on CBC later that month. Check out this exclusive look at the trailer now.
2 weeks ago
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9/9