Shook (2025)

Wala impresses with this feature debut. While his script sometimes belabours his points and perhaps his jokes overstay their welcome, Shook remains an enjoyable watch. Wala's strength appears to be in creating and depicting relationships as Ash's romance, his family dynamic, and his circle of friends all feel remarkably honest and authentic. 

My main critique of Shook is how it sometimes overemphasizes things. A lot could go unsaid or unrepeated and have a greater impact. But the story here is strong as is the cast. Shook pays tribute to his home Scarborough by making the area a character itself in the story. Again sometimes this gets laid on pretty thick, but one can truly sense and feel the city and its presence. 

What impressed me most was the way he balanced three stories so seemingly effortlessly. There is the romcom, the family drama, and the buddy movie all packed in together in a way that feels seamless and natural. I like that he didn't attempt to solve the the threads either despite a bit of a rush to wrap things up in the final act. 

Overall, Shook is a delightful watch with only a few hiccups. The kind of film that makes you want to see what the film maker will do next. 

Shook

Starring: Saamer Usmani, Bernard White, Amy Forsyth, Pamela Mala Sinha 

Director: Amar Wala

Writers: Adnan Khan, Amar Wala