Shook

Play trailer

Shook

2024

1h 53m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Fresh out of grad-school, fledgling writer Ashish finds that life as an adult isn’t quite what he expected. Grappling with his parent’s recent divorce, Ash juggles his static career, a tight group of lifelong friends and his estranged father’s unexpected Parkinson’s diagnosis. As a promising new romance with Claire breathes new hope into Ash, he begins to realize that although life isn’t unfolding quite as he had imagined, it may still offer the love and fulfillment he wants, in an unexpected way.

Radheyan Simonpillai

Globe and Mail

Wala handles it all delicately and confidently, balancing the heaviness with comforting doses of warmth and humour – walking a fine line between a drama about hardships and regrets, and a rom-com.

Aug 9, 2025

Full Review

Karen Gordon

Original Cin

Documentary filmmaker Amar Wala mines his own life in his lovely feature debut, which offers Toronto as Toronto and a writer in search of firm footing for his own life but not much in the way of drama.

Rated: B

Aug 11, 2025

Full Review

Eric Marchen

Rogers TV

Missing the last train home and having to take the night bus, though played for laughs, yields insightful social commentary on how Scarberians feel neglected and relegated to second-class citizens in the Big Smoke.

Rated: B+

Aug 8, 2025

Full Review

Rachel Ho

Exclaim!

The humanity that Wala and co-writer Adnan Khan use to entwine every character and moment in the film forms universal connective tissues all audiences can hold onto.

Rated: 7/10

Aug 7, 2025

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Shook is a charming and often funny low-key look at mid-20s life, complete with romance, aging parents, career concerns and the anxiety of missing the last train home to the suburbs.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2025

Full Review

Wilson Kwong

Film Inquiry

Those from Scarborough will appreciate its balanced portrayal of the beloved neighbourhood, but there’s something here for everyone.

Feb 5, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

Evan C

One of the better crafted modern Canadian films in ages, & a real love letter to Scarborough, #Shook is a film grounded by fantastic chemistry between its leads, and its central family. I was personally hoping for higher highs & lower lows. But what's left is sleek & poignant.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/16/25

Full Review

Kevin R

a love letter to Scarborough and the Toronto area. Hit home as I lived and grew up here. As a Sri Lankan that had Jamaican best friend and mixed friends from all cultures and dated a Canadian white girl, I really liked how he captured the mixing pot of cultures we have here. I felt like I was watching parts of my life acted out. The cinematography was amazing and is my favourite film of the year. Comedy hit, and the chemistry between the actors were great. Well done!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

Full Review

Diane B

I thoroughly enjoyed Shook. The story portrayed a young struggling writer, who loved his friends, a new love and especially his family. I am still thinking about the beautiful scenery and the lessons it drove home. Thank you to all the talented people who made this movie happen. So moving and absolutely wonderful. Well done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Amar Wala

Director

Amy Forsyth

Actor

Nina Kiri

Actor

Saamer Usmani

Actor

Bernard White

Actor

Darrin Baker

Actor

Paper Flowers

%

%

Paper Flowers

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Paper Flowers

Boundary Waters

%

%

Boundary Waters

Watchlist

I Wish You All the Best

100%

%

I Wish You All the Best

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I Wish You All the Best

Color Book

%

%

Color Book

Watchlist

The Forge

63%

99%

The Forge

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Forge

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Fresh out of grad-school, fledgling writer Ashish finds that life as an adult isn’t quite what he expected. Grappling with his parent’s recent divorce, Ash juggles his static career, a tight group of lifelong friends and his estranged father’s unexpected Parkinson’s diagnosis. As a promising new romance with Claire breathes new hope into Ash, he begins to realize that although life isn’t unfolding quite as he had imagined, it may still offer the love and fulfillment he wants, in an unexpected way.

Director: Amar Wala
Producer: Amar Wala, Karen Harnisch
Screenwriter: Adnan Khan, Amar Wala
Production Co: Film Forge.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 53m