Tribeca Review: The Last Day (2026)

Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, The Last Day unfolds over a single summer day in New York, where the lives of two mothers briefly entwine. Julia, a writer and mother, is unsettled by creative stagnation, unprocessed grief, and the approach of her daughter’s adolescence. An unexpected encounter with Taylor—a labor and delivery nurse in the midst of a postpartum crisis—pushes Julia to reconsider the life she has built, and whether she can rediscover herself within it.

The Last Day is directed by Rachel Rose which is her directorial debut.

The Last Day was the final film I watched for this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and it’s a solid film to end on. There are definitely some frustrating moments that the film opts to not really elaborate on, however between the performances, the atmosphere and the many swings the film makes adds up to a quite interesting experience.

The performances are what really make the film, Alicia Vikander gives a strong performance that luckily she’s able to fully go all out with. It’s refreshing to see Vikander tackle a script that actually allows her to use her acting talent because there are some incredibly striking moments here that really remind you of just how excellent she really is. The scene with Wagner Moura (his only scene) during the film’s first act is a standout, Vikander and Moura bouncing off of each other dialogue wise is truly fascinating to watch and leaves the viewer thinking of this scene in particular.

What Victoria Pedretti does here is outstanding, even if the film largely does not focus on Taylor’s (played by Victoria Pedretti) story, the scenes that we do get are quite fantastic and show just how fantastic Pedretti is as an actress. She captures the dark side of motherhood, there’s many scenes of Taylor just breaking down. Trying medication after medication, Taylor clearly loving her kids but can’t make it through the day it’s all there that really makes the viewer feel for Taylor as a character. Pedretti’s facial acting and body language is also quite fantastic here, you can see the struggle on her face and her eyes it’s hard to watch at times yet it really adds to the film.

I do think the compare and contrast element of Julia (played by Alicia Vikander) and Taylor’s stories is interesting although I do wish we got to see a lot more of Taylor’s. While Vikander does a great job as Julia and the story being told is solid, it does not have the connection that Taylor’s story has, there are interesting ideas in Julia’s story that are presented but the film does not quite land them when it comes to execution. With that being said there are still powerful moments here that go the long way, the film’s style adds a few weights into the mix that help the film stand out.

Overall The Last Day is an interesting one, not every single part of it works. But for the most part it’s a pretty solid film with some excellent performances that make the film worth experiencing.

The Last Day currently has no release date.

7/10 B

Tribeca Review: Iconoclast (2026)

Follows a reclusive young man whose dangerous obsession with a live-streaming influencer increasingly erodes his grip on reality.

Iconoclast is directed by Gabriel Basso which is his directorial debut.

Iconoclast is the film I knew the least amount about going into the Tribeca Film Festival and I’m glad that was the case. This is a film that slowly but surely sets the viewer into its world and creates this surprisingly disturbing look at how damaging parasocial relationships can be, plus with a twist ending that ties everything together incredibly well.

The performances all across the board are fantastic, Gabriel Besso does such a fantastic job of giving this on the edge of being disturbed type of performance. As the film goes on we see Connor slowly but surely lose himself, just when you think he might be able to be pulled into reality he goes right back into the insanity. Besso does such a fascinating job of showcasing this whether it be through is direction of the film or his performance.

Courtney Eaton is fantastic here as well, she delivers such a tense yet relaxed performance that shows you two sides of her character Nika. Throughout the film when Connor is listening and watching Nika’s streams we only ever hear her voice, however we do get to see Nika when Connor sees her everywhere he goes. It’s a very effective way of showing the viewer two different angles of this story that once you get the full picture in the end is quite disturbing.

Finally there’s Rain Spencer who continues to impress as an actress, while Spencer’s role might seem a little undercooked during the film’s first half. She quickly starts to find a place in the film and ends up being quite effective, her character Morgan is in the dark about the whole situation with Connor and these moments of trying to unknowingly try to bring someone back to normalcy are effective. The dialogue shared between the two is fantastic, Rain Spencer seriously brings her talent front and center here.

As mentioned before, the film takes a look at how damaging parasocial relationships can be. It also does take a look at online radicalization, the film delivers some quite disturbing and raw moments that sharpen the film’s narrative in this careful way that avoids making it come off as disturbing for the sake of being disturbing. Besso’s direction definitely helps here, the slow burn element that Besso includes here works wonders for the film. It helps create this atmosphere that the viewer slowly but surely gets put into, all of this adds up to the film’s ending which does leave quite an impact on the viewer.

Overall Iconoclast is a very well acted, directed and atmospheric ride from beginning to end. The film’s pacing can definitely feel a bit too slow at times, however that is not enough to stop the film from being quite effective.

Iconoclast currently has no release date.

8/10 B+

Tribeca Review: In Memoriam (2026)

A terminally ill actor becomes obsessed with being featured in the Oscars’ “In Memoriam” segment, exploring ego, humility, and legacy.

In Memoriam is directed by Rob Burnett director of We Made This Movie (2012) and The Fundamentals Of Caregiving (2016).

In Memoriam perhaps has one of the most unique premises I’ve heard of so far this year. The whole idea here is an aging actor is faced with terminal cancer but then wants to make it on the In Memoriam section of the Oscars ceremony, it’s a very eye catching idea that works quite well. While there are a few hiccups along the road, the film does a great job of executing its ideas and helps build its characters around it.

Marc Maron gives one of the best performances of his career, he’s able to balance the film’s dramatic and comedic moments expertly which leads to some genuinely hilarious and impactful dialogue exchanges. He plays off the supporting cast incredibly well, his most hilarious moments come in when he’s on screen with Michael McKean and his best dramatic moments come in when he’s on screen with Talia Ryder.

Speaking of which, Talia Ryder continues to show that she is incredibly underrated. The little moments of Maura (played by Talia Ryder) wanting her father Langston (played by Marc Maron) to teach her about acting have this raw atmosphere to them that you really can’t help but love. The father and daughter bond the two display throughout the film is the heart of it all, it leads to an admittedly predictable yet beautiful ending that will absolutely make you shed a tear or two.

The rest of the cast is great, as mentioned earlier Michael McKean is quite hilarious. Megalyn Echikunwoke makes for a fun addition during the film’s second half and Lily Gladstone although not having a large presence in the film, still goes all out with her performance. The dialogue exchanges between her and Maron are some of the film’s highlights.

As far as writing goes In Memoriam is quite strong, it goes for this dramady type of feel that really works. It’s definitely understandable if some moments could feel like a whiplash for some viewers, but luckily the film does a great job of mostly preventing that by having plenty of down to earth serious moments yet strangely funny. The theme of the time someone has left when faced with a situation like cancer is truly well done and has this sense of care that’s put into it.

The film is admittedly very predictable especially during the second half as it does have a ton of genre cliches. However I don’t think that ruins the movie, the performances, the beautiful moments and the premise itself keep this one afloat. It’s the type of film that you root for due to it just being so charming and in the end the film reaches that finish line.

Overall In Memoriam is a very charming and caring film that has some great performances and is quite hilarious. At times it can feel familiar but one thing is for sure that the film will leave you with a great impression.

In Memoriam currently has no release date.

8/10 B+

Tribeca Review: Clean Hands (2026)

The inspirational true story of hero drug cop turned recovery advocate Kevin Simmers and his daughter Brooke. The film examines the American drug crisis from the opposing eyes of cop and addict who were also father and daughter.

Clean Hands is directed by Jake Allyn who previously directed Ride (2024).

Clean Hands is based on the true story of Kevin Simmers and his daughter Brooke the latter of which struggled with opioid addiction. The two navigate the American drug crisis on opposite sides of the law. While the film does strike in a lot of familiar categories, there is this beautiful level of rawness when it comes to the film’s performances that are quite easily the best part of the film.

Zach Braff and Esther McGregor work wonders with the film’s father and daughter dynamic, there are plenty of moments here where the film really focuses on the facial expressions of the characters. That’s especially the case with Brooke, we see the pain and tears in her eyes that is truly gut wrenching to watch at times. McGregor does such a fantastic job of really bringing these moments right to the viewer and you constantly are reminded of what she’s going through as the film goes on.

Zach Braff gives a very strong dramatic performance here, Kevin Simmers’s devotion to his daughter’s wellbeing is commendable and leads into some very powerful moments between the two. Braff is definitely more recognized for his comedic work, but Clean Hands shows he is incredibly capable of dramatic work.

Clean Hands does unfortunately suffer from incredibly slow pacing and familiar story elements (even if the film is based on a true story.) The film also confuses itself by jumping ahead without bringing this connecting piece, however these issues are largely in the first act. Which I guess does work in the film’s favor since the rest of the film does pick up once it enters the second act. With that being said, you would not be blamed if you felt completely taken out of the film by the second act.

Overall Clean Hands is not a bad movie, it’s an admittedly powerful story with some excellent performances that are bound to make you shed a tear or two. If you can get through the first act and the meds that comes with it, you will probably end up liking the film.

Clean Hands currently has no distribution

6/10 C+

Tribeca Review: Rain Reign (2026)

The story follows Rose, a neurodivergent 12-year-old obsessed with rules and homonyms, who embarks on an emotional search for her missing dog during a superstorm.

Rain Reign is directed by Erika Burke Rose which is her directorial debut.

Rain Reign is a very straightforward coming of age story that works mainly due to its cast, the care that Erika Burke Rose put into the story and its quite authentic portrayal of neurodivergence.

The performances are quite beautifully done across the board. Felice Kakaletris (a neurodivergent actress) plays Rose a 12 year old neurodivergent girl who we follow throughout the film. We get to see her personality and some traits that tie into the film’s story, one of the main ones being homonyms something that Rose loves (hence the title of the film.) Kakaletris does such a beautiful job here, not only does the performance feel authentic but Kakaletris fills with this anxiousness of feeling out of control. The beautiful delivery lets the viewer see behind Rose’s shields whether that be heartache or frustration, she has a bunch of quiet moments that truly are effective. It’s a well done performance that the viewer quickly grows attached to and never lets go.

Jeremy Sisto and Paul Rudd are also both fantastic here. Sisto plays Wesley, Rose’s father who is going through rough trauma making caring for his daughter a lot harder. Sisto brings a lot of depth to a performance that could have easily went down the “one dimensional” route. Rudd plays Uncle Weldon the direct opposite of Wesley, he has a much better gentleness and connection. Combined together, Sisto and Rudd both do wonderful here and are at best when they share the screen with one another.

As someone who is neurodivergent how the film portrays neurodivergence is very well done. We get to see how Rose sees the world, how she communicates with the people around her and her general understanding of certain situations. One early scene of Rose having to be excused from the classroom and taking deep breaths is truly touching. Later in the film a classmate of her’s is sharing their experience with the storm that just occurred, the classmate was on the verge of crying so Rose asks “do you need to step outside” and goes with the classmate. This is by far my favorite scene of the film simply because we see Rose look at the people around her and wants to bring this light into the world.

There’s also the beautiful third act involving Rose’s dog Rain, not only does it have some solid character moments for all the characters. It’s a sweet ending that ties up all the film’s plot lines in a nice little bow, sure the way these plots are tied up are not anything new and certainly won’t surprise the viewer. But there is this level of charm that you can’t help but appreciate.

Rain Reign is not anything new, but as I said before it’s the film’s performances and authenticity that really sells it and pushes it to the finish line.

Rain Reign currently has no distribution

7/10 B

Tribeca Review: Tow (2025)

The true story of Amanda Ogle (Byrne), a homeless Seattle woman who fought her way out of tow-company hell to reclaim her life and car after receiving a tow bill for $21,634.

Tow is directed by Stephanie Laing director of Irreplaceable You (2018) and Family Squares (2022).

This was the first film I saw at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and it was by far the best. While there are some writing bits that are a miss, Tow tells the true story of Amanda Ogle a homeless Seattle woman and tells it quite well. I knew absolutely nothing about the true story and after watching the film I’m quite glad it was told.

The performances are really the main sell here, Rose Byrne as Amanda Ogle is a very well done performance that has the balance of comedy and the much more serious moments. It helps quite a lot that Rose Byrne is already an incredibly talented actress as well as a very humorous one, so she fits like a glove here, she captures Amanda Ogle’s actions of never giving up and not letting societal systems take her down. That’s where a lot of the inspiring feel of the film comes from and remains that way throughout the film, Byrne’s interactions with the rest of the cast quite great as well.

Dominic Sessa is also quite fantastic here, he’s much more comedic but that does not stop him from giving a genuinely great performance. His banter with Rose Byrne is genuinely entertaining, even when the dialogue is a bit bumpy at times he manages to make it into a hilarious moment. Octavia Spencer is being the powerhouse actress she is also gives a solid performance and much like Sessa has some great moments with Byrne. Demi Lovato is a bit on the miscast side of things but she’s not bad.

The film is very much an underdog story and it’s a quite beautifully told one, the theme of not letting societal systems take you down when you are fighting is quite inspiring and it’s very well told here. The writing mixes this theme with some comedy as well, some of the comedy is a bit of a miss at times with some moments feeling a bit forced. However for the most part the humor works and is able to balance itself with the dramatic moments, plus I do think the talented cast are able to take some moments that would otherwise not be so great and turn them into something solid.

It helps the film that Amanda Ogle is incredibly fleshed out as a character which makes her story all the more impactful and devastating to the viewer, there are some feel good cliches here but there are not enough to completely take away from this film. There are several moments where you are rooting for Amanda and want to see her get justice, people may scoff at $273 towing fee but to Amanda her car is her home which she fights for and never gives up.

Overall Tow is a really solid film that’s quite inspiring, between great performances, strong direction and a mostly solid balance of comedy and drama there’s a lot to really appreciate about the film. This is definitely one to look out for when it releases.

Tow currently has no release date.

8/10 B+

Tribeca Film Review: In Cold Light (2025)

Ava attempts to go straight after prison, but her twin is murdered and being a witness to the shooting, she is forced to run for her life.

Tribeca Review

In Cold Light is directed by Maxime Giroux director of Tomorrow (2008), Jo for Jonathan (2010), Felix and Meira (2014), The Great Darkened Days (2018), Norbourg (2022) and Plan B (2023).

I wish there was a lot to comment on and discuss here but unfortunately that isn’t the case with In Cold Light. It’s by no means a bad movie as the positives do help the movie stand on its legs, but a lot of the films elements just didn’t quite mesh well together in the end which ultimately stops it from being better than it could have.

The performances are the main reason to give this one a shot, Maika Monroe gives such a raw performance that quickly grabs your attention. I know that Monroe is often praised for horror performances and has become a scream queen, but in this film she shows that she can tackle dramatic roles just as well, the atmosphere compliments this well as often times the film feels like Ava’s (played by Maika Monroe) nightmare. It’s genuinely eerie at times and Monroe’s acting really displays this front and center, there’s some powerful moments that Monroe is able to nail down just because of how great of an actress she really is.

Troy Kotsur is also quite excellent, a drastic genre switch from his last performance which was CODA (2021) he delivers once again, much like Monroe he gives a raw performance. The father and daughter bond is quite grounded and very touching, there’s one particular moment here that makes clever use with the camera and the background. That scene alone really builds Kotsur’s character Will in this clever and quiet way. It’s a shame Kotsur takes a backseat towards the end of the film, because whenever Kotsur and Monroe are on screen together those end up being some of the films best moments.

The cinematography from Sarah Mishara is stylized and works pretty well especially with the nightmarish atmosphere the film is going for, although the nightmarish feel does not last throughout the whole movie. It’s just enough to give the film a somewhat unique feel, the score from Philippe Brault is electrifying and gets the viewer invested. It’s a bit of a surprise at first since it can feel a bit out of place, however once you figure out the type of atmosphere the film is going for it starts to make more sense.

What stops In Cold Light from being great comes down to is mainly the whole drug empire sections. While not bad, as I said before the movie really does not do anything differently than other films with the same sort of plot. The family aspect is what holds the film together mostly which is why it’s a bit of a shame that it’s put in the backseat towards the end. Although I will say the final five minutes are actually quite powerful and does leave an impression on you.

Overall In Cold Light mainly works do to the performances from Monroe and Kotsur, there’s some nice thrills to have here and the film itself is quite well made. There’s just a lot missing when it comes to the script and the film’s focus.

In Cold Light currently has no release date.

6/10 C+

Tribeca Film Review: How To Train Your Dragon (2025)

On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

Tribeca Review

How To Train Your Dragon is directed by Dean DeBlois director of the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy and Lilo & Stitch (2002) along with Chris Sanders.

The How To Train Your Dragon films are incredible and are a prime example of a series that really focused on introducing new elements with each installment and figuring out ways to get better and better. Each one has something unique to them which truly makes them special and well remembered. To say that a live action film for the first film is an odd choice would be understatement, even though the clear reason as to why is money. Despite that however this one manages to be one of the far better live action remakes and I really have to attribute that to DeBlois being in the director’s chair because he did quite a splendid job here.

The performances work very well, Mason Thames does a great job as Hiccup. He had a lot to carry on his shoulders but he manages to really put his own energy into the character, he’s not trying to do an impression of Jay Baruchel. He’s doing his own thing while also being faithful to what makes Hiccup such a great character. The bond between him and Toothless is something the film is able to capture quite well and really does bring a smile on your face, it’s mainly thanks to Thames’s performance that really holds these memorable moments together.

Nico Parker as Astrid is quite great, much of what I said about Thames making Hiccup his own can be applied here with Parker making Astrid her own. It helps that the chemistry between the two is genuinely adorable and their acting bounces off of each other very well. Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick and much like in the original film does really well, the father-son dynamic is strong and translates well. Nick Frost as Gobbet is different yet it’s welcome, he actually does have some genuinely funny lines here that worked.

When it comes to a technical aspect the film is excellent, the cinematography is genuinely beautiful and the film is undeniably very well made. Combined with the location you do get this sense of adventure and wonder that the original film had and that’s felt throughout film. This is something that a lot of other live action remakes tend to miss so it is refreshing to see one of these films actually look beautiful as well as managing to capture the spirit of the source material, some might say “that’s the bare minimum they should all be doing that” and that is not necessarily wrong but seeing how a majority of them have completely opted to not do that I say this is kind of shocking,

With all of that being said at the end of the day this is very much a shot for shot live action remake with small differences in between. Even though it’s a faithful one and admittedly a pretty well directed one, it does not really do anything that the original film did not do. The original film is far and away a better film simply because the emotional impact is far more present in that film than it is here, while there are touching moments here that can get the viewer to connect with these characters all over again. Seeing the same film again but in live action does not quite strike up the emotional impact.

Overall How To Train Your Dragon is still a fun time, if you liked the original film you will probably get a lot out of this one. Just don’t go in expecting anything different because you will not get that here. This is a film I will probably never go back to, but I would be lying if I said I did not have a decent time with this one.

How To Train Your Dragon releases tomorrow in theaters.

7/10 B

Tribeca Film Review: Relay (2025)

A broker of lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten them breaks his own rules when a new client seeks his protection to stay alive.

Relay is directed by David Mackenzie director of The Last Great Wilderness (2002), Perfect Sense (2011), Hell Or High Water (2016), Outlaw King (2018) and many others.

Relay is has the misfortune of being one of those films where you have two incredibly solid acts and then completely fumble the ball with the third act. Despite that however I do not think this is a bad movie, that’s mainly due to the performances and the first two acts being that strong.

Riz Ahmed once again knocks it out of the park, he has very limited dialogue during the first bit of the film but slowly but surely opens up more and more. He gives such a great performance that really displays how talented he is as an actor, his body language during his silent portions are enough to really bring you towards his character Tom/Ash. His speaking portions are just as great and are effective with one of the themes the film tackles loneliness, while it could have been tackled a bit harder I do think that the film does a great job of incorporating it into the story and it helps develop Tom/Ash as a character. It helps that Ahmed is a powerhouse actor and can easily bring this feeling of loneliness to the viewer.

Lily James is also quite great in fact this is definitely one of her most striking performances, you can see the fear in her character Sarah Grant’s eyes as well as the suspense. Lily James also brings this natural performance into the mix that helps make the atmosphere all the more thrilling, she’s able to capture this feel of the classic paranoia thrillers of the 70s and 80s that the film is going for quite well. She’s a natural fit that does often lead to some quite suspenseful scenes, there really is not much in the way of character development for Sarah but Lily James’s performance alone is more than enough to make up for it and keep things interesting.

Sam Worthington and Willa Fitzgerald are also fun, not a whole lot about their characters is really explored but there really did not need to be. Worthington arguing with the relay operator humorous bits that admittedly did get some laughs out of me.

As I said earlier the film is going for this feel of the classic paranoia thrillers of the 70s and 80s, which for the first two acts the film excels at doing so. Each and every scene you can feel the thrilling atmosphere creeping on you, combined with the acting these make for some very tense scenes that quickly get under the viewer’s skin. It helps that the score of the film is quite strong as well and really matches the atmospheric feel the film is going for.

Unfortunately when the third act rolls around that’s when the film quickly falls and never gets back up, what was once a thrilling ride that moved at a nice and easy pace becomes a much more action focused and not very well explained or throughout out plot twists that completely take away from the film. The action segments feel very out of place compared to the rest of the film, the plot twists completely take away a lot of what made the first two acts so great and the writing feels like it was written by a completely different person. It’s a bizarre choice that ultimately costs the film.

Overall Relay is still a decent film thanks to the performances by Riz Ahmed and Lily James who make it worthwhile as well as the atmosphere. But it’s such a frustrating experience that really makes you wish that the third act matched the well written and thrilling nature of the first two acts.

Relay releases August 22nd in theaters

6/10 C+

Tribeca Review: The Novice (2021)

An obsessive novice rower climbs the ranks of her college’s rowing team.

Finally at number one we have The Novice, which those who participated in the festival could easily see why. Everything in The Novice just blends so well together that leads to some incredible results. First off Isabelle Fuhrman gives her best performance to date, as well as giving one of the best performances of the year. She truly delivers in her role it’s raw, impactful and really shows how talented she really is. The atmosphere is thrilling to the point where it can almost be considered a horror film, the style of the film is up close and really beings you into what’s going on in certain scenes. The music also turns this film into a horror film by having a beautifully haunting feel to it, the film heavily reminded me of Whiplash which makes sense Lauren Hadaway who directs the film did the sound for Whipslash and you can easily tell. There’s so much level of care and attention to detail as well, it’s extraordinary and leads into disturbing territory. It’s a very interesting film about self destruction and how quickly it can happen. Hands down one of the best films of the year, I really hope this releases soon!

10/10 A+