TIFF 2024 Review: It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This
It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This (2024)
Directed by Rachel Kempf and Nick Toti
Starring Rachel Kempf, Nick Toti, and Christian
As seen at the film’s Canadian premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). All images courtesy of TIFF.
Horror films, particularly found footage horror, are best experienced with Optimum Immersion if you truly want to be scared. So, was I scared during the Midnight Madness TIFF screening of It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This? Absolutely. But I also found myself laughing—not just often, but loudly.
Co-director Nick Toti took to the stage before the screening, setting the tone for the night. He had us meditate on our lives up until that moment, guiding us to breathe slowly through our noses and exhale through pursed lips—so that our neighbors could hear us. It was a calm, hypnotic journey meant to blur the lines between reality and fiction, mirroring the film’s central theme.
This introduction created a sense of camaraderie, and as the film started, it felt like we were now friends—or, at the very least, brief acquaintances. The intimacy of the husband and wife portrayed on screen felt authentic and real. This continued as we met the third character, Christian, Rachel’s best friend.
For all who love horror films, this one is a must-see. However, as Toti explained in the post-film discussion, It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This will never be available on the internet. Instead, it will be shown exclusively at horror film festivals. While I hope it eventually finds distribution for a wider theatrical release, the exclusivity only adds to the film’s mystique.
As the credits rolled, the smile on my face was wide when Toti instructed, “Grab the hand of the person next to you; we are going to do a séance.” What happened next was truly magical—but to know exactly what, you’ll have to attend a screening yourself.
Highly recommended.
