Leonor Will Never Die Review: Sheila Francisco Will Be Your New Favorite Action Star [TIFF]

If that seems like a nonsensical way to start a premise, just wait until you watch the rest of the movie as it changes perspectives from the so-called real world and into the world of Leonor's unfinished script. The colors are just a bit more vibrant, the film is grainier, and most importantly, the sound design is more subdued. When we cut to the events unfolding in Leonor's imagination, it perfectly mimics the look of a 70s and 80s Filipino action movie, like "They Call Her Cleopatra Wong" and "Blazing Guns."

Leonor's Spirit movie characters touch all archetypes as well. You have the revenge-seeking hero named Ronwaldo (Rocky Salumbides), the damsel in distress named Isabella (Rea Molina), and the infamous gang leader Valentin (Allan Bautista). While not fleshed out beyond their features, all three balance self-awareness and self-seriousness in their performances.

However, we don't just stay inside Leonor's head. Back in the real world, her son Rudie (Bong Cabrera) tries to wake her up. The two had a falling out before the incident, and he tried to make it up to him by deciding to sell the unfinished script to a movie studio, assuming it might help him wake up. Even though the visual presentation differs significantly between Leonor's and Rudie's perspective, Cabrera delivers a wide range of effective emotions throughout his performance, and as the film progresses, the reality begins to become even more stranger than fiction.