Films: September 23 - 29

Before I Wake (2016) 

In My Dreams (2014) 

Truly, Madly, Sweetly (2018) 

Malta Story (1953) 

Fatal Conflict (2000)

Extraction (2020)

Seance On A Wet Afternoon (1964) 

Highly Dangerous (1950)

Time Freak (2018) ///

Before I Wake (2016) Skillfully assembled and styled tale of grief and literate horror with a young boy's dreams creating fear and wonderment for Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane. Precise visuals allied with the aching sense of loss provides for intelligent, bracing if uneven storytelling.

In My Dreams (2014) The allure of William Ross' swooning, thematic music score elevates the romantic stirrings of lonely, disappointed Katherine McPhee and Mike Vogel who only see each other in their dreams while fate prevents them meeting. Entirely predictable, the tone and performers are winning.

Truly, Madly, Sweetly (2018) Cookie-cutter romantic comedy about cookies, as typically damaged and opposite characters are forced together over property left in a will and face standard three Act difficulties in business and love. Perfectly harmless, through the paces production.

Malta Story (1953) Alec Guinness is the reluctant hero, Muriel Pavlow the local love interest and  Jack Hawkins the iron commander who needs sacrifice to repel the Axis threat during the Siege Of Malta. Solid production with good mix of location shoot and documentary footage.

Fatal Conflict (2000) Cobbled together with little sense of story or more than flimsiest attempt at character, a bizarre mix of low-budget exploitation tropes that never has the courage to either follow through on lurid promise or elevate genre with imagination. Sci-fi nonsense.

Extraction (2020) A bludgeoning, cruel experience that strips away any sense of character and story to provide an endless succession of action set-pieces as Chris Hemsworth shoots, slices and explodes everyone in his path to rescue a kidnapped boy. Cynically violent and loud.

Seance On A Wet Afternoon (1964) Low key, carefully controlled thriller with effective performances from damaged Kim Stanley and distressed Richard Attenborough who kidnap a child to prove their medium abilities. An ominous atmosphere pervades a story of loss and strained needs.

Highly Dangerous (1950) Insect expert Margaret Lockwood is sent undercover to spy on potential biological weapons in eastern Europe. An awkward mix of comedy and thrills never finds the right and never builds a fluid momentum, only reminding of better films. Good cast compensates.

Time Freak (2018) A film as desperate and manipulative as its time traveling hero Asa Butterfield, who keeps on returning to the past to control his relationship with compliant Sophie Turner An unconvincing comedy, romance and sci-fi mashup with characters and narrative marooned.