‘Shortcut’ is a perfect drive-in thriller And Millie Bobby Brown turns sleuth in charming ‘Enola Holmes’
Need to get out? We normally focus on streaming fare, but this weekend, the drive-in theater abides. On Friday in Concord and San Jose, amid all the second-run releases and classic movies, an actual firstrun feature makes a splash. The Italian-made monster movie “Shortcut” tops our list of what to see this weekend, along with couch-ready fare such as the Netflix family find “Enola Holmes” and the black-and-white indie gem “Wheels.” Here’s our weekly rundown. “SHORTCUT” >> Italian director Alessio Liguori’s affection for modest, mid’80s creature features is evident here and that’s OK since it only enhances this well-written goose-pimpler, an eerie, not overly bloody creeper shot in the Italian woods. While it could have used more frights and a creepier monster, the chintzy budget works in its favor, making us feel like a kid who’s freaking out from watching a more “adult” thriller. The setup will be familiar to “Jeepers Creepers 2” fans: A school bus carrying teens gets stranded and a monster comes calling. But “Shortcut” is sharper and more fun than the Martinez-born Victor Salva’s 2003 sequel. That’s due to the “Stranger Things” vibe of Liguori’s film, mirroring that Netflix series’ strength by making his young characters authentic and likable. It helps that the young cast is good. While “Shortcut” won’t win awards, it does take us on a joyride back to the old-school horror style, in which the scares are teased rather than trumpeted. It is ideal drive-in fare. DETAILS >> \*\*\*; opens Friday at Concord’s West Wind Solano Drive-In and at San Jose’s West Wind Capitol Drive-In; www.westwinddi. com. “ENOLA HOLMES” >> Determined and resourceful, the 16-year-old sister of super-sleuth Sherlock enters the family business once her feminist and unconventional mother (Helena Bonham Carter, in fine form) vanishes. As played by Millie Bobby Brown (the “Stranger Things” star and “Enola” producer), Enola refuses to be confined by English 19th-century gender roles, exhibiting a modern sense and sensibility as she assists a dashing marquis (Louis Partridge) and copes with two feuding brothers, Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft (Sam Claflin). Based on Nancy Springer’s series of novels, director Harry Bradbeer’s action-packed family film is a pip from beginning to end, and features one of the strongest young female heroines since Katniss Everdeen hit the bull’s-eye. “Enola Holmes” is an energetic launching point for a promising new franchise. DETAILS >> \*\*\*; available on Netflix. “WHEELS” >> Paul Starkman’s award winner dishes out a convincing slice-of-life portrait of a young Black DJ/grocery clerk (Arnstar) from Brooklyn and his complicated relationships with his grandmother, who is in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease, and his brother (Joshua Boone), who has recently been released from prison. “Wheels” tackles tough realities about pursuing dreams while juggling difficult choices. It’s a gem packed with new talent and has an affirming yet realistic message. DETAILS >> \*\*\*; available to stream or purchase on various platforms. “THE ARTIST’S WIFE” >> San Francisco filmmaker Tom Dolby’s unpredictable character drama follows a wellheeled couple (Lena Olin and Bruce Dern) as they recalibrate their lives when the husband begins suffering from dementia-related outbursts. Henry puts Claire through the emotional wringer, triggering an existential crisis as she falls for a musician/caregiver (Avan Jogia) and revisits her career as a painter. Dolby’s feature is polished yet personal and doesn’t follow the trajectory one expects from this kind of film. DETAILS >> \*\*\*; available Friday on various platforms. “LX 2048” >> Oakland’s Delroy Lindo has been having one of his best ever acting years. And while this dystopian drama shot on a tiny budget isn’t one of his standouts, it is nonetheless intriguing. He’s cast in a secondary but pivotal role in writer-director Guy Moshe’s metaphysical clone thriller about a world in which people retreat indoors due to solar intensity. The claustrophobic environment finds a successful entrepreneur (James D’Arcy) experiencing marital dissatisfaction when his wife (Anna Brewster) catches him in a sexual relationship with an AI. Moshe detours from the obvious storyline while focusing on the theme of freedom. It’s stilted at times, but comes to life whenever Lindo comes on screen as a character with more intel than others. DETAILS >> \*\*/*; available Friday on various platforms. “THE SOCIAL DILEMMA” >> Jeff Orlowski’s damning documentary might prompt you to say adios to Mark Zuckerberg and social media sites. More successful when it’s relying on talking heads rather than dramatizations, “Dilemma” finds former tech innovators — most in Silicon Valley — revealing the ways social media companies use and abuse your data and contribute to misinforming the public. It’s one of the most horrifying films of the year. DETAILS >> \*\*\*/*; available on Netflix.