WATCH: Spooky, touching film ‘Come Play’ is a top streaming option.
Also worth seeing: ‘Craft: Legacy,’ ‘Wolfboy’ and rom-com ‘Holidate’
There’s a preponderance of scary new movies this weekend, naturally. And some are even good. Or, if you’re done living in fear, how about about a nifty Netflix rom- com or a sensitively told fable about a wolf boy?
Here are our picks for the week.
“COME PLAY” >> The classic monster in the closet storyline gets a literary workout in director-writer Jacob Chase’s excellent spine-tingler. Azhy Robertson — looking like a dead ringer for Danny from “The Shining” — impresses as 8-yearold Oliver, an autistic loner who communicates via voice activation on his phone. As his parents (Gillian Jacobs and John Gallagher Jr.) are heading for divorce, Danny — ostracized at school and an object of ridicule — meets a “misunderstood monster” named Larry. The lonely creature (designed well) wants to pal around with Oliver, but its hunger turns voracious and threatens Oliver and everyone around him. Chase’s film is my favorite kind of creature feature: One that’s ruled by characters, not jump scares. It’s similar to “The Babadook,” where the frights are fed by our internal anxieties and demons. DETAILS >> out of 4; in Bay Area theaters Friday.
“THE CRAFT: LEGACY” >> This feisty sequel to the 1996 feminist cult hit conjures up a wicked brew for 75% of its running time before losing steam, but still has much to offer. A new teen arrives on the scene (played well by Cailee Spaeny) and bonds with the original female quartet after she and her mom (Michelle Monaghan) move in with mom’s fiance (David Duchovny) and his
brood of teenage boys. In the spirit of Andrew Fleming’s original, “Legacy” is drawn from the tricks the girls play on clueless guys. But writerdirector Zoe Lister-Jones gives this Blumhouse Production relevance as she addresses various LGBTQ issues. Sadly, the story collapses in its final leg. DETAILS >> \*\*/*; available on various platforms.
“SPELL” >> Mark Tonderai delivers a gory, Appalachian
variation on “Misery,” in which a successful lawyer (Omari Hardwick) awakens from an accident and finds himself in a home full of deranged people. Kurt Wimmer’s screenplay delivers a compelling story until — stop us if you’ve heard this one — it fades in the final lap. But there is something bold and original here, as Hardwick confronts his Blackness and his abusive past and becomes involved with Ms. Eloise ( Loretta
Devine), who offers homespun advice and dabbles in voodoo. Devine and Hardwick have great chemistry and cast a better spell than the script sometimes. DETAILS >> \*\*/*; available Friday on various platforms.
“32 MALASANA STREET”
>> What starts as a promising Spanish mashup of “The Amityville Horror” and “Paranormal Activity” jumps the tracks about
halfway through. Director Albert Pinto’s film follows a family that moves into a flat in Madrid, only to discover there are restless spirits hanging around. Given the high quality of horror films of late, this one doesn’t stand out, except for a twist ending that needed to be better explained. DETAILS >> \*\*; available on Shudder.
“HOLIDATE” >> Fed up with horror movies and even scarier headlines? Put on your PJs and dive into this sassy romcom that’s clever, bubbly and sexy, an R-rated alternative to what’s on at the Hallmark Channel. John Whitesell’s romance finds two relationship cynics (Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey) agreeing to be each other’s plus-ones for holiday gatherings. Naturally, the sparks fly. Yes, it’s cliched but the two stars deliver strong performances as likable characters. Kristin Chenoweth steals scenes as a hit-and-run dater.
DETAILS: >> available on Netflix.
“THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF WOLFBOY” >> Anyone left with psychic scars from teen bullying will be touched by this well-made, sweet but grounded fable. Thirteenyear-old Paul (Jaeden Martell, in a gorgeous performance) leads an isolated existence with his dad (Chris Messina) in New York. Afflicted with a disease that leaves him with excessive hair all over his body, Paul is forever an outcast, until his image catches the fancy of a carnival owner (John Turturro) who has a cunning way about him. Paul later sets off on a journey to meet the mother (Chloë Sevigny) who abandoned him. Martin Krejcí’s feature is about outsiders finding connection in a world that simply doesn’t want them. It stays with you. DETAILS >> \*\*\*/*; available Friday on various platforms.
“THE SWERVE” >> A mother’s descent into madness doesn’t make for comfortable viewing, but director-writer Dean Kapsalis’ harrowing drama works because of the all-in performance from Azura Skye. She’s a powerhouse as a woman who comes undone while those around her fail to notice what is happening to her. It’s a forceful debut from Kapsalis, but, wow, it is harrowing.
DETAILS >> available on various platforms.
“WHITE NOISE” >> A profusion of political documentaries have been released leading up to this year’s exhausting presidential election. Here’s one of the best — a riveting, fly- on-the-wall observation of three high-profile, farright provocateurs. Daniel Lombroso’s feature — the first released by the Atlantic Monthly’s production company — follows antifeminist YouTube sensation Lauren Southern, white nationalist Richard Spencer and men’s rights activist and conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich as they incite others while building their respective fan bases. It’s one of the most important — and scariest — documentaries of 2020. DETAILS >> available on Hulu.