The Witch (15)
(Robert Eggers, 2015, US/UK/Can/Bra) Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie. 93 mins
Occult horror mixed with historical drama to spawn a nightmare folk tale. Self-exiled into the wilderness of 17th-century New England, this settler family’s existence becomes a desperate scrabble for survival, what with a stubbornly pious patriarch, failing crops, sinister livestock and something unholy lurking in the woods. The execution is occasionally shaky but the period detail and atmospheric imagery dredge up some ancient dread.
Anomalisa (15)
(Duke Johnson, Charlie Kaufman, 2015, US) David Thewlis, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Noonan. 90 mins
Stop-motion animation breaks new ground in this beautifully detailed, mercilessly honest study of a midlife crisis diverted by impulsive romance. Unfolding at an anonymous hotel, it’s a seriocomic story that finds the existential in the everyday.
Kung Fu Panda 3 (PG)
(Alessandro Carloni, Jennifer Yuh, 2016, US/Chi) Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman. 95 mins
Another appealing blend of action, comedy and storytelling, as Black’s panda warrior discovers his roots and marshals a Seven Samurai-style resistance.
The Divergent Series: Allegiant (12A)
(Robert Schwentke, 2016, US) Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Zoë Kravitz, Naomi Watts. 121 mins
Still considered a poor-teen’s Hunger Games, this trilogy clearly has enough admirers to justify a closing instalment. Woodley’s rebel heroine and some future-tech spectacle carry the show.
The Ones Below (15)
(David Farr, 2015, UK) Clémence Poésy, Stephen Campbell Moore, David Morrissey, Laura Birn. 86 mins
A Rosemary’s Baby for the Mumsnet generation? Paranoia takes hold of Poésy’s London mother-to-be when another expecting couple move downstairs, and relations take an increasingly un-neighbourly turn.
The Here After (15)
(Magnus von Horn, 2015, Swe/Pol/Fra) Ulrik Munther, Mats Blomgren, Sven Ahlström. 102 mins
Modern teen alienation is taken to extremes in this cold but agreeably complex Swedish drama, centred on a young offender returning to a frosty reception in his home town.
Fifty Shades Of Black (15)
(Michael Tiddes, 2016, US) Marlon Wayans, Kali Hawk, Fred Willard. 92 mins
The gags practically write (and tie) themselves in this broad, African American-slanted parody of the S&M bestseller. More erratic than erotic.
Next To Her (15)
(Asaf Korman, 2014, Isr) Liron Ben-Shlush, Liat Goren, Varda Ben Hur. 90 mins
Naturalistic drama about a young Israeli woman in sole care of her sister, who has learning difficulties. Their almost feral existence is disrupted when a man moves in.
Among The Believers (TBC)
(Mohammed Naqvi, Hemal Trivedi, 2015, US/Pak) 84 mins
Radicalisation in action in this troubling documentary, which visits Pakistan’s Red Mosque madrassas, where children are raised to devote their lives to violent jihad.
Out from Friday
High-Rise Tom Hiddleston takes an elevator ride through JG Ballard’s tower-block dystopia in Ben Wheatley’s latest film.
10 Cloverfield Lane John Goodman and Mary Elizabeth Winstead bunker down for a mysterious, JJ Abrams-produced apocalypse.
The Pearl Button Political history and visual poetry mix in another singular film by Chile’s Patricio Guzmán.
Marguerite Catherine Frot plays a terrible amateur opera singer who buys her way to success in this hit French comedy.
Rock The Kasbah Bill Murray’s jaded rock promoter discovers a teen singing sensation in Afghanistan.
Risen Just in time for Easter, the Resurrection story retold as a Roman manhunt, led by Joseph Fiennes.
The Boy Supernatural silliness, with a nanny charged with looking after a creepy dummy.
Norm Of The North A polar bear and his lemming sidekicks come to New York for second-tier animated adventures.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Superhero face-off Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice… Disney’s animal-nation animation Zootropolis…
In three weeks... One-take German thriller Victoria… A sporting hero (almost) flies again in Eddie The Eagle…
In a month... Adam Driver in SF indie Midnight Special… Jacques “A Prophet” Audiard’s Cannes-winner Dheepan
