Films about death and grief are always harrowing. The Night House takes those two elements, adds in horror, and brings it all to a disturbing, though somewhat disappointing, level.

In The Night House a woman’s husband has committed suicide and she is alone in her remote house in the forest. The widow is Beth, played by Rebecca Hall, and her husband is Owen, played by Evan Jonigkeit. As she processes Owen’s death, Beth discovers disturbing secrets that may have led to Owen’s suicide. With the help of neighbors, friends, and acquaintances, Beth must try to figure out whether Owen’s dark secrets played a role or not.

Rebecca Hall delivers a realistic, bordering on brilliant, performance in this horror flick, but her role was more of a solo performance and her acting was about the only thing that made the film enthralling. The rest of the film is clever jump scares and discoveries, but they are all over the place, happening at times that don’t add up, and there are periods where the movie is just plain boring. The Night House has the more common shock value of a horror or psychological thriller, but it is just an average film from my perspective. I believe the film’s failure was in its writing.

The Night House will likely find its audience, and I did find it intriguing at times, but it just did not grab my attention like I anticipated. I give The Night House 2-1/2 stars.

I have always been a lover of musical theatrical productions. In Annette, Leos Carax directs a musical that is an auteur masterpiece. It is truly a spectacle to behold—a musical and cinematic experience like no other. It is breathtaking in its cinematography, and its beauty and plot will take viewers through a range of emotions.

Annette opened the Cannes Film Festival this year. It is about a stand-up comedian named Henry, played by Adam Driver, who falls for opera singer Anne, played by Marion Cotillard. They are in the public spotlight because of their high profile careers, and soon their daughter Annette comes along. The couple quickly realizes that there is something very unique about Annette, but her birth also drastically changes the chemistry between Henry and Anne. The dramatic changes in their lives are emphasized through song, and the director’s use of transitions between scenes.

Although Annette focuses on the many struggles between Henry and Anne, there was a still a light that shines throughout the film. The emotional impact of the film comes from the unpredictable problems that arise between the couple, shown first through the eyes of Henry and Anne, and then through Annette. Driver and Cotillard both deliver masterpiece performances in Annette, and it is a brilliant tearjerker.

Annette is truly a poetic achievement. At its core it is about soul-searching. It is an emotionally intriguing journey through the lives of a father, a mother, and their daughter, that will take your breath away. It is a journey for the ages. Four stars for Annette.

I was talking recently about Disney films with another cinema friend of mine. I had just seen Jungle Cruise and I was describing its visual grandeur, brilliant filmmaking and cinematographic environment. The film also has a plot that is inviting, but I said that for this Disney production it is the wonderful 3D effects that really makes the film invigorating.

Jungle Cruise is about travelers who are on a journey to find an ancient tree with healing powers. The guide for the trip is Frank Wolff, played by Dwayne Johnson, who has a mischievous side. The other main characters who take the big risk to join Wolff through uncharted territory are Dr. Lily Houghton, played by Emily Blunt, and her clumsy husband MacGregor, played by Jack Whitehall.

Jungle Cruise is of course based on the Disney theme park riverboat ride of the same name. For families who have taken their kid to Disneyland, the riverboat adventures of Jungle Cruise will create a connection that families will love. And Johnson and Blunt are fabulous in Jungle Cruise.

I love how Johnson plays his role. He doesn’t take situations seriously, and this causes some catastrophes, but his previous experiences help him to ultimately be successful. I also love how Blunt questions Johnson’s judgment, which is a recipe for a disaster in the beginning. But as the journey progresses there is less questioning of one another and many heartfelt moments follow. Johnson and Blunt just have wonderful chemistry that makes for a wild ride with many surprises.

Jungle Cruise was pure joy from start to finish. It was funny and the nature settings done in full and wondrous 3D is truly Disney at its best, providing many connecting moments for families and fans. Three and a half stars for Jungle Cruise.