“Lovely Molly” is a direct descendant of “The Blair Witch Project.” Aside from the fact that it incorporates the same handheld, shaky-cam, faux-doc technique as that 1999 sensation, it was written and directed by Eduardo Sanchez, one of “Blair Witch”’s co-directors/creators.

But this genre of horror film is played out – or at least this slight, rarely unnerving effort makes it seem so. Sanchez follows the horror-movie template. And while he doesn’t show us ghosts, he wants us to believe in evil spirits and a kind of demonic possession without doing much to convince us. (More…)

Though billed as a Russian film noir, “Elena” skimps on the noir and more’s the pity.

Instead, it’s a disciplined, controlled and ultimately disappointing drama of family tension and murder. The crime does not go unpunished, but the punishment seems mild to the point of nonexistence. (More…)