Capsule reviews for June 13

Hellion

Sharp performances provide a highlight in this otherwise muddled drama of family dysfunction, set in southeast Texas, about Jacob (Josh Wiggins), a brooding teenager still grieving the death of his mother. His alcoholic father (Aaron Paul) has problems of his own, namely trying to hold his fractured family together despite the influence of the rebellious Jacob’s behavior on his younger brother. Director Kat Candler’s expansion of her short film doesn’t have the narrative heft to sustain itself at feature length, although there are some powerful moments. Newcomer Wiggins certainly is a name to watch, even as the film bogs down in some formulaic coming-of-age strife. (Not rated, 98 minutes).

The Human Race

The central gimmick is just another excuse to let the bloodletting commence in this low-budget thriller about a diverse group of 80 strangers who are plucked out of their daily routines and forced to compete in a race to the death, with rules to ensure their participation. If that sounds provocative, it wears thin pretty quickly in the script by rookie director Paul Hough. The cast of characters could have been intriguing in more capable hands, with more socioeconomic context than is provided here. Yet while there are a few clever twists along the way, this sketchy concept can’t sustain itself to the finish line. (Not rated, 87 minutes).

Ivory Tower

More questions than answers riddle this intriguing documentary about the ballooning cost of higher education, and whether most Americans can afford to send their kids to college anymore. Director Andrew Rossi (Page One) addresses these pertinent questions through a variety of interviews and statistics that show how many schools have gotten so competitive with one another that they’ve lost sight of their educational mission. The complex material could use a sharper focus, yet the film takes an even-handed approach and serves its primary purpose effectively — to cause people to think and take action about an issue that could get worse before it gets better. (Rated PG-13, 90 minutes).

Obvious Child

This comic portrait of a woman experiencing an early mid-life crisis follows Donna (newcomer Jenny Slate), a free-spirited stand-up comedian whose Valentine’s Day trifecta includes getting dumped, fired and pregnant. Her self-deprecating sarcasm eventually gives way to an inner vulnerability as she searches for the right man. Director Gillian Robespierre expanded her own short film to feature length, and while it features some amusing gags and energetic supporting characters, Donna is more off-putting and obnoxious than she is charming and sassy. Although its overt pro-choice stance is germane to the story, as opposed to political grandstanding, the film does little to earn the sympathy it craves. (Rated R, 83 minutes).

Witching and Bitching

Both of the titular elements are featured prominently in this latest hybrid of horror and comedy from Spanish director Alex de la Iglesia (The Last Circus). It follows a trio of bank robbers whose personal problems threaten their plan for escape across the border. Further complications come during a stop at a rural tavern where they inadvertently encounter a coven of witches ready to cast a spell. Right from its subversive opening sequence, the film establishes itself as a silly but sometimes hilarious farce, and the energy level is such that it’s not worth considering how the characters on both sides lack common sense or sympathy. (Not rated, 112 minutes).