Capsule reviews for Oct. 24

Force Majeure

An idyllic ski vacation turns into a nightmare for a Swedish couple in this haunting drama after a sudden avalanche threatens their resort in the Alps, causing Tomas (Johannes Kuhnke) to make a split-second decision that angers Ebba (Lisa Loven Kongsli). Before long, the wintry setting isn’t as chilly as their marriage. Director Ruben Ostland offers an intriguing examination of gender roles, patriarchal responsibility, defense mechanisms, fear and paranoia, guilt and the power of perception. His script tends to focus on mundane details while retaining a quirky sense of humor. The result is deliberately paced but rewards patience, and the intimacy ratchets up the suspense. (Rated R, 118 minutes).

Ouija

It was only a matter of time until the popular occult board game got the big-screen treatment, and like the source material, it comes right off the assembly line. There are teenagers with no common sense, a big empty house, and an attempt to conjure the spirit of a recently deceased friend. You can pretty much fill in the rest from there. Rookie director Stiles White shows some visual flair, but his script is woefully lacking in inspiration or originality, consistently relying on teases and cheap thrills as it builds to an inevitable climax involving cliches from stories involving ghosts, haunted houses, and other supernatural staples. (Rated PG-13, 89 minutes).

Stonehearst Asylum

A top-notch cast is squandered in this rather tame adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe story set in a rural British asylum in the late 19th century, where an Oxford medical student (Jim Sturgess) takes an interest a patient (Kate Beckinsale) who appears to have been misdiagnosed by a doctor (Ben Kingsley) whose own mental state comes into question. All the creeps and weirdos lend some atmospheric fun for a while, but the film is steered into more of a formulaic psychological thriller than the sort of twisted fun that Poe’s source material would suggest. The ensemble includes Michael Caine, David Thewlis and Brendan Gleeson. (Rated PG-13, 112 minutes).

23 Blast

The inspirational nature of a remarkable true-life story is stifled by an abundance of heavy-handed sentimentality in this football saga about Travis (Mark Hapka), a star running back for his Kentucky high school who suddenly goes blind after a rare illness. With his spirit deflated and his team fledgling, Travis tries to rejoin the team as a center at the urging of his coach (Stephen Lang). It’s an earnest directorial debut from veteran character actor Dylan Baker that throws dramatic embellishments and faith-based platitudes predictably into the mix. But despite some solid performances and gritty game footage, emotionally it falls short of the end zone. (Rated PG-13, 98 minutes).

White Bird in a Blizzard

Intriguing parts don’t add up to a satisfying whole in this low-key melodramatic thriller about a 1980s suburban housewife (Eva Green) who suddenly disappears, sending her promiscuous teenage daughter (Shailene Woodley) into a downward spiral of brooding and blame as she tries to piece together the motive. An occasionally fascinating portrait of a dysfunctional family emerges, yet the subversive screenplay by director Gregg Araki (Mysterious Skin) keeps a frustrating emotional distance, especially in the final half-hour. Despite a mature and committed performance by Woodley, and a capable supporting cast, the uneven film features some evocative imagery but too often feels muddled instead of provocative. (Rated R, 91 minutes).