Capsule reviews for Dec. 18

Bad Impulse

An impulsive viewing of this ridiculous psychological thriller would indeed be unfortunate. It follows a struggling suburban father (Grant Bowler) who signs up when a mysterious salesman (Paul Sorvino) pitches a supposed state-of-the-art home security system that involves everyone in his family wearing electronic ankle bracelets. Oblivious to the red flags, they all begin experiencing hallucinations and erratic behavior that gradually turn more psychotic and violent. Straining to be gritty and provocative, the film takes characters completely lacking in common sense, adds some outrageous contrivances and arbitrary twists, and winds up with a climax that’s borderline laughable. Any suspense is lost along the way. (Not rated, 99 minutes).

Fatale

Neither provocative nor suspenseful, this lurid thriller from director Deon Taylor (The Intruder) isn’t destined to rank alongside classic cinematic femmes fatale. Derrick (Michael Ealy) is a successful sports agent in a turbulent marriage whose downward spiral begins after a one-night stand with a police detective (Hilary Swank). As secrets are later revealed, Derrick becomes caught in a web of murder and deceit that decimates his business and his personal life, as he tries desperately to put clues together. Despite some visual flair, the overheated film never gets much narrative traction from its red herrings or melodramatic twists. By the final act, it’s just ridiculous. (Rated R, 102 minutes).

Hunter Hunter

Effectively preying upon the fear of the unknown, this character-driven thriller offers some clever twists to maintain its white-knuckle suspense. Anne (Camille Sullivan) lives a rustic lifestyle in a remote cabin with her fur-trapper husband, Joe (Devon Sawa) and their 12-year-old daughter. With a ravenous wolf lurking in the woods, Joe sets out to track and kill it. But when he doesn’t return on time, the resourceful Anne discovers another possible reason for his disappearance. The screenplay by director Shawn Linden smartly incorporates the creepy setting as an additional character. Even when it succumbs to genre conventions, the film never leaves viewers stranded in the cold. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

Max Cloud

Although it’s clever on the surface, the concept for this retro gamer comedy from director Martin Owen (Killers Anonymous) runs out of lives pretty quickly. In Brooklyn circa 1990, Sarah (Isabelle Allen) is a teenager determined to solve the titular videogame when suddenly she’s zapped inside of it. Imprisoned on a faraway planet, Sarah teams up with hero Max Cloud (Scott Adkins) and her friend back home (Franz Drameh) to fight for her own escape and the future of the universe. The film functions as sort of a geek wish-fulfillment fantasy, providing some scattered laughs and nostalgic charm before settling into a labored action saga. (Not rated, 89 minutes).

Sister of the Groom

Alicia Silverstone brings her offbeat charm to this distinctly mediocre romantic comedy about wedding mayhem and midlife crises. She plays Audrey, whose 40th birthday happens to coincide with the nuptials for her younger brother, Liam (Jake Hoffman). While attending the Hamptons festivities with her husband (Tom Everett Scott), Audrey embarrasses herself in front of Liam’s fiancée (Mathilde Ollivier) and her eccentric French family, while circumstances force her to confront past secrets and an uncertain future. Some big laughs ensue, although the screenplay by director Amy Miller Gross stumbles in the second half, when it lacks the dexterity to combine broad gags with cathartic epiphanies. (Rated R, 92 minutes).