Capsule reviews for March 18

Ahed’s Knee

It feels like an artist’s attempt to air some grievances and exorcise some demons, but this emotionally charged drama from Israeli director Nadav Lapid (Synonyms) resonates more broadly as a study of creative inspiration and cultural freedom. It chronicles a middle-aged filmmaker named Y (Avshalom Pollak), who travels to a village to present one of his projects. When a government official tries to censor his remarks, it triggers a downward spiral exacerbated by his ailing mother’s terminal diagnosis. Capturing contemporary Israel in visually striking fashion, Lapid doesn’t allow the film to bog down in his personal and political rants. For open-minded moviegoers, it’s challenging yet compelling. (Not rated, 109 minutes).

Expired

A neon-infused, near-future Hong Kong is the stylish setting for this tedious and woefully derivative thriller about social outcasts seeking redemption and human connection. It centers on Jack (Ryan Kwanten), a ruthless hitman who has lost his moral compass and feels isolated until he meets a nightclub singer (Jillian Nguyen) whose life is equally adrift. Their volatile romance sparks some mutual happiness until a scientist (Hugo Weaving) forces Jack to confront his mysterious past. With its monotonous narration and overwrought noir influences, the screenplay by Australian filmmaker Ivan Sen (Mystery Road), becomes overrun by brooding and bleakness in a strained attempt to be profound. (Rated R, 102 minutes).

Master

Another product of the influential trickle-down of Get Out, this uneven examination of institutional racism marks a stylish debut for filmmaker Mariama Diallo — even as it struggles to balance conventional horror elements with more pointed social commentary. It follows the parallel stories of two women enduring a semester at a posh New England college. Gail (Regina Hall) is the school’s first Black dean of students whose path crosses with Jasmine (Zoe Renee), a precocious freshman who likewise experiences troubling hallucinations that suggest a centuries-old prejudicial curse. The strong performances and assured final twist can’t quite rescue a film that unfortunately emphasizes cheap thrills over deep thoughts. (Rated R, 98 minutes).

Panama

A potentially captivating true-life sociopolitical backdrop is discarded in favor of assembly-line thrills in this throwback action potboiler from director Mark Neveldine (Crank). Supposedly inspired by real events, it’s set in 1989 and focused on an ex-Marine (Cole Hauser) hired by a government defense contractor (Mel Gibson) to negotiate a top-secret arms deal in Panama. But the American invasion of the country in opposition to the Noriega regime complicates his mission, renders him uncertain who he can trust, and leaves him fighting for survival. The film doesn’t muster enough intrigue to be suspenseful, and its protagonist lacks the charisma to generate sympathy for his plight. (Rated R, 94 minutes).

The Torch

Blues music has always been noteworthy for being passed down from one generation to the next, which takes away from the broader insight in this documentary. But it still finds a rhythm in some of the sequences involving 83-year-old Chicago legend Buddy Guy and protégé Quinn Sullivan jamming alongside one another. The film recounts Guy’s career and the mentors that paved the way for his longevity and success, leading to his easygoing chemistry with Sullivan. While his humorous anecdotes and personal lessons carry wisdom for the rest of us, too, the film’s structure becomes repetitive, especially for non-fans. Just let the music speak for itself. (Not rated, 108 minutes).

X

Immersed in creepy and grungy period atmosphere, this moderately subversive slasher flick from director Ti West (The Sacrament) is amusing as a satire of grassroots 1970s pornography yet otherwise isn’t very suspenseful or scary. It follows a group of young filmmakers who rent a rural Texas farmhouse to shoot an adult film, only to find their elderly, Bible-thumping, gun-toting hosts don’t approve of such lurid behavior. Aside from its throwback grindhouse visual aesthetic, the film provides only hit-or-miss laughs and thrills, relying on stock characters and gratuitous gore rather than refreshing the formula. The committed cast includes Scott Mescudi, Mia Goth, and Brittany Snow. (Rated R, 106 minutes).