Capsule reviews for March 25

Infinite Storm

Within its deceptively simple concept, this survival saga unspools a powerful true-life story of resilience and redemption, elevated by another committed performance by Naomi Watts. Yet its formulaic execution leaves it emotionally chilly. Watts plays Pam, a New Hampshire mountaineer who becomes stranded in blizzard conditions, then encounters a man (Billy Howle) in need of rescue during her descent. Their harrowing adventure takes some unique twists that requires Pam and her reluctant counterpart to confront past trauma. Taking advantage of the alpine scenery, Polish director Malgorzata Szumowska (The Other Lamb) crafts a visually striking exploration of inner fortitude that struggles to fulfill its weightier dramatic ambitions. (Rated R, 98 minutes).

Nitram

A chilling portrayal by Caleb Landry Jones (Get Out) anchors this deeply unsettling Australian drama chronicling the true-life buildup to a 1996 mass shooting in Tasmania. Jones plays a mentally challenged man who forms a friendship with a reclusive heiress (Essie Davis) that ends in tragedy. Unable to process his grief and loneliness, his erratic behavior gradually turns more violent and malicious as his mother (Judy Davis) watches helplessly. Even for those who know the back story, director Justin Kurzel (True History of the Kelly Gang) effectively builds suspense amid the chaos. While deliberately leaving key questions unanswered, the film builds to an inevitably harrowing finale. (Not rated, 112 minutes).

Topside

Even when it strains credibility, this evocative low-budget drama is a compassionate story of resourcefulness and self-sufficiency beneath the streets of New York. It follows an ex-junkie (Celine Held) and her 5-year-old daughter (Zhalia Farmer) who are forced out of their makeshift shelter hidden deep in the subway tunnels. As the youngster experiences the real world for the first time, they face challenges beyond mere homelessness that test their natural bond. The emphasis on closeups and hand-held camerawork creates a sense of gritty intimacy, but it’s the expressive performances that lend authenticity to a harrowing and insightful look at survival on the socioeconomic margins. (Not rated, 90 minutes).