Capsule reviews for Sept. 27

Azrael

With atmosphere overwhelming plot, this survival thriller generates some visceral chills but its narrative momentum wavers, and the result feels more gimmicky than substantial. In a post-apocalyptic world where all survivors have been rendered mute, Azrael (Samara Weaving) is forced to be both resilient and resourceful as she is chased by members of a woodland cult, after escaping their initial attempts to sacrifice her as part of a spiritual ritual. Driven by revenge, the intense cat-and-mouse odyssey funnels toward a bloody final showdown. The expressive Weaving (Ready or Not) gives Azrael more depth than her thinly sketched adversaries, whose motives are never fully defined. (Rated R, 86 minutes).

Empire Waist

In avoiding heavy-handed delivery in its heartfelt messaging, this coming-of-age charmer manages to be uplifting rather than cloying. It centers on Lenore (Mia Kaplan) a plus-sized teenager with a unique eye for fashion but lacking the confidence to show it off. Her father (Rainn Wilson) is supportive while her mother (Missi Pyle) is skeptical. With the help of a classmate (Jemima Yevu), will she learn to shed her insecurities and take her rightful place in the spotlight? There aren’t many surprises in the screenplay by rookie director Claire Ayoub, but the film’s lessons of body image and self-esteem resonate, thanks primarily to a committed cast. (Rated PG-13, 94 minutes).

Haunted Heart

Formulaic as a drama and lethargic as a thriller, this romantic noir from Spanish director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) only occasionally sparks to life. It chronicles a young waitress (Aida Folch) at a seaside restaurant on a remote Greek island, where she falls for the manager (Matt Dillon), an American looking to escape a turbulent past. As their relationship gradually deepens, secrets emerge that reveal his true motives and put her survival in jeopardy. Despite solid performances, the atmospheric film is more effective at recalling genre influences than yielding much tension or intrigue of its own. But at least the exotic backdrop is visually appealing. (Not rated, 128 minutes).

Killer Heat

It must have been the sun-drenched exotic locales that attracted a strong cast to this lackluster noir-infused thriller, because it certainly couldn’t have been the derivative screenplay, adapted from a Jo Nesbo novel. It’s set on a Greek island, where a local American expat (Shailene Woodley) recruits enigmatic private detective Nick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to investigate the mysterious death of her brother-in-law (Richard Madden) in a climbing accident. As he infiltrates the affluent family that includes a jealous twin brother, Nick confronts his own troubled past. Between the thin characters, mediocre suspense, and uninspired twists, there’s not much incentive for emotional investment in the outcome. (Rated R, 96 minutes).

She Taught Love

Deeply felt performances propel this modestly affecting romance, which infuses familiar themes with a unique aesthetic style and fresh cultural perspective. Frank (Darrell Britt-Gibson) is a fledgling actor with a quick temper who finds a calming influence in sports agent Mali (Arsema Thomas). As their relationship deepens and they each navigate career challenges, a diagnosis brings them closer together while also threatening to tear them apart. Aside from the offbeat charm and subtle sophistication, the chemistry between Frank and Mali feels genuine in a film that offsets some contrivances in Britt-Gibson’s screenplay with authenticity in its character dynamics and sincerity in its relatable emotions. (Rated R, 102 minutes).

Sleep

Emphasizing character-driven suspense over effects-laden supernatural tropes, this South Korean thriller has more than enough clever twists to keep you from nodding off. It follows a pregnant woman (Kim Gook Hee) who becomes concerned when her actor husband (Lee Sun-kyun) begins sleepwalking and exhibiting other erratic behavior. With doctors baffled and the baby’s arrival imminent, she begins indulging in conspiracy theories — is a downstairs neighbor or a ghost to blame? — before descending into a nightmarish spiral of her own. Despite indulging in some narrative silliness, the screenplay by rookie director Jason Yu sprinkles dark comedy into the frightful proceedings while still ratcheting up the unsettling tension. (Not rated, 95 minutes).