Capsule reviews for April 25

The Legend of Ochi

Promoting cooperation rather than conflict between species, this visually striking fantasy adventure inspires a sense of wide-eyed wonder to accompany its offbeat charms. Yuri (Helena Zengel) is an outsider in a rural Carpathian village, raised by a domineering hunter (Willem Dafoe) of rare monkey-like critters called ochi. But instead of fearing them, she forms a bond after finding one wounded in a trap. How long can she keep the secret hidden? Although it turns sentimental in the final act — with creatures too cute and cuddly — the throwback coming-of-age screenplay by rookie director Isaiah Saxon balances playful whimsy with a quietly powerful story of acceptance and empowerment. (Rated PG, 96 minutes).

Magic Farm

Despite some visual flourishes and moments of droll amusement, this quirky satire doesn’t produce much magic — or narrative coherence. It chronicles a smug American documentary crew heading to a small village in Argentina to profile a reclusive singer. But when they can’t locate him, their misadventures include contending with a health crisis and recruiting some of the eccentric locals to play make-believe so they can salvage some of their content and pass it off to unsuspecting viewers. The slight screenplay by director Amalia Ulman (El Planeta) generates some fish-out-of-water laughs but mostly squanders a talented cast including Chloe Sevigny, Alex Wolff, and Simon Rex. (Not rated, 93 minutes).

Neighborhood Watch

Two strong performances can’t rescue this contrived thriller from director Duncan Skiles (The Clovehitch Killer) that becomes too detached from reality to maintain consistent suspense. Suffering from schizophrenic symptoms, Simon (Jack Quaid) witnesses a possible kidnapping but can’t get the authorities to believe him because of his condition. So he recruits an irascible neighbor (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a disgraced former security guard, for his vigilante quest to find the victim and track down the perpetrator. Simon’s mental illness feels like a plot device, although the film is best when leveraging the quirky chemistry of its two main characters. But the central mystery lacks intrigue. (Rated R, 92 minutes).

The Trouble with Jessica

It’s really the other smug and self-absorbed characters who are most troubling in this labored middle-class satire that only occasionally sparks to life. It’s set primarily at a posh London dinner party hosted by Tom (Alan Tudyk) and Sarah (Shirley Henderson), during which an uninvited guest and acclaimed author meets her demise in the garden. Together with a second couple (Rufus Sewell and Olivia Williams), their farcical efforts to conceal the truth and hide the evidence become a comedy of errors. There are some scattered big laughs, although the talky script — which might work better on stage — can’t separate its edgiest jokes from their intended targets. (Not rated, 89 minutes).

Until Dawn

As cinematic video game adaptations go, at least this one makes an effort beyond the usual parade of jump scares and gory slasher tropes, but its attempts to be edgy and subversive fall flat due to thin characters and a gimmicky script. Inevitably forgoing the player-steered narrative that defines the source material, the film follows five friends searching for a missing friend in the wilderness when they become trapped in a time loop, terrorized by a masked killer whose rampage will end only if they’re able to survive the night. Despite some clever riffs on the game, it’s still more fun to play than to watch. (Rated R, 103 minutes).

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall

Regardless of the season, this predictable romantic comedy substitutes Hallmark fantasy for any realistic emotional grounding. It charts the relationship of Remi (Jenna Ortega), a straitlaced teenager bound for Harvard, and Barnes (Percy Hynes White), a free-spirited outcast who keeps meeting her at different intervals throughout the year. As Remi comes out of her shell, is Barnes causing her to sacrifice the future she thought she wanted? The two leads manage an agreeable chemistry, although despite some scattered laughs, the gimmicky screenplay doesn’t add much compelling or charming dimension to their characters. They might be perfect for one another, but not for moviegoers. (Rated R, 97 minutes).