Alien at the Movies

Because of found footage, James, the brother of Heather in the original The Blair Witch Project film, and his friends, Lisa, Peter, & Ashley decide to return to the Black Hills Forest, said to be cursed by the legendary Blair Witch, to film a documentary & search for his lost sibling. Led by 2 locals, Lane & Talia, and armed with high tech recording devices, walkie talkies, camera, & a drone, the group set out for a camping trip that they will all regret. Annoying shaky cam footage with glitchy edits are featured as the campers become lost & more frightened by things that go bump in the night. Is it scary? Not really. It is mostly stupid. There is classic being separated from the crowd & disappearing one by one. They seemed to have entered into the "Twilight Zone" where screams & shouting can't be heard more than 20 yards away, the sun never rises, and time apparently moves different for some. Never having seen the other 2 films, no comparisons can be made. Maybe, that's why I don't get it.

Alien gives it ½ "run like chickens with their heads cut off" star out of 4. 

Tragedies strikes two families & an innocent baby is at the center. Washing up on the shore of a desolate island lookout, a baby in a boat seems to be the answer to the prayers for a childless couple, lighthouse keeper Tom (Michael Fassbender) & his lovely wife Isabel (Alicia Vikander). The decision to raise this child as their own will ultimately have dire consequences after they discover the identity of the child's real mother (Rachel Weiss). This is a heartbreaking tearjerker about love, loss, guilt, & moral dilemmas. Vikander will put you through the wringer with her tremendous emotional performance. Weiss is terrific as the anguished mom trying to connect with her 4 year old daughter who just doesn't understand. Fassbender is the stoic husband willing to sacrifice everything to protect his dear wife. The island & its weather is another key element of the film with its beauty contrasted against the ocean waves & the sometimes harshness of the climate. The story takes a while to develop but it's worth the wait for the payoff & the outcome's uncertainty until it actually unfolds.

Alien gives it 3½ "little silver owl baby rattle" stars out of 4.