SCREAM OF THE WOLF

Clint Walker and Peter Graves

SCREAM OF THE WOLF (1974 telefilm). Producer/Director: Dan Curtis. Screenplay by Richard Matheson. 

A series of gruesome deaths are attributed to an unknown wild animal that authorities fear can transform from a four-legged creature into something that walks upright. John Wetherby (Peter Graves) is called in to search for the beast, and tries to enlist the aid of old hunting buddy Byron Douglas (Clint Walker). John's gal pal, Sandy Miller (Jo Ann Pflug), is convinced that Byron is somehow behind the deaths, especially when he refuses to help John entrap the beast. John feels that the killings are making the whole community feel "alive." Then someone or something breaks into Sandy's home and tries to kill her ...

Old friends turned enemies? Graves and Walker

Scream of the Wolf is one of Dan Curtis' better horror telefilms as it is well-directed and has a lot of eerie atmospherics and suspense. The cast, including Philip Carey as the sheriff, is fine, with Clint Walker delivering an excellent performance as Byron. Some viewers have seen homoerotic elements in the movie, centering on a relationship between Byron and his employee, houseman Grant (Don Megowan of Creation of the Humanoids), whom he met in a bar, as well as a bit of dialogue when Byron says to John "can't you even hold me for a minute?" which actually refers to  an arm-wrestling match! Sandy accuses John of wanting to go off hunting the beast with Byron even if he were the killer! One can read all sorts of things into this scenario, but whether scripter Richard Matheson meant them to be taken that way is debatable. 

In any case, Scream of the Wolf  is worth catching on the Late Show, although viewers might wonder why no one in the movie ever ponders the possibility that the mysterious beast who can walk on two legs or four and tear a man apart might be -- a bear? (It isn't.) 

Verdict: Creepy horror teleflick with a notable Walker. ***.

T-BIRD GANG

John Brinkley and Ed Nelson

T-BIRD GANG (1959). Director: Richard Harbinger. 

Frank Simmons (John Brinkley) drives up to the warehouse where his father is a night watchman and discovers he's been murdered during a robbery. Leaning that a "T-Bird gang" -- named after the getaway car they drive -- led by Alex Hendricks (Ed Nelson of New Orleans Uncensored) is responsible, Frank takes it upon himself to join the gang to get incriminating evidence against them. Eventually Police Captain Prell (Coleman Francis) cooperates and encourages Frank's undercover work. Hendricks' other employees include Barney (Beach Dickerson); blond Raymond (Tony Miller); a boy named, well, "Boy;" and Hendrick's girlfriend, Marla (Pat George). Nola Thorp plays Frank's girlfriend, Kay. 

John Brinkley 

T-Bird Gang is a minor crime meller but it benefits from two very good performances from Nelson -- quite sinister and effective as Hendricks -- and Brinkley. Nelson appeared in numerous Roger Corman films but had a successful career afterwards, while Brinkley was a sexy and talented actor whose most famous credit was probably Corman's Bucket of Blood. He and co-star Tony Miller wrote the screenplay. This was the only film directed by Harbinger. 

Verdict: Acceptable melodrama with lots of bongo music. **1/4. 

THE GELIGNITE GANG

Wayne Morris

THE GELIGNITE GANG (aka The Dynamiters/1956. Director: Francis Searle. 

In London a gang are committing robberies by using dynamite -- or gelignite, as it is known in the UK. The head of this gang is the mysterious "Mr. G." Jimmy Baxter (Wayne Morris) is an insurance investigator who decides to go after this gang, much to the consternation of his partner, John Rutherford (Patrick Holt), who thinks this is a dangerous business best left to the police. Jimmy and John share a secretary, Sally (Sandra Dorne), whom John is smitten with, although she prefers Jimmy. She decides to help Jimmy by investigating a pawn shop that may have something to do with the gang. Then there's young Chris Chapman (James Kenney), who works in a jewelry store that is robbed, has big gambling debts, and may also be involved in the gang. A club owner named Popoulos (Eric Pohlmann), who may be a bit on the shady side, offers some assistance after his head waiter is shot trying to get info to Jimmy. 

The Gelignite Gang is a gritty and fast-paced, if distinctly minor, crime drama with some effective performances, although Wayne Morris at times seems to have wandered in from a different movie. The identity of "Mr. G" will not be much of a surprise to most viewers. 

Verdict: Unremarkable British B movie. **. 

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019). Director: Jon Watts.

"No one listens to you unless you've got a cape or lasers shooting from your fingers." -- Mysterio. 

While on a class trip to Europe, Peter Parker (Tom Holland), better-known as Spider-Man, encounters a do-gooder who calls himself Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal), and helps him and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) stop attacks by elemental creatures. However, Mysterio -- always a bad guy in the comic  books -- turns out to be behind the attacks and now Spider-Man has to stop his deadly plans while managing to stay alive and protecting his classmates. As with the last Spider-Man film, this is very much a Disney-type movie, and doesn't bear that much resemblance to the comic books, just as the multi-cultural supporting cast -- Maryjane is now Eurasian and so on -- are barely related to the originals, even in personality, which is a much bigger problem than their diversity. Long-time Spider-Man fans may find this all disconcerting although I imagine people who are new to the character won't give a damn. There are some good FX and a few exciting scenes as well as a certain degree of tedium. Holland is okay as Peter; Gyllenhaal is uneven as Mysterio; Jackson's overly gruff Nick Fury is merely tiresome. Jon Favreau shows up as "Happy" Hogan from the Iron Man films; you can miss him. Although he does look like a teenager, Holland is actually in his twenties. 

Verdict: Cutesy super-hero flick with some good moments. **1/2. 

SHORT TAKES II

Philip Winchester of In My Sleep

IN MY SLEEP (2010) presents a young massage therapist named Marcus (Philip Winchester of Law and Order: SVU) who suffers from a sexual addiction as well as from being a parasomniac, which means he can do virtually anything while sleepwalking, including having sex with his best friend's wife. When he wakes up all bloody one morning he wonders if he killed someone while asleep. The film is absorbing, suspenseful and well-acted, but it hasn't got much style, and another problem is that there's really only one major suspect. The basic plot might have worked better had it been used for a Dario Argento-type giallo film with several more murders. Written and directed by Allen Wolf. **3/4.

Kim Cattrell and Jeff Fahey

EVERY WOMAN'S DREAM is a 1996 telefilm based on the true story of David Russell Miller (herein called Mitch Parker and played by Jeff Fahey), a narcissistic sociopath, pathological liar and bigamist who keeps two women (DeLane Matthews and Kim Cattrell) on the string while he indulges in a high end lifestyle on other people's money. Mitchell uses a perpetual stream of deception to keep one step ahead of his wives and creditors. He even convinces his first wife that he is an agent for the CIA! It all leads up to a terrible tragedy. This is an absorbing and well-acted telefilm directed by Steven Schachter. ***.

Emrys Jones and Zena Marshall

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE (1953; directed by John Gilling) presents a prisoner on the run who manages to change places with a perfect lookalike, only to discover that the lookalike is responsible for worse crimes than he is. There are interesting story elements to the movie, but the film is just lackluster and fails to take advantage of any of its potentially dramatic situations. It doesn't help that the lead actor, Emrys Jones, is kind of dull no matter which character he's playing. The other actors, including Zena Marshall as the fugitive's ex-fiancee, are much better, and Joan Hickson, famous for her portrayal of Miss Marple many years later, scores as the housekeeper, Mrs. Fenton. **.

Mary Germaine and William Sylvester

HOUSE OF BLACKMAIL (1953) has a woman (Mary Germaine) picking up a hitchhiker (William Sylvester) -- a possible fugitive -- and enlisting him in a scheme in which she hopes to outwit a nasty fat man who is blackmailing her brother over some bad checks. Instead the man is murdered in his mansion, and all of the suspects are locked inside. Although made in the fifties, House of Blackmail comes off more like a 1930's movie, and may indeed be a dusted-off script, The identity of the murderer comes off like a joke. This was directed by Maurice Elvey. Despite his British accent in this, Sylvester was born in California. **.

So superior: Hugh Grant as Jeremy Thorpe

A VERY ENGLISH SCANDAL (3 part 2018 UK mini-series.) stars Hugh Grant as British politician Jeremy Thorpe, who was put on trial for allegedly planning the assassination of his former lover, Norman Scott (Ben Whishaw). This true, if heavily fictionalized and rather sordid story suffers from the fact that neither of its two lead characters are especially admirable, and it unavoidably wallows in a pre-Stonewall time period when homosexuality was seen as sinful. Attempts to add some kind of Gay Lib perspective don't really work. However, the series is absorbing for the most part, and Grant, Whishaw, and others in the large cast all give superior performances. **3/4. 

BEGINNING OF THE END

giant locust attacks 

BEGINNING OF THE END (1957). Director: Bert I. Gordon. 

Ace lady reporter Audrey Aimes (Peggie Castle) is perplexed, to say the least, when she is told by the military that the whole town of Ludlow, Illinois has been cordoned off. Later she learns that every building in town has been completely demolished and all 500 inhabitants have disappeared. She encounters entomologist Dr. Ed Wainwright (Peter Graves of Death Car on the Freeway) who uses a small amount of radioactivity in his experimentation. Investigating a grain storage facility that was wrecked from the inside out, Wainwright's deaf-mute assistant Frank (Than Wyeen) is suddenly set upon and devoured (off-screen) by a humongous locust. Now Audrey knows what happened to those 500 missing people! 

Peter Graces and Peggie Castle

Aside from fans of "Mr. Big," Beginning of the End has been roundly excoriated, but I will gladly say that the movie has always given me the creeps, along with those scary giant grasshoppers (even if the cheap process work makes them look washed out). The picture has a solid script, a fast-pace, unnerving sound effects of the critters chirp-chirrrping before an attack, and a very effective score by Albert Glasser. Graves and Castle make convincing enough leads, with the female emerging as just as courageous as the male, if not more so. The well-constructed climax has the couple attracting the monsters to their building in downtown Chicago so that they can flick a switch that will, hopefully, send them out into the river so they can drown. But will they manage to survive long enough for that to happen?

locust and truck

One can certainly quibble about some of the cheap effects, but that doesn't stop the movie from being entertaining. The "battle" scenes between soldiers and locusts are well-done and often horrifying. For inexplicable reasons the official DVD of the film cuts a shot of a giant locust nearly catching up to a truck full of soldiers upon whom it would certainly pounce, so just to catch that nifty, chilling moment I watch an inferior TV print (see pic on the left). Some well-known character actors are in the cast, including James Seay, Thomas Browne Henry [20 Million Miles to Earth], Hank Patterson, and Morris Ankrum as the general in charge of the whole operation. Gordon also directed Earth vs the Spider and many others. 

NOTE: For more info on this film and many others like it see Creature Features: Nature Turned Nasty in the Movies. 

Verdict: Low-budget insect disaster film with disgusting and voracious monsters. ***. 

UFO TARGET EARTH

Nick Plakias

UFO TARGET EARTH (1974). Director: Michael A. DeGaetano. 

Alan Grimes (Nick Plakias) is a communications researcher attached to a small-town college. One day some telephone lines are crossed and he inadvertently overhears a conversation at the nearby military base about UFOs. Grimes becomes convinced that there is some strange activity occurring out near a power plant and the adjacent lake, and enlists the help of psychic Vivian (Cynthia Cline), Dr. Mansfield (LaVerne Light), and associate Dan Rivers (Tom Arcuragi). Alan discovers that there is indeed something weird in the lake, and encounters strange aliens of pure energy who have a rather unhealthy use for him. 

That hair! Phil Erickson and Nick Plakias

The memory can play tricks on you. I actually saw this film in theaters long ago and my recollections told me to take another look at it. Too bad. Yes, it has its eerie moments, but it's not very good. The acting can best be described as earnest but uninspired. It has the look of an ambitious student film that is padded with all sorts of stuff just to get an acceptable running time. One of the most amazing things in the movie is the hairdo affected by Dr. Whitham (Phil Erickson), which reminds one of Donald Trump's! General Gallagher, whom Alan tries to interview at the military base, is played by Brooks Clift, the older brother of the famous Montgomery Clift! Most of the people who participated in this film had few if any additional  credits. 

Verdict: Atmospheric but rather dull hodge podge. *1/2. 

FREDDIE STEPS OUT

Freddie Stewart and li'l cutie

FREDDIE STEPS OUT (1946). Director: Arthur Dreifuss. 

In the second "Teen Agers" film from Monogram studios, Whitney High School student Freddie Trimball (Freddie Stewart) winds up in hot water when he is mistaken for his double, a crooner named Frankie Troy. Troy has run away from everyone because he wants some peace and quiet, but a rumor is started that Freddie is actually Frankie -- which infuriates his gal Dodie (June Presisser) when "his" wife and baby -- actually Frankie's -- show up. Things are further complicated when the principal, Professor Townley (Milton Kibbee), comes to the mistaken conclusion that the baby belongs to Dodie. 

High School kids? Frankie Darro and Noel Neill

Freddie Steps Out is a cute if minor musical comedy with at least one fairly memorable production number, "Patience and Fortitude." Also on hand are Jackie Moran as Freddie's rival, Jimmy; Frankie Darro as Jimmy's pal, Roy; Noel Neill as Roy's on-again/off-again girlfriend and Dodie's sister, Betty; Belle Mitchell as teacher Miss Hinklefink; Warren Mills as the jittery Lee; and Anne Rooney, now playing Dodie's other sister, Addie. Douglas Fowley [Lady in the Death House] plays Troy's anxious manager, Mr. Adams. There's also an un-credited but very adorable baby. Whitney is probably the only high school in history that has its own dormitory! 

Verdict: Actually has a few good chuckles. **1/2.   

NO TRACE

Hugh Sinclair

NO TRACE (1950). Director: John Gilling. 

Robert Southley (Hugh Sinclair) is a best-selling mystery writer, radio host, and former actor. Patronizing and chauvinistic, he has a secretary, Linda (Dinah Sheridan), who puts up with him probably because she's in love with him. Inspector MacDougall (John Laurie) doesn't think much of Southley's crime novels, and thinks he should learn more about police procedure. This opportunity presents itself when Southley murders a blackmailer (Michael Brennan), and MacDougall invites him to tag along on their investigation. Southley finds himself in a bit of a sticky wicket, and now Linda is beginning to have suspicions herself ...

No Trace is an entertaining and well-acted British suspense film -- Laurie is especially good in this -- and other cast members include Dora Bryan as the dead-common Maisie, who lives in the same boarding house as the victim, and Barry Morse as Sgt Harrison, who is an assistant to MacDougall and is also sweet on Linda. 13 years later Morse became famous as the policeman hunting David Janssen on the long-running TV series, The Fugitive. You would never have known that Morse was actually an Englishman who emigrated to Canada and eventually got many American roles; he amassed about 150 TV and film credits, and that's not even counting his numerous stage credits. 

Verdict: The acting, a fast-pace, and interesting situations put this over. ***. 

DEAD SILENCE

Donnie Wahlberg with dummy

DEAD SILENCE (2007). Director: James Wan. 

Jamie Ashen (Ryan Kwanten) and his wife, Lisa (Laura Regan), receive a box containing a ventriloquist's dummy. Not much later, Lisa is horribly murdered, and Jamie -- at least as far as Detective Lipston (Donnie Wahlberg) is concerned -- is the chief suspect. But Jamie thinks he might get answers if he goes back home to the town of Ravens Fair where there is a local legend about an evil and dead ventriloquist named Mary Shaw. Then more killings, similar to Lisa's death, begin to occur ... 

Ryan Kwanten

When I first saw the dummy in this movie I was afraid Dead Silence was going to be just a knock-off of Child's Play/Chucky, but fortunately that isn't the case, as this has a completely different storyline (albeit dolls do play a significant role). Dead Silence isn't perfect, but it is a slick, classy horror-thriller with first-rate cinematography (John R. Leonetti) and an exciting, sinister score (Charlie Clouser). 

Whatcha lookin' at? 

With all the actors waiting tables in Hollywood, I'm surprised the producers chose Ryan Kwanten as the lead because, in this at least, he can best be described as mediocre -- he's just not much of an actor. Donnie Wahlberg is better as the detective, even if his role of a world-weary, cynical cop is beyond a cliche these days. The best work probably comes from Michael Fairman as the local undertaker, although there is also good work from Joan Heney as his terrified sister, Bob Gunten as Jamie's father, and Amber Valletta as his step-mother, Ella. Judith Roberts certainly makes an impression as Mary Shaw. James Wan also directed the first Saw movie as well as Aquaman and the surprisingly awful The Conjuring. 

Verdict: Despite flaws, this is one of the better 21st century horror flicks. ***. 

BAIT

An interesting but atypical shot from Bait

BAIT (1954). Director: Hugo Haas. 

Marko (Hugo Haas) teams up with young Ray Brighton (John Agar) to find a lost gold mine and agrees to split everything fifty-fifty with him. But Marko is supposedly tempted by the Devil (Cedric Hardwicke!) to want all of the gold for himself, so he cooks up a scheme involving sexy and allegedly immoral waitress Peggy (Cleo Moore) in which he hopes to murder Ray without consequence. Marko makes Peggy his wife, and they all stay in the same small cabin together, while Marko watches the two younger people like a hawk, hoping they will eventually succumb to their obvious attraction to one another ... 

John Agar has gold fever

Bait is one of several films that director Haas made with his favorite leading lady, Moore, but this is not one of the better ones. The plot makes it sound like this might at least be entertaining, trashy fun, but be forewarned that it isn't. Moore and Agar both seem too old for their roles, and as for their performances, they hardly work up a sweat trying to act. Haas is much better, as usual, but not as good as he has been in other films directed by himself or others. Worse, the movie moves slowly -- very slowly -- and nothing much happens until the last few minutes, where there's just a slight bit of irony in play. Somehow Haas inveigled Sir Cedric Hardwicke to play the Devil in a prologue -- he's terrific -- and to add some observations in voice-overs throughout the movie. Bruno VeSota has a small role.

Verdict: A misfire on virtually all levels. Haas and Moore fans would be better off with the far superior Hit and Run with Vince Edwards. *1/2. 

OSS 117 -- PANIC IN BANGKOK

Kerwin Mathews 

OSS 117 -- PANIC IN BANGKOK (aka Shadow of Evil aka /Banco a Bangkok pour OSS 117/1964). Director:  Andre Hunebelle.

Operative Hubert Bonisseur (Kerwin Mathews of The Boy Who Cried Werewolf) -- a lover boy with a real line -- is assigned to replace a murdered agent who was investigating a series of plague outbreaks in Thailand. In Bangkok Hubert works with a man named Leacock (Henri Virlojeux) and gains an enthusiastic and helpful assistant in Sonsak (Akom Mokramond). After interviewing Professor Hogby (Jacques Hilling) and his pretty blond secretary, Eva (Dominique Wilms), Hubert set his sights on a charismatic character named Dr. Sinn (Robert Hossein) -- or rather Sinn's lovely sister, Lila (Pier Angeli). Hubert is unaware that Eva is Sinn's lover. Sooner or later, Hubert hopes to uncover exactly who is unleashing the deadly plague -- and why.

Robert Hossein as Dr. Sinn

Well, with one character named "Dr. Sinn" you may not be too surprised at the identity of the villain in this, but you may be surprised that OSS 117 is as (modestly) entertaining as it is. Mathews makes an effective leading man, and Hossein is equally good as his adversary, A group called the Elected People have decided to wipe out most of the world's population and start over again, or something like that. There's a nifty fight scene in a hotel, some nice photography and music, and the Bangkok settings are well chosen. However, while the movie holds the attention it utterly lacks the big scale action and excitement of the best of the Bond films, so some viewers may find this a snooze. OSS 117 was a character in French spy novels, and after the success of Dr. No, OSS 117 is Unleashed  -- also starring Kerwin Mathews -- was released. with Panic in Bangkok being the sequel. Since then there has been a whole series of foreign eurospy OSS 117 movies from the sixties until today with the part being played by John Gavin, Frederick Stafford and others. Kerwin Mathews and Pier Angeli reteamed for Octaman. (In French with subtitles.)  

Verdict: So-so spy film with Mathews making like a lower-key Bond. **1/2. 

BURKE'S LAW (1994 )

Gene Barry and Peter Barton

BURKE'S LAW (1994 CBS TV series). 

In this revival of the fun 1960's mystery series, Gene Barry is back as the wealthy Amos Burke, who drives around in a limo with a chauffeur, aide and cook named  Henry (now played by Danny Kamekona), and is now Chief of Police of Los Angeles. Widower Burke still goes to crime scenes with his detective son, Peter (Peter Barton), who never solves the crime the way his father does. Another cast member is Bever-Leigh [!] Banfield as all-in-one pathologist and crime scene investigator, Lily. At first Banfield didn't seem to have a clue as to how to play Lily, but eventually she settled in and became an asset to the series. A "guest star" on every episode was Dom DeLuise as the Burkes' friend, Vinnie, a restaurateur and jack of all trades who serves as comedy relief and is often quite amusing. 

Bever-Leigh Banfield

The tone of the revival is very similar to the original show, light-hearted in its approach but only occasionally veering into outright silliness. Barry and Barton are excellent in their roles and are quite good at exploring the loving father-son dynamics between the two men. Most of the episodes of the show were B+, but there were a few "A's" as well. "Who Killed the Host at the Roast" has a comedian electrocuted at his own comedy roast and features Milton Berle and an excellent Gavin McLeod. Amos turns down a proposal from Shirley Jones in "Who Killed the Gadget Man?" in which an infomercial specialist is murdered, and features an especially good guest-star turn from Vicki Lawrence. Robert Vaughn is great fun as an actor who plays vampires in "Who Killed the Movie Mogul?" and a handsome, womanizing lifeguard is murdered in his pool in "Who Killed the Lifeguard?" In "Who Killed Nick Hazard?" a private eye is murdered at a convention, and Anne Francis, who first appeared as Honey West on the original Burke's Law, essays the role of P.I. "Honey Best."

The revival lasted for two seasons for a total of 27 episodes, and was produced by Aaron Spelling. It is not a classic, but nevertheless it's a clever, well-acted and entertaining program that is recommended to fans of the original series. The new theme music seems pretty insipid at first, but it grows on you. The original show eventually metamorphosed into Amos Burke, Secret Agent, which lasted one interesting season. 

Verdict: No classic, perhaps, but a fun and smoothly scripted show. **3/4. 

THE HOUSE IN MARSH ROAD

Tony Wright and Patricia Dainton

THE HOUSE IN MARSH ROAD (1960). Director: Montgomery Tully. 

David Linton (Tony Wright) is a struggling novelist who lives off of his increasingly impatient wife, Jean (Patricia Dainton). Jean inherits a lovely if somewhat rundown country house -- Four Winds -- from her aunt, which means no more paying of rent, but even that doesn't satisfy David. The house is supposedly haunted by a poltergeist that the housekeeper, Mrs. O'Brien (Anita Sharp-Bolster), calls "Patrick," only because he reminds her of her late husband. As David concocts a plot to do away with Jean for her money and property so that he can be with sexy typist Valerie (Sandra Dorne), Patrick keeps interfering ...

The acting is good in Marsh Road, with Sharp-Bolster perhaps making the best impression as the peppery servant who always speaks her mind. It's an entertaining enough time-passer with a truly despicable protagonist in David. There is an interesting score by John Veale. 

Verdict: Acceptable British suspense film with supernatural overtones. **1/2. 

ORPHAN

Such a lovely child: Isabelle Fuhrman

ORPHAN (2009). Director: Jaume Collet-Serra. 

After Kate (Vera Farmiga of Godzilla, King of the Monsters) and her husband, John (Peter Sarsgaard) lose a daughter in the womb, they decide to adopt a sweet nine-year-old girl, Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), from the Ukraine. Esther seems to get along with her little deaf sister, Maxine (Aryana Engineer), although her older brother, Danny (Jimmy Bennett), is not as happy with her. Gradually Kate, a reformed alcoholic whose drinking led to Maxine's deafness, becomes convinced that there is something very wrong with Esther after some disturbing incidents, and makes up her mind to discover her true origins. Sister Abigail (CCH Pounder), who ran the orphanage where her new parents first encountered Esther, tells Kate that she may have reasons for concern. Then someone takes a hammer to the nun's head and beats her bloody and dead ... 

Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard

Orphan is a clever and suspenseful "paranoia" film that starts out like a modern version of The Bad Seed -- a better movie -- but turns out to be something perhaps even more diabolical, becoming more sinister with each sequence. Farmiga and Sarsgaard offer convincing performances and young Isabelle Fuhrman, only 12-years-old at the time, is nothing short of miraculous. Pounder is as wonderful as ever as the ill-fated sister. There are some illogical moments, and little Aryana Engineer, while adorable, isn't really an actress, but the film has a thrilling climax and its shock-cut moments are effectively handled. The revelation at the end channels a famous short story by, I believe, Ray Bradbury. The movie may have influenced a real-life couple to claim that their adoptive Ukrainian daughter was -- well, that would be telling.  

Verdict: Creepy and absorbing suspense-thriller with a nifty twist and a nun-kill. ***.