As it’s around Halloween, will begin with a few unsettling viewings. Anna Kendrick stars in her directorial debut in this stranger-than-fiction tale based on the true story of Cheryl Bradshaw and Rodney Alcala. Bradshaw was a bachelorette on the hit ’70s TV matchmaking show The Dating Game and chose handsome and funny bachelor No. 3, Rodney Alcala. But behind Alcala’s charming facade was a deadly secret. He was a psychopathic serial killer. The film switches between time frames, which is a bit annoying, and it slows the pace down, but it’s worth a viewing if you are patient.

Tense, this is very tense. It’s suspenseful viewing from the very beginning, and the first scene gives us hints as to what will occur later. A seasoned killer injects a grieving woman with a paralytic agent. She must run, fight and hide before her body shuts down. There’s not a lot going on here, but it does manage to hold one’s attention through the length of the film.

In this tense thriller, Sam Worthington stars as Ray Monroe who is driving cross-country with his wife and daughter when he stops at a highway rest area where his daughter falls and breaks her arm. After a frantic rush to the hospital and a clash with the check-in nurse, Ray is finally able to get her to a doctor. While the wife and daughter go downstairs for an MRI, Ray, exhausted, passes out in a chair in the lobby. Upon waking up, they have no record or knowledge of Ray’s family ever being checked in. Paranoia gradually takes over. This film’s premise is a fresh take on the psychological thriller genre and is worth viewing just for that reason.

There are hints of Edgar Allan Poe, with a Bonny and Clyde sub-plot in this film which is based on the Stephen King novella of the same name. The story centres on simple but proud farmer, Wilfred James, who, with the reluctant help of his teenage son, Henry, murders his wife to gain ownership of her inherited land. And it’s all downhill from there! Strange and supernatural occurrences begin to plague both James and his farm. Henry becomes increasingly unhinged and eventually leaves James to his fate. Thomas Jane is excellent as Wilfred. It’s a slow-paced film, but that doesn’t detract from the intensity. It is gory in parts, and if you are paranoid about rats, you’ll need to shut your eyes. They are everywhere! They’re small ones though, not as big as the NYC rats in the subway.

There’s a big-name cast attached to this supposedly horror thriller. The various scenarios played out have been used in other films, possibly to better effect. There are many hints as to who the “watcher” could be, but it takes a while to get to a conclusion. The strange happenings occur when a married couple move into their dream home and are threatened by ominous letters from a stalker, signed – “The Watcher.” Add to this the strange neighbours who also appear to be a menace to the occupants. It is a theme repeated whenever anyone buys this particular house. There is a lesson here focusing on those who will goes to any lengths to get what they desire only to have it all quashed.

I must say there is a mix of several genres in this rather strange supernatural Action, Crime, Sci-Fi, Thriller… I think that’s it. The drawcard for me was the appearance of Michael C. Hall, a solid performer. The story takes place in 1988, where Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart, hungry to become a detective, begins tracking a serial killer who mysteriously resurfaces every nine years. But when the killer’s crimes begin to defy all scientific explanation, Locke’s obsession with finding the truth threatens to destroy his career, his family, and possibly his sanity. It is good viewing, even if it is a bit all over the show at times.

Let’s calm things down a bit after all the mayhem. The tagline for this romantic comedy is “Sometimes you have to get lost to be found.” Mmmmm, okay. The presence of Laura Dern as Katherine saves this romantic comedy, and there’s a Hemsworth as the love interest, Liam gets a turn. During a retreat for authors in Morocco Katherine, who is a popular American writer, has plans to continue writing her latest book. Her plan however gets disrupted when she gets attracted to an American young man who has accompanied his writer girlfriend to the retreat. I think you get the drift of what will occur… disrupted being the operative word, I feel. It’s fluffy and light, if that’s where you want to head.

I’m always up for a trip to Denmark, and the added attraction with this romantic drama is Danish singer/songwriter Christopher, who penned the tunes he performs. Christopher stars as Elliott, a young fisherman with an extraordinary voice, who is discovered by a successful music manager. Suzanne pairs Elliott with her estranged daughter and music producer, Lily. On his way to becoming a star, struggles from the past threaten to derail his big breakthrough, and his relationship with Lily. It will all seem familiar to avid movie viewers, but it’s still worth a look. But I did find Lily a little under-whelming. The popularity of the song “A Beautiful Life” has propelled Christopher into the stratosphere of musical fame.

In this intimate portrayal of friendship, transition and America, Will Ferrell and his close friend of thirty years decide to go on a cross-country road trip to explore a new chapter in their relationship. Previously known as Andrew, Steele was the head writer for Saturday Night Live, where she worked for over a decade. Steele and Ferrell became friends during their time on the show. Honesty is the key to this wonderful documentary. We could all do with some honesty in our friendships.