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I had a long weekend, so I decided to watch a couple of new releases and see what I liked.

DARK PLACES (2015)  was a fascinating film with Charlize Theron in the title role.  She plays Libby Day, the only survivor of a triple homicide that left her mother and two sisters dead, and her 16 year old brother on trial for their murder.   It was Libby's testimony that put Ben in jail for life, and she cashed in on the tragedy by signing her name to a ghost-written book and soliciting donations from those who wanted to help the tragically orphaned child.  But now the money has run out, and she is approached by a club of true-crime aficionados who want her to come and speak to them.  Turns out this group believes that her brother was, in fact, innocent, and that her confused childhood account was either false or coerced.  Libby is reluctant to believe it at first, and has no desire to re-live the tragedy that shaped (and blighted) her life for the last 30 years.  But gradually, she comes to realize that her memories of that night are indeed sketchy, and that the group may indeed be onto something . . .

   This was a very well done thriller, superbly acted and carefully crafted.  I enjoyed it all the way around.  4.5/5

POD (2015) When you have no budget to speak of, and your main story only involves three characters (the only people onscreen for 90% of the movie), you're taking a huge chance.  It can either be awesome or awful.  This movie was not bad at all - the tension between the characters was completely believable, and the premise was pretty fascinating.  I was totally sucked into the story and never really lost my suspension of disbelief from beginning to end.
   Ed is worried about his brother Martin, a military veteran with severe PTSD.  He's received a disturbing phone call from Martin, raving about "being onto something big" and "they're trying to kill me."  He picks up his sister Lyla, a pretty girl with substance abuse issues, and together they drive to the isolated lake cabin in Maine where Martin is staying.  He does not welcome their arrival, and it's evident that he has become deranged.  He claims that a "pod person" killed his dog, and that he has managed to wound and capture the thing, which he has imprisoned in his basement.  At first, both siblings dismiss his ravings as sheer paranoia, but as time goes on they become convinced he may be telling them the truth.  But only when they unlock the basement door will they know for sure . . .

Taut, well-acted, and terrifying, this was a totally immersive film experience from start to finish.  Every now and then, one of these microbudget films works on all levels, and this one certainly did!  5/5