Movie Reviews

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Sleepy Hollow Thursday, Nov. 4, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Little Miss Marker Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the Asheville Film Society.

The Story: A pair of social misfits are set up on a blind date by their friends -- and become cautiously interested in each other. The Lowdown: A leisurely paced character-based film that works mostly because of the sympathetic observations of the characters. It can't quite overcome the film's stage origins, but it's a worthy…

The Story: An American truck driver in Iraq is buried alive and held for ransom. The Lowdown: An interesting gimmick and a vague political message aren't enough to make up for the film's shoddy plot and lack of suspense.

The Story: A documentary about a man's online relationship with a family and the truth behind them. The Lowdown: A controversial and mildly intriguing documentary that's more or less a cautionary tale about online relationships.

The Story: The theoretical climactic entry in Lionsgate's seasonal cash cow. The Lowdown: It's exactly what you would expect -- but in 3-D. Assuming, what you would expect is what you want, it's probably adequately juicy.

The Asheville Film Society is showing Metropolis on Friday, Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m. at The Carolina.

Cinebarre is showing The Thing for one-week only starting Friday, Oct. 29.

The Asheville Film Society will screen Synecdoche, New York Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther. Hanke is the artistic director of the Asheville Film Society.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present The Devil's Backbone at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at Courtyard Gallery, 109 Roberts St. in the Phil Mechanic Studios building, River Arts District. Info: 273-3332.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show I Walked With a Zombie at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen Doctor X and Mark of the Vampire Thursday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

The Story: A fellow who specializes in breaking up mismatched couples lands an almost impossible assignment that circumstances force him to take. The Lowdown: A frothy and charming romantic comedy from France that cleverly trades in Hollywood conventions -- and generally improves on them.

The Story: Woody Allen's latest follows the fates of two couples as they cope -- or not -- with relationships. The Lowdown: While it isn't absolutely prime Woody Allen, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger has moments of greatness and a pleasantly wry tone of amused irony.

The Story: Three people affected by death, near-death and out-of-body experiences are involved in circumstances that will cause their paths to cross. The Lowdown: A deliberately, but not slowly paced supernatural drama with little payoff or seeming purpose.

The Story: Once again a demon plagues a family in this more-prequel-than-sequel to Paranormal Activity. The Lowdown: More bargain-basement bogey business that will delight the easily spooked and baffle the rest of the viewers.

The Fine Arts Theatre will show On Coal River at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20, and Thursday, Oct. 21, and at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. The director will be present at both screenings. Proceeds benefit environmental programs at Marsh Fork Elementary School in W. Va.

The Hendersonville Film Society will show Under Milk Wood at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show will screen From Beyond Thursday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. in the Cinema Lounge of The Carolina Asheville. Hosted by Xpress movie critics Ken Hanke and Justin Souther.

Classic Cinema From Around the World will present Till Human Voices Wake Us at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, at Courtyard Gallery, 109 Roberts St. in the Phil Mechanic Studios building, River Arts District. Info: 273-3332.

The Story: A dystopian sci-fi that takes place in alternate history. The film follows the lives of three children at a sheltering private school -- and the purpose behind that school. The Lowdown: Intense and methodical, Never Let Me Go is a film of considerable power, but it's also such a downer that its appeal…