Capsule reviews for June 6

Anna

Solid performances are undermined by a muddled script in this low-budget psychological thriller about a detective (Mark Strong) who uses technology to infiltrate the memories of his subjects. His latest case involves a teenage girl (Taissa Farmiga) with a pattern of troubling behavior, including a possible triple homicide, although she maintains her innocence. The film takes a moderately intriguing concept and drowns it amid contrivances and clichés, along with a series of plot twists that gradually become more outrageous than suspenseful. However, the portrayals of Strong (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Farmiga (At Middleton) lend a compelling dynamic to their scenes together. (Rated R, 99 minutes).

Borgman

This bizarre low-key thriller from veteran Dutch director Alex van Warmerdam is creepy enough to establish tension without creating much of an emotional impact. The title character is a vagrant (Jan Bijvoet) who gradually infiltrates the suburban home of an upper-class family with which he might have a past connection, only with motives that are more sinister than he originally reveals. He proceeds to quietly cause havoc for everyone. Although the film has a frustrating tendency not to offer context or motive for its characters, the performances are excellent and the script contains enough clever twists and dark humor even if there’s ultimately not much payoff. (Not rated, 113 minutes).

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon

Those looking for a deep and serious-minded probe into the life of famed Hollywood talent manager Shep Gordon won’t find it in the directorial debut of actor Mike Myers, whose humorous documentary is more hagiography than anything else. Yet the film does have its charms due in large part to its subject, who is given plenty of camera time to share his humorous insider tales about the rich and famous, from actors to musicians and just about everyone in between. Myers and Gordon have been buddies for more than two decades, which could yield more insight if the filmmaker wasn’t so concerned with paying tribute instead. (Rated R, 84 minutes).

Trust Me

The second directorial effort for versatile actor Clark Gregg (Choke) is a sporadically amusing look at the cutthroat world of Hollywood agents. Gregg stars as Howard, a former child star trying to save his fledgling agency by signing the next child prodigy (Saxon Sharbino), only to face a number of hurdles, including his unscrupulous rival (Sam Rockwell) swooping in to lure his client away. Gregg’s script doesn’t provide much insight into the slimy realm of talent agents and can’t sustain its satirical wit, but rather resorts to contrivances. Despite solid performances, the cast can’t inject much sympathy into these characters or their self-indulgent plight. (Rated R, 89 minutes).

Willow Creek

It’s hardly a breakthrough of any sort, but this cheapo found-footage horror flick from director Bobcat Goldthwait offers a solid mix of laughs and frights. It follows a Bigfoot aficionado (Bryce Johnson) who drags his skeptical girlfriend (Alexie Gilmore) to a national park in California, hoping to investigate a rumored Sasquatch sighting from many years ago and film his own footage in the process. They mix with some eccentric locals before setting up camp in the woods, where strange things start happening once it gets dark. The two actors establish a realistic chemistry, and the otherwise familiar movie cranks up the tension by exploiting common fears. (Not rated, 78 minutes).