Film reviews: Dark Skies | The Host | The Odd Life Of Timothy Green | All Things To All Men | Papadopoulos & Sons

Dark Skies (15)

***

Twilight Zone meets Poltergeist in this suburban chiller about a financially overstretched couple (Keri Russell and Josh Hamilton) plagued by unexplained events, ranging from a midnight raid on their fridge to berserk birds, while their son is having nightmares about a “sandman”. It settles into extraterrestrial hokum, but still generates reasonably unsettling moments.

On general release

The Host (12A)

**

Stephenie Meyer follows up Twilight’s vampires and werewolves with another drippy story of complicated teen love, this time against a backdrop of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) has been forced to share her body and brain with a caterpillar called The Wanderer. Max Irons loves Melanie, but his brother (Jake Abel) fancies the alien. Dour nonsense, plus inter-species snogging.

On general release

The Odd Life Of Timothy Green (U)

**

Childless couple Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Garner wake up to find a ten-year-old boy (CJ Adams) has sprouted in their vegetable patch. He has leaves growing on his shins, but is otherwise everything they could wish for in a son. This 
is wholesome whimsy, but only the very green can fail 
to spot where the plot is heading after the first leaf drops and the symbolism needs pruning.

On general release

All Things To All Men (15)

**

Gabriel Byrne, Toby Stephens, Rufus Sewell and a lock stock of characterful British actors star in George Isaac’s debut feature about a crooked detective staging a heist. Stylishly shot, but drained of power by flavourless writing.

On general release

Papadopoulos & Sons (15)

**

Two estranged brothers are forced to work together restoring the family fish and chip business. An undemanding comedy drama, but Stephen Dillane and Georges Corraface give crowd-pleasing performances.

Selected release: Glasgow Cineworld