Indie Picks: At The Movies This Weekend

Bailee Madison in "Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark" (FilmDistrict)

It may be stretching the definition of "indie" to include our main pick this week, but Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark is our favorite film in release this weekend and it's a castaway from the now-defunct Miramax library being released by upstart company FilmDistrict. Ultimately, it's a high quality, low budget flick that just happens to be getting a wide release.

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark (Alamo South Lamar & many area multiplexes)
This creature feature is the directorial debut of comic book artist Troy Nixey, with a little assistance from master genre director Guillermo del Toro as a co-producer and co-writer of the screenplay. The story is based on an old ABC Movie of the Week from 1973 (recently released on DVD for the first time from Warner Archive). which del Toro has called one of the most terrifying movies he saw as a kid.

In the updated version, Guy Pearce is an architect who is restoring a stately New England mansion along with his girlfriend (played by Katie Holmes). When Pearce's estranged wife sends their young daughter to live with him for awhile, the moody child accidentally discovers an entire basement level to the house that had been closed off. As is often the case in tales like this, it was closed off because of some tiny demon creatures who really have a taste for little kids.

While the leads are serviceable in their roles, Bailee Madison (who was only 9 when this film was shot) really makes this entire movie. Not surprisingly, there are moments where she recalls Ivana Baquero's great performance in Pan's Labryinth. If you enjoyed that film, The Orphanage and/or The Others, this one is really easy to recommend. There are genuine scares without being graphic. Interestingly, there is no language to be found here. The movie earned it's R-rating simply for the intensity of the story with a young protagonist. The violence is not extraordinarily bloody and if the story had involved a teenager instead of a child, it would have probably ended up passing the rating's board with a PG-13.

Senna (Regal Arbor, Violet Crown Cinema)
With Formula One Racing hitting Austin soon, the timing couldn't be better for a documentary on one of the sport's greatest racers. The film documents the life, career and untimely death of Ayrton Senna, a three-time world champion from Brazil who was tragically killed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

The film won the World Cinema Audience Award for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival and also debuted locally earlier this year during SXSW.

Also this weekend:
- Adam West returns to the Paramount Theatre for a screening of the original 1966 Batman flick on Saturday afternoon.

- The Long Center serves up more titles in its Cult Classics series, with the restored edition of Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Young Frankenstein this weekend.

- Indie horror flick The Perfect House screens along with a Q&A at the Alamo South Lamar on Sunday afternoon before becoming available to rent through Facebook in October. Check out this link to register for free tickets!

- Silent screen legend Clara Bow hits the Alamo Ritz screen on Sunday night for a screening of the 1927 classic It, with live piano accompaniment.

- Asian Invasion at the Alamo Ritz serves up Shaolin Invincibles on Sunday night.