Latest releases reviewed.

SILENT HILL
Directed by Christophe Gans. Starring Radha Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Jodelle Ferland, Deborah Kara Unger 16 cert
**

In this incoherent adaptation of a computer game, Mitchell encounters weirdness while searching for her daughter in the titular ghost town. There are eerie moments, but too much of the action sees the characters pondering the sort of conundrums that are fun only when you have a controller in one hand and a beer in the other. Surprisingly short on DVD extras for something in this genre. Donald Clarke

FREEDOMLAN
Directed by Joe Roth. Starring Samuel L Jackson, Julianne Moore, Edie Falco, Ron Eldard, William Forsythe, 15A cert
*

Racial tension mounts as Detective Jackson investigates the apparent abduction of Moore's daughter near a largely African-American housing project. Badly directed, insanely miscast - this is one of Julianne's more mainstream films and we know what that means. Run away. Fast. Donald Clarke

EIGHT BELOW
Directed by Frank Marshall. Starring Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood, Jason Biggs PG cert
**

The true story of the survival of some number of dogs left alone at the Antarctic for some number of months. They frolic beneath the aurora borealis. They eat seals. It isn't any more exciting than it sounds. Early adopters will be interested to hear that this is one of Disney's first releases to be available on the Blu-ray format. Donald Clarke