Haunt (2013)

Similar to such recent ghost stories as Insidious, Sinister and The Conjuring, the film "begins with a house and a tragedy". It centers around the quiet teen Evan Asher (Harrison Gilbertson), his family and a neighborhood girl named Sam (Liana Liberato). Scenes are filled with moody lighting, jump scares and plenty of great sound design. The effective cinematography and absorbing narrative are a surprise since this is only Mac Carter's second film. There is really nothing new here but I found myself attached to the endearing characters, especially Evan and Sam. Gilbertson and Liberato are true stand-outs. Some may find the ending abrupt and out of character with what audiences expect but it helps set itself apart.

3½ unusually understanding parents out of 5

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (2010)

The story of DC Comics from their humble origins to their eventual rise (and fall and rise) to become one of the leading comic publishers in the world. It’s a fascinating journey if you’re a comics fan. You’ll hear testimonies from the people behind the scenes and from the creators themselves, the artists and writers both past and present. Plus, the dreaded Comics Code gets the criticism it deserves.
I knew Superman was popular in NA but I had no idea just how popular; that was an eye-opener.

4 real life Shazams out of 5