The Djinn

It feels like a lockdown project that needed exposing to a bit more outside air.

This indie horror movie isn't just a lesson on the price of getting what you wish for; it's also an 82-minute class on how to make an unnerving film on the cheap.

Charbonier and Powell know how to brew atmosphere and empathy, creating child characters who feel fleshed out and not like precocious poppets to be pitied or fawned over.

The Djinn is often as plodding as it is impersonal. This movie crawls whenever it needs to sprint.

I cannot say The Djinn did much for me.

With their debut, Charbonier and Powell proved a rare grasp of childhood horror, and keeping the perspective of youth among adult sins.

In The Djinn, Dewey provides a moving performance.

At times, "The Djinn" seems to intentionally withhold exploring anything outside of the small confines of its story in a way that feels limiting rather than ingenious.

This thriller is quieter than most, creating a relaxed, realistic tone while the scary stuff gurgles up underneath.

While many of the elements in The Djinn may feel overly familiar, it's a stylish and assured cautionary tale.