Spirit Untamed (out Jun 12) may entertain very young audiences but there isn’t much for those aged 10 and above. The story is slight and the character development is weak. It’s the tale of a mischievous girl who is whisked away to a country town and bonds with a wild horse. Grade: C+.

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (out Jun 10) is a Japanese animated feature about a young, feisty, wheelchair-bound woman who starts seeing the world differently after befriending her new caretaker. The opening is corny but it develops into a sweet, big-hearted drama. Grade: B.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (out Jun 3) is another solid entry in this successful franchise. Loosely based on actual events, it's centred around a young man charged with murder who claims he was possessed by a demon. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga make a formidable team once again. Grade: B+.

Lapsis (out Jun 3) is a puzzling, eyebrow-raising dark comedy set in a dystopian world. Much of the film is spent watching a middle-aged contractor hike through a forest and lay network cables for an exploitative company. If you like weird, strange and different with a dash of politics, this is for you. Grade: A-.

Minamata (out Jun 3) is based on actual events and is the story of an acclaimed, alcoholic photographer (Johnny Depp) who travels to Japan in 1971 to expose those behind an environmental disaster. We’ve seen similar tales (e.g. Erin Brockovich, Dark Waters) that offer more in terms of engaging characters and narrative. This one is a little dull. Grade: B-. 

Deliver Us From Evil (out Jun 3) is a South Korean action-thriller about a retired hitman dragged into an assignment involving a kidnapped 9-year-old girl. The story itself is formulaic (we’ve seen it so many times before) but the fight scenes are nicely choreographed and the cast have been well chosen. Grade: B.

Breaking Bread (out Jun 3) is a fun, feel-good documentary about an annual food festival that tries to unite Israelis and Palestinians on the basis that “there’s no room for politics in the kitchen.” The chefs / restaurant owners have interesting backstories and the food is mouth-watering. Grade: B+.

Breaking News in Yuba County (out Jun 3) is a dreadful dark comedy about a bunch of moronic, self-absorbed characters who find themselves caught up in a police investigation involving a missing person and a bag full of money. This is devoid of wit, surprise and messages. Grade: C-.

Cruella (out May 27) is the tale of an orphan who becomes a thief who becomes a cleaner who becomes a fashion designer. The one-dimensional characters become tiring but the cool, colourful world does the heavy lifting in getting this film to the finish line. Grade: B.

My Name is Gulpilil (out May 27) is a documentary about the iconic Australian actor David Gulpilil who has appeared in films including Walkabout, Storm Boy, Crocodile Dundee, The Tracker, Australia and Goldstone. Grade: B.