In Theaters: THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE, MOWGLI, ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE and MIRAI

This week there are no major new releases in theaters. The only wide release is the possession horror film "The Possession of Hannah Grace", which has received a decidedly negative reception from both critics and audiences. You could say it's an odd moment of the year to release a horror film, even with the resurgence that the genre is currently enjoying. With a reported budget of $9.5 million, it will probably earn back most of it this weekend as pundits expect a $6.4 million debut.

In limited release we have Netflix's "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle", Andy Serkis' new directorial project, and a much darker adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book". The cast is glorious, including Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch and Cate Blanchett, but the critical reception has been lukewarm at best.

Other limited releases include the Scottish Christmas zombie musical (talk about genre mashup) titled "Anna and the Apocalypse" and the Japanese animated film "Mirai" written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. Both films have enjoyed generally positive reviews from critics.

Synopses, details, critical/audience reception, trailers, and more after the jump.

THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE

Official Synopsis

A shocking exorcism spirals out of control, claiming the life of a young woman. Months later, Megan Reed (Shay Mitchell) is working the graveyard shift in the morgue when she takes delivery of a disfigured cadaver. Locked alone inside the basement corridors, Megan begins to experience horrifying visions and starts to suspect that the body may be possessed by a ruthless demonic force.

Film Details

• Director: Diederik Van Rooijen
  
  
• Starring: Shay Mitchell, Grey Damon, Kirby Johnson, Stana Katic
  
  
• Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
  
  
• Running Time: 85 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for gruesome images and terror throughout
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 20% (3 fresh, 12 rotten, score: 4.0/10)
  
• Metacritic: 41 out of 100 (0 positive, 6 mixed, 1 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 18% (2.2/5 rating from 187 users)
  
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 5.7/10 (739 votes)
  

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MOWGLI: LEGEND OF THE JUNGLE

Official Synopsis

Acclaimed actor and director Andy Serkis reinvents Rudyard Kipling's beloved masterpiece, in which a boy torn between two worlds accepts his destiny and becomes a legend. Mowgli (Rohan Chand) has never truly belonged in either the wilds of the jungle or the civilized world of man. Now he must navigate the inherent dangers of each on a journey to discover where he truly belongs. Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto, Rohan Chand, Matthew Rhys and Naomie Harris lead an all-star cast in this visually spectacular and emotionally moving adventure.

Film Details

• Director: Andy Serkis
  
  
• Starring: Rohan Chand, Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Jack Reynor, Freida Pinto, Tom Hollander, Peter Mullan, Naomie Harris
  
  
• Genre: Adventure, Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 104 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence including bloody images, and some thematic elements
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 50% (13 fresh, 13 rotten, score: 5.7/10)
  
• Metacritic: 51 out of 100 (5 positive, 5 mixed, 1 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (4.2/5 rating from 607 users)
  
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 8.1/10 (92 votes)
  

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ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE

Official Synopsis

A zombie apocalypse threatens the sleepy town of Little Haven -- at Christmas -- forcing Anna and her friends to fight, slash and sing their way to survival, facing the undead in a desperate race to reach their loved ones. But they soon discover that no one is safe in this new world, and with civilization falling apart around them, the only people they can truly rely on are each other...

Film Details

• Director: John McPhail
  
  
• Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Sarah Swire, Ben Wiggins, Marli Siu, Mark Benton
  
  
• Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Musical
  
  
• Running Time: 107 min.
  
  
• Rating: R for zombie violence and gore, language, and some sexual material
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 84% (48 fresh, 9 rotten, score: 7.2/10)
  
• Metacritic: 64 out of 100 (14 positive, 6 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 73% (4.0/5 rating from 411 users)
  
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 6.7/10 (729 votes)
  

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MIRAI

Official Synopsis

Fathom Events and GKIDS bring MIRAI, a daringly original story of love passed down through generations from acclaimed director Mamoru Hosoda and Japan's Studio Chizu, to select theaters on November 29, December 5 and 8. When four-year-old Kun meets his new baby sister, his world is turned upside down. Named Mirai (meaning "future"), the baby quickly wins the hearts of Kun's entire family. As his mother returns to work, and his father struggles to run the household, Kun becomes increasingly jealous of baby Mirai... until one day he storms off into the garden, where he encounters strange guests from the past and future -- including his sister Mirai, as a teenager. Together, Kun and teenage Mirai go on a journey through time and space, uncovering their family's incredible story. The epic capstone of director Mamoru Hosoda's career, Mirai is a sumptuous, magical, and emotionally soaring adventure about the ties that bring families together and make us who we are.

Film Details

• Director: Mamoru Hosoda
  
  
• Starring: Haru Kuroki, Moka Kamishiraishi, Gen Hoshino, Kôji Yakusho
  
  
• Genre: Animation, Adventure, Drama
  
  
• Running Time: 98 min.
  
  
• Rating: PG for thematic elements including some scary images
  
  

Critical Reception

• Rottentomatoes: 92% (44 fresh, 4 rotten, score: 7.6/10)
  
• Metacritic: 82 out of 100 (14 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative).

Audience Reception

• Rotten Tomatoes: 95% (4.7/5 rating from 321 users)
  
• Metacritic: N/A
• IMDb: 7.1/10 (896 votes)
  

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Entertainment Factor