The Haunting (1963)

A scientist doing research on the paranormal invites two women to a haunted mansion, and one of the participants soon starts losing her mind.

This ghost story works effectively with cinematic shocks only, supported by excellent cinematography, but the plot barely makes sense, and Julie Harris' performance is so intense - and irritating, you can consider it over-the-top.

Halliwell*: "Quite frightening but exhausting and humourless melodrama with a lot of suspense, no visible spooks, and not enough plot for its length. The wide screen is a disadvantage."

Maltin***1/2: "Don't see this one alone!"

Drive (2011)

A mysterious Hollywood stuntman, mechanic and getaway driver lands himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor.

What would have been another (violent) action flic is successfully given an artsy treatment and the feel of an existentialist drama with a tight-lipped, hard-boiled anti-hero.

Maltin**: "What some see as a prime example of postmodern cool strikes us as a pretentious hogwash from the word go. The bursts of gruesome violence are equally hard to swallow. By the way, Gosling seems fully articulate when he sets up his first gig, but spends the rest of the film nearly silent (and striking poses). Only bright spot is a juicy supporting role for Brooks as a savvy gangster."