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Selected mini-reviews, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, by Liam Lacey, Stephen Cole and Jennie Punter. Full reviews appeared on the dates indicated.

Antichrist

**

Lars von Trier's ambitious new provocation follows the story of a couple (Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) attempting to recover from the death of their young son, and then spinning into madness in a cabin in the woods. After a disciplined first hour, the film ratchets up the allegory and absurdity, with demonically possessed woodland animals, graphic violence (including genital mutilations) and an apocalyptic ending. The problem is that the hallucinations seem clumsy and the shock effects more numbing than disturbing. R (Nov. 13) L.L.

The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day **

The inevitable sequel to the 1999, straight-to-video hit, The Boondock Saints. The McManus boys (Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) are back in town (which in this case is Boston), wreaking havoc with I-talians. Lots of Irish-Catholic malarkey and slow-mo death scenes. Think Quentin Tarantino with his brow lowered. 14A (Nov. 13) S.C.

The Horse Boy

***

This film companion to Rupert Isaacson's bestseller follows the author, his wife and their five-year-old autistic son Rowan on a quixotic journey toward healing in the Mongolian hinterland, where horse-riding and shamanism are strong traditions. The doc moves between the trek - which culminates in an encounter with the reindeer people and their legendary shaman - and family life in Austin, Tex., with occasional breaks for leading experts to help define autism and its behaviours. A captivating and beautifully shot story of family love and adventure. PG (Nov. 12) J.P.