Freeze Frame: “Holidate” (R), “His House” (R), “The Craft: Legacy” (PG-13), “Mr. Soul!” (Not rated)

If you took a typical Hallmark Channel Christmas romantic comedy and added in plenty foul language and crude sexual banter, you might come up with something like the off-putting Netflix offering, “Holidate.” Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey star in the story of two singles who decide to use one another as a non-intimate date on holidays only. The game cast tries hard to find something resembling reality, but mostly come up empty. Watching “Holidate” is no holiday.

“His House” is a genuinely creepy and thoughtful horror film with a timely political and sociological backdrop. Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu play a couple from South Sudan who flee the violence in their homeland and seek refuge in the British Isles. Once they arrive in England, however, they realize that an evil supernatural entity has followed them. There’s a lot more going on than meets the eye in this sharp debut feature from writer/director Remi Weeks. “His House” will provoke and disturb viewers in equal measure.

“The Craft: Legacy” is a sequel to the 1996 pop horror film about a coven of teenage witches. Cailee Spaeny plays a teen who befriends three girls seeking powers of the occult, they conjure up a lot of trouble for themselves. Writer/director Zoe Lister Jones takes on the topic of toxic masculinity while delivering PG-13 chills. It isn’t magical, but “The Craft: Legacy” is a modestly effective distraction.

“Mr. Soul!” is an electric documentary about the groundbreaking PBS series “Soul!” and it’s founder and host Ellis Haizlip. A touchstone variety and talk show, “Soul!” highlighted Black arts, culture and politics from 1968 to 1973. This informative and entertaining film is a long overdue celebration.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of  intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, fineartsgroup.com and drafthouse.com.

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