"Hotel Transylvania" (PG, 92 minutes, Sony)

As Count Dracula, Adam Sandler turns in a blandly unobjectionable – if toothless – voice performance. As Jonathan, a young American backpacker who accidentally wanders into Dracula's castle – set up as a hotel for monsters seeking refuge from human persecution – Andy Samberg does his best to animate his innocuous persona. Selena Gomez brings a bit more personality to the role of Dracula's daughter, Mavis, a "teenager" celebrating her 118th birthday while chafing at her father's overprotectiveness. "Hotel Transylvania" is entertaining enough for the trick-or-treat crowd, but a bit more bite wouldn't kill it. Contains mild bathroom humor and suggestiveness. Extras: "Goodnight Mr. Foot" mini-movie; commentary with director Genndy Tartakovsky, producer Michelle Murdocca and visual effects supervisor Daniel Kramer; deleted scenes; "Problem (Monster Remix)" music video by Becky G featuring Will.i.am.

"The Paperboy" (R, 107 minutes, Millennium Films)

Set in the late 1960s, and narrated as a series of flashbacks by Macy Gray, who plays a maid, the film is structured like a mystery thriller. Its focus? A pair of hotshot Miami newspaper reporters, Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) and Yardley Acheman (David Oyelowo), who are investigating a small-town sheriff's murder. The titular paperboy is Ward's younger brother, Jack (Zac Efron), who acts as gofer for Ward and Yardley during the investigation. There are, however, plenty of thrills and visceral pleasures to be had. This is largely the result of Nicole Kidman's central, barnburning performance as Charlotte Bless, the trashy fiancée of the man whose innocence Ward and Yardley are trying to prove. Her opposite in this Southern Gothic tale is Hillary VanWetter (John Cusack), the violent and ignorant racist who's been accused of stabbing the officer. Contains sex, drug use, obscenity, nudity and violence. Extras: making-of featurette, interviews with Daniels and other cast and crew members, and behind-the-scenes footage.

Also

"Paranormal Activity 4," "Seven Psychopaths," "The Cold Light of Day," "The Awakening," "Hello I Must Be Going," "The Liability," "Noobz," "Citadel," "Long Walk Home" (1990), "Cast A Long Shadow" (1959), "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2" (DC Universe original animated movie), "Tales of the Night" (2011, France, shadow puppet-style animation by Michel Ocelot).

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