This week we spotlight an intelligent crime thriller outfitted with a trifecta of Oscar winners, a tender heartwarmer starring Justin Timberlake, a “Shining”-like horror entry directed by a former San Jose filmmaker and a gay-themed Chilean drama that’s sexy and smart. Here’s a rundown.

“The Little Things”: John Lee Hancock, who wrote and directed “The Blind Side” pulls the same double duty on this crafty neo-noir made all the better by a wonderfully creepy performance from Oscar winner Jared Leto as a hollow-eyed prime suspect in a swath of killings blanketing ‘90s L.A. The slayings prick at the unhealed wounds of a Kern County deputy (Denzel Washington), who clashes with an ambitious LAPD detective (Rami Malek). As the title predicts, little things begin stockpiling, but Hancock never loses his grip of the material. While “Things” is engrossing overall, it becomes flat-out riveting whenever Leto appears on screen. Details: 3½ stars out of 4; available Friday on HBO Max.

“Palmer”: After a string of bad performances in duds such as Woody Allen’s “Wonder Wheel” and Brad Furman’s “Runner Runner,” Justin Timberlake rehabilitates his acting career with this sweet, sentimental drama that celebrates second chances. Fisher Stevens does a spot-on job directing this uplifting if predictable film about Palmer, a recently released ex-con who returns to his Louisiana hometown and becomes a surrogate parent to 7-year-old Sam (Ryder Allen, who will steal your heart), a gender-fluid child of a hard-partying, often absent mom (Juno Temple, in an overstated performance). The delightful June Squibb plays Palmer’s churchgoing grandma while Alisha Wainwright brings extra substance to the part of Sam’s teacher and Palmer’s eventual love interest. Cheryl Guerriero’s screenplay doesn’t have anything new to say, but delivers a comforting look at two “outsiders” finding a connection. Details: 3 stars; debuts Jan. 29 on Apple TV+.

“The Night”: The indie horror resurgence continues with this unsettling debut from Iranian filmmaker Kourosh Ahari, a former San Jose resident. A tipsy, squabbling Iranian couple (Shahab Hosseini and Niousha Jafarian) get lost in L.A. and wind up at an old-school-looking Hotel Normandie. Bad move. The hotel is like a budget version of Stephen King’s haunted hell house from “The Shining,” but is a roost for evil that feeds on secrets from a guest’s past. Ahari keeps a lid on the gore till late in the game, then let’s loose. “The Night” is a well-acted and -directed debut. Most of the dialog is in Farsai. Details: 3 stars; available Jan. 29 on Apple TV+

“The Dig”: With its prestigious cast, featuring Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes, sepia-tinged cinematography and plucky period details, it would seem Simon Stone’s recounting of Basil Brown’s magnificent archaeological discovery in 1938 England would be outstanding. But even though great care has been taken with the story, “The Dig” is often as dull as dirt. Making it worth a watch are Mulligan as the owner of an estate where headline-making treasures get dug up, and Fiennes as the real-life Brown. Both are at least interesting to watch, as always. But overall, this is a bit of a snoozer. Details: 2 stars; available on Netflix.

“The Strong Ones”: Writer/director/producer Omar Zuniga does something special in broadening his award-winning short “San Cristobal,” creating a most remarkable feature debut. He takes an earthy, sexy approach in telling this bittersweet love story between two men in a small Chilean fishing village. Lucas (Samuel Gonzalez) is visiting his sister on his way to relocate to Canada and is drawn to the principled and hardworking Antonio (Antonio Altamirano) on a fishing boat. As the two lovers, Gonzalez and Altamirano convey something intimate and special. Zuniga allows them to steer the tender story, which has collected numerous awards on the festival circuit. Details: 3½ stars; available now on multiple platforms.

“You Will Die at Twenty”: Sudan’s International Oscar entry sprinkles in a dash of a fantasy and a heaping of commentary in its film about blind adherence to long-held beliefs. Since his birth, Muzamil (Mustafa Shehata) has been told he’s cursed — as decreed by a village cleric — and he’ll, as the title says, due at age 20. His devout mother clings to that notion and instills a stark fear in Muzamil as others taunt him. Amjad Abu Alala’s stunningly photographed drama challenges strict dogmatic practices and posits how a life without a moral code can cause much damage. The film is being screened as part of the California Film Institute’s annual series “For Your Consideration: A Celebration of World Cinema.” Details: 3 stars; available to screen at the website of the Smith Rafael Film Center. rafaelfilm.cafilm.org.

“The Queen of Black Magic”: Speaking of International Oscar entries, Indonesia stunned everyone by selecting as its submission the folk horror film “Impetigore” by underrated director Joko Anwar. It belongs there. Which brings us to “Black Magic,” which is written by Anwar, and his signature storytelling tics are all over it. Directed by Kimo Stamboel (and very loosely basde on a 1981 film of the same name) this one tells tells the story of three families visiting a gravely ill father figure in an isolated home that’s festering with secrets. Gruesome, nerve-wracking and nervy, Stamboel’s film should become a new horror classic. 3½ stars; available on Shudder (as is “Impetigore”).

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.