In the Dark Reviews

The 25th annual Port Townsend Film Festival runs from Sept. 19 through Sept. 22. Because its lineup includes two films that premiered several years ago, I'm reviewing them beforehand to give readers a taste of what they might expect from this year's lineup, regardless of whether they're able to attend.

First-time director Catherine Hardwicke co-wrote the screenplay for what would become 2003's "Thirteen" with Nikki Reed, who was 14 years old, and would make her acting debut as one of the 100-minute R-rated film's female leads, alongside Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter.

After the release of "...