REVIEW: Christian Bale keeps gothic horror ‘The Pale Blue Eye’ motoring 

LONDON: The prospect of a grizzled Christian Bale playing a surly detective investigating a macabre ritualistic killing, aided by a young and enthusiastic cadet named Edgar Allen Poe is certainly an intriguing one. But while “The Pale Blue Eye” director Scott Cooper seems to have an abundance of riches in his adaptation of Louis Bayard’s 2003 novel of the same name — proven source material, a stellar ensemble cast and a reliably excellent leading man — viewers may come away from this Netflix movie feeling a little underwhelmed.