Our guide to the most exciting movies coming this April.
April brings us not one but two movies from TMW fave S. Craig Zahler, Bo Burnham's acclaimed directorial debut and a host of films from some of world cinema's most revered filmmakers.
Without further ado, here are our 10 picks of the most interesting movies coming to UK/ROI cinemas this April.
Pet Sematary
This latest reboot of a Stephen King adaptation will hope to replicate the success of 2017's It. Directed by the Starry Eyes duo of Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, this version stars Jason Clarke as the grieving father who turns to the supernatural powers of a pets' burial ground in the aftermath of a tragedy. John Lithgow and Amy Seimetz also star.
In cinemas April 4th.
Happy as Lazzaro
Writer/director Alice Rohrwacher (Heavenly Body; The Wonders) picked up a Best Screenplay award at last year's Cannes Film Festival for her latest Italian drama, Happy as Lazzaro. Adriano Tardiolo stars as the titular Lazzaro, a peasant recruited by a nobleman (Luca Chikovani) to orchestrate his kidnapping.
In cinemas April 5th.
The Sisters Brothers
Acclaimed French filmmaker Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone; Dheepan) makes his English language debut with an adaptation of Patrick DeWitt's novel The Sisters Brothers. Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly are the titular siblings, a pair of Old West gunslingers. The film also stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed.
In cinemas April 5th.
My Friend the Polish Girl
Writer/directors Ewa Banaszkiewicz and Mateusz Dymek's My Friend the Polish Girl stars Emma Friedman as a London based filmmaker in search of a subject for a documentary on immigration. Polish wannabe actress Alicja (Aneta Piotrowska) seems ideal for her plans, but she may not be all she initially seems. The film has drawn comparisons with Repulsion and Man Bites Dog.
In cinemas April 9th.
Dragged Across Concrete
Is there a more exciting writer/director working in American genre cinema today than S. Craig Zahler? The filmmaker behind TMW faves Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99 returns with this tale of a pair of suspended cops (Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn) who turn to crime to make ends meet.
In cinemas April 19th.
Loro
Director Paolo Sorrentino continues his collaboration with actor Toni Servillo, the latter portraying infamous former Italian ruler Silvio Berlusconi here. Loro focusses on the infamous Italian politician's attempts to return to power, using a combination of dubious charisma and underhanded tactics.
In cinemas April 19th.
Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich
Really? We're recommending a Puppet Master movie? Well, this isn't any Puppet Master movie. A reboot of Charles Band's classic horror franchise, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich boasts a script from no less than the aforementioned S. Craig Zahler, and opens in UK cinemas on the same day as Dragged Across Concrete. The Littlest Reich's horror credentials are also boosted by a score from legendary Italian composer Fabio Frizzi and the presence of genre icon Barbara Crampton.
In cinemas April 19th.
Ash is Purest White
As with his previous film, 2015's Mountains May Depart, Ash Is Purest White stars director Jia Zhangke's wife and artistic collaborator Zhao Tao in a drama that spans the period from the dawn of the 21st century to the present. Tao is outstanding as a woman who takes the rap for her mobster lover's criminal activities.
In cinemas April 26th.
Donbass
Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa (A Gentle Creature) returns with Donbass, a blackly comic satire of the ongoing conflict in the eponymous Ukrainian region. Inspired by amateur videos posted on social media, Loznitsa delivers a series of 13 comic vignettes that reflect the confusing political situation playing out in his troubled homeland.
In cinemas April 26th.
Eighth Grade
Comedian Bo Burnham makes his debut as writer/director of this high school comedy, which follows the travails of a socially awkward teenage girl. Young actress Elsie Fisher is an instant star and has deservedly won much praise for her central performance. The film is brutally honest about the pitfalls of contemporary teen life while also being truly heartwarming.
In cinemas April 26th.