A lockdown edition of our monthly movie preview.
Normally our monthly preview is dominated by theatrical releases but obviously that's not the case this April, with cinemas temporarily becoming a thing of the past. This month we're focussing on movies coming to UK/ROI home entertainment platforms, whether that be DVD, blu-ray, VOD, Netflix, Amazon Prime or projected onto a bedsheet in your back garden.
The Beast
Just before cinemas shuttered their doors, Bong Joon-ho's Oscar winning Parasite became the most successful foreign language release at the UK box office. If you need to quench your thirst for Korean genre cinema you might want to check out director Lee-Jung Ho's thriller. The Beast stars Lee Sung-min and Yoo Jae-myung as a pair of rival cops who must put their animosity aside to investigate the murder of a girl, and boasts a score by composer Mowg (I Saw the Devil; Burning).
On VOD and Digital April 6th.
The Elephant Man
The theatrical release of the 40th anniversary 4k restoration of David Lynch's period drama was cruelly cut short by the COVID-19 outbreak, but you can catch up with it at home in April. Lynch's film is a sensitive telling of the story of "The Elephant Man" John Merrick (John Hurt) and his friendship with the doctor (Anthony Hopkins) who gives him a new lease of life.
On DVD, Blu-Ray, 4kUHD and Digital April 6th.
Lullaby
Adapted from Leïla Slimani's novel (itself inspired by a true story), director Lucie Borleteau's Lullaby features a knockout turn from Karin Viard as Louise, a middle-aged widow who takes a job as a nanny for a young Parisian couple. Louise brings her own mental baggage to her work, placing herself and the family in her care in danger.
On DVD April 6th.
Tigertail
The feature film debut of acclaimed TV writer/director Alan Yang (Master of None), the Netflix original production Tigertail tells the story of a Taiwanese man (played by Hong-Chi Lee as a young man and later by Tzi Ma) who emigrates to New York in the 1950s, leaving behind the woman he loves. Decades later, in the aftermath of an arranged marriage and with a daughter he can't relate to, he decides to reconnect with his past.
On Netflix April 10th.
Long Day's Journey Into Night
Given its incredible use of 3D, you really should have seen Bi Gan's Long Day's Journey Into Night in cinemas, but there's no use crying over spilt milk now. Gan's dreamlike movie stars Huang Jue as a man desperately trying to extract the woman he loves (Tang Wei) from his memories. It's an intoxicating experience, particularly its second half which plays out in one long unbroken take. Pick up the 3D blu if you have the tech at home.
On DVD and blu-ray April 13th.
Selah and the Spades
We recently saw Anya Taylor-Joy in yet another screen adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. Just as Amy Heckerling did with Clueless, writer/director Tayarisha Poe takes the premise of Austen's novel and updates it to a modern setting. This time it's an American boarding school where senior student Selah (Lovie Simone) takes a new arrival (Celeste O'Connor) under her wing to take over her drug dealing operation when she graduates.
On Amazon Prime Video April 17th.
We Summon the Darkness
Director Marc Meyers' 1980s set horror stars Alexandra Daddario as a heavy metal loving young woman who, along with two friends, ends up fighting for her life after hooking up with a bunch of male fans after a concert.
On VOD and Digital April 20th.
Why Don't You Just Die!
Writer/director Kirill Sokolov bursts onto the scene in some style with his deliriously entertaining feature debut. Set in the confines of an apartment, this Russian splatstick caper sees a young man's plan to murder his girlfriend's abusive (or is he?) father backfire with hilariously over the top consequences. Sokolov channels Sam Raimi, Tex Avery and The Three Stooges in this bloodsoaked blast of a movie.
On VOD April 20th and blu-ray April 21st.
Hagazussa
Folk-horror has seen a revival recently with the likes of The Witch, Gwen and Midsommar, and the sub-genre's comeback continues with debut filmmaker Lukas Feigelfeld's Hagazussa. Set in 15th century Germany, Hagazussa stars Aleksandra Cwen as a young woman who reacts to being shunned by her local community by embracing the powers of witchcraft.
On blu-ray April 27th.
Sea Fever
Drawing on The Thing and The Abyss, director Neasa Hardiman's Sea Fever stars Hermione Corfield as a marine biology student who finds herself battling for survival when the crew of her research trawler become infected by a mysterious parasite.
On DVD, blu-ray, VOD and Digital April 27th.
— 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕗𝕗𝕝𝕖𝕣 (@themoviewaffler) March 28, 2020