By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
What does building with blocks, spying, sinning, accounting, and Jesus have in common? They’re all new film releases coming in April of course. Many different genres seem to be well represented this month, so you should be able to find something that piques your interest. Like last month, there will be an assortment of independent films that may be worth checking out like “Freaky Tales,” “Sacramento,” “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” and “The Legend of Ochi.” Here’s a quick look at the most prominent films coming to theaters.
April 4th
The month kicks off with what is sure to be the box office winner. “A Minecraft Movie” is based on everyone’s favorite block building video game and will undoubtedly be the top pick for family entertainment this month. With the added star power of Jack Black and Jason Momoa, and Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”) in the director’s chair, this could be the fun, family comedy everyone might enjoy.
If you’re looking for a more adult targeted film, then divert your attention to “Hell of a Summer.” This appears to be a campy, humorous slasher type of horror film with a very simple premise of a masked murderer terrorizing a summer camp. Written and directed by actors Billy Bryk and Finn Wolfhard, this could be pure blood-soaked entertainment, or it could be just another repetitive, unimaginative teen horror flick that’s been done countless times. Check out reviews before committing.
April 11th
A year ago, almost to the day, Alex Garland brought audiences “Civil War,” arguably one of the best films of the year. This time he returns with another modern military drama entitled “Warfare,” featuring U.S. Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza as his co-writer/co-director. Expect a lot of authenticity as they take an in-depth look at one of the bloodiest battles to take place in Iraq, the Battle of Ramadi. If it’s anything like Garland’s previous films, this will be a jarring yet thoroughly entertaining moviegoing event not to be missed in the theater.
Another exciting action film opening this day is “The Amateur.” If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is the remake of the 1981 movie of the same name. Let’s hope having Oscar winner Rami Malek headlining the cast will make it a significantly improved version from its predecessor. Having James Hawes, who’s responsible for 2023’s rousing drama “One Life,” in the director’s chair should only help make this espionage thriller a success.
Looking for a kid friendly family film made especially for the upcoming Easter weekend? Angel Studios has you covered with “The King of Kings,” an animated story of Jesus Christ as told by Charles Dickens. This studio has been on a roll again this year with riveting dramas like “Brave the Dark” and “Rule Breakers,” and they have no trouble continuing with their first feature length animation. With a star-studded cast of Oscar Isaac, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, Kenneth Branagh, Ben Kingsley, Mark Hamill, and Forest Whitaker providing their voices, this is a family must-see. Stay tuned for a full review.
Rounding out this jam-packed day is a new thriller from Blumhouse Productions, who has been anything but reliable in recent years. “Drop” is about a mom who goes on her first date in years, only to be tormented by a bunch of anonymous, troubling drops to her phone. Judging from the trailers, this looks to be a contender for the worst film of the year with atrociously bad acting. Even though it’s from the same director who created the “Happy Death Day” films, which were better than expected, “Drop” looks like the one to skip this week.
April 18th
Only one major release this date, but it’s one of the more anticipated movies of the month. “Sinners” is a supernatural type of horror film written and directed by Ryan Coogler (“Creed” and “Black Panther”). Featuring the extremely talented Michael B. Jordan in dual roles as twin brothers, this R-rated production has all the makings of being a guaranteed success. It should be a safe bet to get your tickets early for this one.
April 25th
Ben Affleck reprises his role as the autistic assassin who can crunch numbers better than anyone. “The Accountant 2” hits theaters this day and Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and J.K. Simmons also return to their respective roles for this sequel. With Gavin O’Connor back in the director’s chair, this should be a no-brainer for fans of the first film to see opening weekend.
Closing out the month is a twisted horror film based on a popular video game. “Until Dawn” is about a group of friends who get trapped in a house of horrors, savagely murdered one by one, only to revive at the start of the same evening. This is a terrifying enough concept with plenty of potential, and David F. Sandberg (“Annabelle: Creation”) is the experienced director helming this one, so this could actually be a hit for horror fans…or it could be a dumpster fire like many films adapted from a video game are. Best to wait for reviews on this one.
