Movies

The Best New Movies of April 2025

BBG News

As the Oscars have passed and summer blockbusters haven’t fully arrived yet, Springtime is when many outstanding new films emerge. These films are not just entertaining, but this Spring season has been particularly impressive, offering at least two movies that will undoubtedly be discussed throughout the year. Here are five exceptional movies released in April.

The Shrouds

In the realm of thrillers, David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds” isn’t typically impressive: the plot seems to be an afterthought, hastily resolved with a lackadaisical shrug at the end. A recent rewatch in a New York City theater found me overhearing two young Cronenberg fans criticizing its quality. However, this enigmatic, poignant film—a tale of grief and potential rebirth—resonates powerfully and lingers. Vincent Cassel portrays Karsh, a man grappling with the recent demise of his wife (Diane Kruger in several dream sequences). Karsh has developed a unique shroud that allows the living to witness decay in the dead, a means to bring physical closeness to the grave; he also commercialized this technology by opening a cemetery equipped with these special shroud-enabled tombs. A high-end restaurant is another amenity on-site, a Cronenbergian touch of elegance and darkness. One evening, the cemetery is ransacked; graves are overturned, their Wi-Fi connections compromised. Karsh’s sister-in-law (also played by Diane Kruger) and ex-brother-in-law (Guy Pearce) attempt to solve the mystery behind the theft, while Karsh seeks solace in reclaiming his life. “The Shrouds” is primarily defined by Cassel’s captivating performance. He embodies grief as a restless electrical energy that seems to resonate through every fiber of his lean, agile body.

Warfare

It’s not essential to have experienced war personally to create an outstanding war film; filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Stanley Kubrick didn’t, yet their films depicting the harsh realities of combat stand the test of time. However, one might argue that a stronger emotional impact is conveyed when a filmmaker who has survived harrowing experiences seeks to truthfully portray them. Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza collaborates with director Alex Garland to produce “Warfare,” a film based on an incident in 2006 where a SEAL team, including Mendoza, embarked on a dangerous reconnaissance mission in Ramadi province, Iraq. The day culminated in a grenade attack that injured two SEALs, one of whom was sniper and medic Elliott Miller (portrayed by Cosmo Jarvis). Miller suffered additional injuries along with another SEAL (Joseph Quinn) when an IED exploded as they were being evacuated. The remaining cast members, including D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Charles Melton, and Will Poulter, recounted the events from their memories. Miller has no recollection of that day, and Mendoza intended for the film to serve as a “living snapshot” for him, a means of honoring his lived experiences but forgotten memories. “Warfare,” skillfully made, narrates the harrowing account of the rescue mission in real-time. If a movie can be both refined and brutal simultaneously, this one certainly achieves that balance. [Read the full review.]

The Friend

The 2018 novel “The Friend” by Sigrid Nunez offers a beautifully raw depiction of friendship, self-centeredness in writing, and the profound impact of pet ownership on our lives, often in ways we don’t anticipate. The movie adaptation by Scott McGehee and David Siegel may not fully convey the book’s intricate nuances; however, it stands independently as a poignant exploration of how the death of a loved one can confuse rather than clarify our emotions towards them. Beyond this, “The Friend” is essentially a film about the essence of love for animals: Naomi Watts portrays a writer and scholar dwelling in a compact Manhattan apartment, who acquires a Great Dane named Apollo after inheriting him from an ex-lover (portrayed by Bill Murray). This isn’t an ordinary dog; this is Bing, a highly skilled animal actor playing the role. The central dramatic tension revolves around the challenges of accommodating such a grand and space-consuming pet in a no-pets apartment building. Ultimately, however, “The Friend” delves into the transformation that occurs when a pet you’re unsure about becomes an irreplaceable part of your life.

Sinners

The captivating horror film “Sinners,” directed by Ryan Coogler, set in the 1932 Mississippi Delta, stands out for its haunting and hypnotic quality, occasionally tinged with a dark humor. This is largely due to its enigmatic nature, as it refrains from providing excessive explanations. The story revolves around twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, who return from Chicago during prohibition era with cash and cases of liquor, aiming to open a juke joint the same night. They recruit their cousin, Sammie (Miles Caton), a blues prodigy, for entertainment. The juke joint quickly becomes a success until a group of vampire hillbilly musicians, led by Remmick, portrayed by Jack O’Connell, politely request entry.

“Sinners” is one of the modern era’s notable vampire movies, exploring the age-old legend of these eternal outsiders who yearn for acceptance but whose promises are rooted in deceit. Primarily, however, “Sinners” delves into the mystery of music, highlighting how different racial groups perceived and felt music throughout history until, somehow, their sounds started merging and blending into a future-like symphony that continues to evolve today.

“Sinners” is gruesome, alluring, merciless. Yet, it carries a wistful undertone, suggesting that the characters may have glimpsed a potential for freedom, unity, and joy that remains elusive even today, nearly a century later. [Read the full review.]

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2025-04-29 20:06

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