From the Super Mario Bros. movie, a sneak peek of Voltes V: Legacy, and an actual movie called Chupa, April’s new movies and shows are anything but boring.
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It’s April, which means we’re right in the middle of the summer season. What a perfect time then to pull up a chair, or get comfy on the bed, and enjoy some good movies and shows. And looking at the lineup for the month, there’s going to be a lot to sink your teeth into. From K-dramas, action, animation, teleseryes, and more, make room on the watchlist for these new titles.
DUTY AFTER SCHOOL
What would you do if your school’s extracurricular activity was a mandatory military service amid a real war? That’s the premise of this K-drama that sees the senior class students of SJ High School turn into a platoon of soldiers as they fight an unknown alien threat. Just like that, the listicle of K-dramas about high school students facing seemingly insurmountable odds got longer. This sci-fi thriller made its debut on April 1.
BEEF
Road rage is real and can get people to do some nasty things. This A24-produced series takes that concept to the next level. Steven Yeun plays Danny Cho, a contractor, while Ali Wong is Amy Lau, a self-made entrepreneur respectively. One day, the two get into an accident on the road, leading to a bout of road rage. What happens next sees the two spiral as they go down a dark path on their quest to ruin each other’s lives. The dark comedy streams on Netflix beginning April 6.
CHUPA
Let’s watch Chupa, and no, it’s not what you think. Despite the bombastic side-eye that many on the internet gave this film, Chupa is actually a family-friendly film about a young boy who befriends a chupacabra (hence the movie’s title). Let your curiosity win as you can steam the title on Netflix beginning April 7 (yes, that’s Good Friday).
HUNGER
Dramas on fine dining have been all the rage these days. And Hunger is the latest film to explore this premise. The Thai movie centers on Aoy, a young and talented chef who goes to train under Chef Paul. But what initially looks to be a dream turns out to be a nightmare as Aoy is exposed to the dark side of fine dining.
SUMMER MMFF
Think the Metro Manila Film Festival, but during the summer. Like with its Christmas counterpart, this edition will see eight films be screened in cinemas across the country. The festival is set to run from April 8-18. You can check here for details on the films on offer.
QUEENMAKER
Scandal set in South Korea? You got our attention. Hwang Do-hee is a gifted PR professional who uses her skills to help Oh Kyung-sook, a human rights lawyer, become the next mayor of Seoul. But the altruistic gesture proves personal to Do-hee as she looks to unseat a former client from the office. You can stream this political drama on Netflix beginning April 14.
VOLTES V: LEGACY (SNEAK PEEK)
If you’re itching to see Voltes V: Legacy before its premier in May, then here’s a treat. From April 19-25, select SM Cinemas will be screening the first few episodes of the highly-anticipated adaptation. Be one of the first to see the crew go up against the Boazanians, and on the big screen no less.
MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: ONCE & ALWAYS
A mighty reunion is happening this April with the 30th anniversary Power Rangers special. It will revolve around the OG Rangers coming “face to face with a familiar threat from the past. Amid a global crisis, they are called on once again to be the heroes the world needs. Inspired by the legendary mantra from the franchise ‘Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger,’ Once & Always reminds everyone when you become a Ranger, you are always a part of the Ranger family and always welcome.” David Yost and Walter E. Jones are just some of the actors set to reprise their classic roles in the special. It arrives on Netflix this April 19.
AIR
The Air Jordan line is one of the most iconic shoe lines in history. But do you know how it came to be? This Ben Affleck-directed movie (which he also stars in) brings to life that story. It centers on Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) and his quest to get Nike and a then-rookie Michael Jordan to come together for the birth of the Air Jordan shoe line. The film hits local cinemas on April 19.
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE
The animated adaptation of the most iconic video game series in history is finally here. Like with most games in the series, the movie follows Mario, Luigi, and the gang as they save Princess Peach from the evil clutches of Bowser. The film looks like a visual dream and the participation of Nintendo has us hopeful it’s going to be a fine adaptation. You can catch the movie in local theaters beginning April 19.
THE POPE’S EXORCIST
Overlord director Julius Avery + Russell Crowe’s first horror movie = this interesting gem. Based on the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican, The Pope’s Exorcist follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden. Find out the secrets when the movie arrives in local cinemas on April 19.
GHOSTED
The pairing of Ana de Armas and Chris Evans graces our screens once more in this action-drama. Evans plays Cole, a man who falls head-over-heels for de Armas’ Sadie after a few dates. But when he flies to London to see her, he realizes that Sadie is actually a secret agent. What could go wrong? The film lands on Apple TV+ on April 21.
RENFIELD
Nicolas Cage has done many roles in his career, and that now includes Dracula. As the vampire’s assistant, Renfield (Nicholas Hoult), does whatever Dracula tells him. But after years of servitude, he begins to doubt his loyalty and looks to find autonomy from the famous vampire. This modern-day vampire tale looks to tell a charming yet poignant and bloody story of finding that passion in life. It flies onto local cinemas on April 26.
LOVE AND DEATH
Wake up bestie, a new series starring Elizabeth Olsen is about to drop. This show centers on the true story of Candy Montgomery (Olsen), a church-going Texas housewife that seemingly has the perfect life. That is, until, she snaps. The series premiers on HBO Max this April 27.
NEW SEASONS
While these aren’t new shows, they are premiering new seasons, or arriving on new platforms that give us another reason to watch them again. Maria Clara at Ibarra (Streaming on Netflix beginning April 14), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 (April 14), Barry Season 4 (April 16), Sweet Tooth Season 2 (April 27).
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