As per usual, I can’t tell if films will be opening regularly or not this month … and I get exhausted and sad thinking about the industry and its lifespan ‘during these trying times.’ At any rate, I present to you a list of movies that may or may not release this month … what a mystery!
Here are some words I never thought I’d say: Bob Odenkirk, a comedic actor known for his roles in Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad and Mr. Show, is starring in an action thriller called Nobody. The film follows Odenkirk as Hutch Mansell, a mild-mannered family man who suffers from PTSD, and his unfortunate exploits with brawls, guns, explosions and murder. Written by Derek Kolstad, who penned all three John Wick films, it looks to offer some thrilling fight choreography and action set pieces brought together by a simple yet likeable story and character. Connie Nielsen, RZA and Christopher Lloyd costar. The film releases on …*checks notes* Oh, it’s already out? I thought … you know what, it doesn’t matter. It came out March 26 – go see it now!
If, instead, you want something really bloody, then Mortal Kombat might be right up your alley. Based on the controversial 1992 fighting video game and its numerous sequels and spin-offs, this will be a reboot of the film franchise after the disastrous – and near-universally panned – 1997 adaptation Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. In his directorial debut, Simon McQuoid helms a film with a relatively lesser known cast, so the over/under on if this will be a success is a complete shot in the dark. It’s rated R, and the series’ staple of brutal and gory finishing moves, known as “fatalities,” will be making a big screen appearance. Video game adaptations are often a mixed bag, but I’m hopeful that some over-the-top and comically violent fight scenes will make for an enjoyable experience. The film arrives on April 23, both theatrically and streaming on HBO Max.
Lastly, I have an online recommendation that came out last year, and I’m assuming that means plenty of people didn’t even notice. Titled The Vast of Night, the film follows a pair of teens in the 1950s, a switchboard operator and a radio disc jockey, who discover a bizarre audio frequency that appears to be extraterrestrial in nature. Directed by Oklahoma native Andrew Patterson on a shoestring budget, the attention to period specific detail is astounding. The two leads, Sierra McCormick and Jake Horowitz, absolutely shine in some spectacularly long takes and extremely fast back and forth dialog. The story is wildly engaging and the willingness to just let characters talk for extended periods of time, with little to no cutting, is a wonderful breath of fresh air. The eeriness in some music-free monologues is also striking. At just about ninety minutes, it’s well worth you consideration. The film is streaming on Amazon Prime.
