‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and 7 Other Films To Watch In April

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and 7 Other Films To Watch In April - From critically-acclaimed horrors (A Quiet Place) to Chinese tearjerkers (Love Education) to Dwayne Johnson actioners (Rampage) and even a Rajinikanth epic (Kaala), there’s something for everyone in the cinema this month.

But who are we kidding. You’re all just waiting for Avengers: Infinity War, aren’t you?

The Wayang Kids (April 5)

Cast: Eli Shih, Christopher Downs, May Phua, Jocie Kok, Austin Chong, Lorena Gibb

Director: Raymond Tan

Paula, a Eurasian girl from China, befriends an autistic classmate called Open in her new Singaporean primary school, and encourages him to join their school’s international Chinese opera performance.

Why you should watch it:

You’ll be doing some good while watching it. It’s part of GSC’s Autism Awareness Campaign – for every ticket sold to The Wayang Kids, RM1 will be donated to the National Autism Society of Malaysia (Nasom) to fund its activities.

A Quiet Place (April 5)

Cast: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds

Director: John Krasinski

The world has been invaded by strange creatures that are drawn towards any sort of sound. Deep in the woods, a family of four must survive without making a single sound.

Why you should watch it:

Reviews have been scarily positive for this horror film, and for good reason too. It’s got an intriguing and quite original concept, strong performances by the cast, and it’s scary as hell.

Dukun (April 5)

Cast: Umie Aida, Faizal Hussein, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Namron, Sofi Jikan

Director: Dain Said

Loosely based on the real life case of Mona Fandey, a singer turned bomoh who was involved in the murder of a former Malaysian politician in 1993.

Why you should watch it:

We’ve only waited more than a decade for this movie to see the light of day, so we’re really interested to see just how it turns out. There’s been  quite a bit of controversy surrounding it though, se we’re keeping our fingers crossed for now.

Love Education (April 12)

Cast: Sylvia Chang, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Lang Yueting, Lang Yueting, Wu Yanshu

Director: Sylvia Chang

The elderly mother of teacher Huiying dies. Huiying wants to relocate her late father’s grave away from their ancestral home in the countryside so her parents can be buried together, but Nana, her father’s estranged first wife by an arranged marriage, objects.

Why you should watch it:

This tearjerker about women from three generations of a Chinese family has been nominated for numerous awards in China and Hong Kong, with Sylvia Chang getting quite a few as director AND actress. Expect a deep, personal emotional drama that will have your tears flowing.

Rampage (April 19)

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello, Jake Lacy

Director: Brad Peyton

Primatologist Davis Okoye has been caring for albino silverback gorilla George since birth. A genetic experiment turns the gentle George into a giant monster, along with a wolf and a crocodile, and the three animals go on a rampage. Okoye must now race against time to save George, and the world.

Why you should watch it:

For Dwayne Johnson, without a doubt. Even when a movie is bad, just having Johnson in it is enough to make it worth the cinema ticket. Except for The Scorpion King, of course, but The Rock gets a pass for being as stiff as a rock in that one because it was his first major movie.

Goodbye Christopher Robin (April 19)

Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Kelly Macdonald, Alex Lawther

Director: Simon Curtis

Based on the life of Winnie The Pooh creator A.A. Milne, who moves his family from the city to the English countryside, where he begins to write stories about the growing collection of stuffed animals that his son Christopher Robin has.

Why you should watch it:

What is it with Domhnall Gleeson and children’s books? First Harry Potter, then Peter Rabbit, and now Winnie The Pooh. Thankfully, this looks like a much better film than Peter Rabbit, as it explores the darker side of how success can affect a family’s fortunes.

Gringo (April 19)

Cast: David Oyelowo, Joel Edgerton, Amanda Seyfried, Charlize Theron, Thandie Newton

Director: Nash Edgerton

Down-on-his-luck Harold is sent to Mexico by his company to hand-deliver a revolutionary weed pill, but is kidnapped and thrust into the middle of a conflict between his business partners, Mexican drug lords and the law.

Why you should watch it:

Because it looks pretty funny, and it’s been a while since we’ve seen Charlize Theron in a comedic role. And besides, it’s the week before Avengers: Infinity War opens, so we need SOMETHING to kill time with.

Avengers: Infinity War (April 25)

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen, Sebastian Stan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Karen Gillan, Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Zoe Saldana, Scarlett Johansson, Tessa Thompson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Dave Bautista, Jon Favreau, Don Cheadle, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Anthony Mackie, Benedict Wong

Director: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo

A rather big group of superheroes assemble to take down a big blue bald baddie wielding a giant glove with glowing gems.

Why you should watch it:

Really? You really need us to spell out WHY you need to watch this? Just take a look at that extensively long cast list, and imagine them in costume as their superhero alter-egos, all together on in the same movie. If THAT doesn’t convince you, nothing else will.

Kaala (April 27)

Cast: Rajnikanth, Huma Qureshi, Nana Patekar, Anjali Patil

Director: Pa Ranjith

Kaala is the don of the Dharavi slums. He may be a gangster boss, but he has a heart of gold, and spends his time fighting for oppressed Tamils in Mumbai.

Why you should watch this:

If a movie with all the superheroes in the Marvel universe isn’t epic enough for you, well, there’s always Rajinikanth, eh?