Without Remorse

ew film releases are finally starting to pick up , with more cinemas opening around the country ( specifically on the West Coast ). The backlog of film debuts begins this month as we lead up to the summer season . Here are some top picks for April .

Concrete Cowboy

Directed by Ricky Staub Rated R April 2nd on Netflix

Inspired by the novel Ghetto Cowboy by G . Neri , Ricky Staub ’ s coming-of-age drama follows a young teenager named Cole ( Caleb McLaughlin ), who is sent to spend a summer with his estranged father Harp

By Lori Vernon

( Idris Elba ), the horse-riding figure in the city ’ s community of black cowboys . Inspired by the actual residents in the North Philly neighborhood in which the movie takes place . Co-starring Jharrel Jerome , Byron Bowers , Lorraine Toussaint , and Clifford “ Method Man ” Smith .

The Unholy

Directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos Rated PG-13 April 2 In Theaters

The film follows Alice ( Cricket Brown ), a young hearing-impaired girl who , after a supposed visitation from the Virgin Mary , is inexplicably able to hear , speak and heal the sick . As word spreads and people from near

and far flock to witness her miracles , a disgraced journalist ( Jeffrey Dean Morgan ) hoping to revive his career visits the small New England town to investigate . When terrifying events begin to happen all around , he starts to question if these phenomena are the works of the Virgin Mary or something more sinister . Also starring William Sadler , Cary Elwes , and Katie Aselton .

Thunder Force

Directed by Ben Falcone Rated PG-13 April 9th on Netflix

In a world terrorized by supervillains , one woman has developed the process to give superpowers to regular people . But when scientist Emily Stanton ( Octavia Spencer ) accidentally imbues her estranged best-friend Lydia ( Melissa McCarthy ) with incredible abilities , the two women must become the first superhero team . Now , it is up to Thunder Force to battle the superpowered Miscreants and save Chicago from the clutches of The King ( Bobby Cannavale ).

Voyagers

Directed by Neil Burger Rated PG-13 April 9th in Theaters

With the future of the human race at stake , a group of young men and women , bred for intelligence and obedience , embark on an expedition to colonize a distant planet . But when they uncover disturbing secrets about the mission , they defy their training and begin to explore their most primitive natures . As life on the ship descends into chaos , they become consumed by fear , lust , and the insatiable

hunger for power . Starring Colin Farrell , Tye Sheridan , and Lily-Rose Depp .

Marvel ’ s The New Mutants

Directed by Josh Boone Rated PG-13 April 10th on HBO Max

This terrifying , action-filled film based on the MARVEL comic series follows five young people who demonstrate special powers who are forced to undergo treatment at a secret institution — allegedly to cure them of the dangers of their powers . But it ’ s soon clear that their containment is part of a much bigger battle between the forces of good and evil ! Starring Maisie Williams , Anya Taylor-Joy , Charlie Heaton , Alice Braga , Blu Hunt , and Henry Zaga .

Mortal Kombat

Directed by Simon McQuoid Rated R April 16th – In Theaters & HBO Max

Inspired by the blockbuster video game franchise , the film finds MMA fighter Cole Young ( Lewis Tan ), unaware of his heritage — or why Outworld ’ s Emperor Shang Tsung has sent his best warrior , Sub-Zero ( Joe Taslim ), to hunt Cole down . Fearing for his family ’ s safety , Cole goes in search of Sonya Blade ( Jessica McNamee ) at the direction of Jax ( Mehcad Brooks ), a Special Forces Major who bears the same strange dragon marking Cole was born with . Soon , he finds himself at the temple of Lord Raiden , along with experienced warriors Liu Kang , Kung Lao , and rogue mercenary Kano , as he prepares to stand with Earth ’ s greatest champions against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe

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14 illinoisentertainer . com april 2021