April is, like March, a funny month for cinema. But given that the festival circuit is coming to an end, more gritty, challenging and original films are making it to release. That said, there are also still doodoo films. There is True Story, a brilliantly written psychological thriller with a brave performance from Jonah Hill (I’m starting to love this guy) and Simon Pegg in Kill Me Three Times. But, we also have to sit through Furious 7 and Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. It’s a give and take kinda month.

So whether you choose to checkout that indie movie you’ve heard so much about, or the latest big studio release, don’t forget to click on the movie title below to view the trailer. We want to make sure you know what you are getting into before you head to the theater.

– Lottie Abrahams

April 17

Child 44

Stars: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman

Directed by: Daniel Espinosa

Synopsis: Tom Hardy stars as MGB Agent Leo Demidov, an intelligence collector at the height of Stalin’s rule in Soviet Russia. He quickly uncovers a series of brutal child under the communist regime, and faces staunch denial from his superiors who claim they are “accidents”. When his best friend’s child becomes one of the victims, Demidov sets himself on a path that could lead to his death.

Two Cents: Bad Russian accents aside, the cast is gold and it is certainly worth $15.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2

Stars: Kevin James, Molly Shannon, Neal McDonough

Directed by: Andy Fickman

Synopsis: Paul Blart returns as a supposedly-hilarious cop on a segway. *Insert generic plot here*

Two Cents: I mean, no.

Unfriended

Stars: Shelley Hennig, Renee Olstead, Courtney Halverson

Directed by: Levan Gabriadze

Synopsis: After a girl is humiliated in a video posted online, she commits suicide. However, her friends receive a sinister Skype call on the anniversary of their friends death, with a mysterious party in the conversation. Bit by bit, the anonymous person demands justice, and with each hour kills of the friends one by one.

Two Cents: A completely modern and terrifying horror movie – a class of its own. Everyone with a Facebook account should see this film.

True Story (Limited)

Stars: James Franco, Jonah Hill, Felicity Jones, Gretchen Mol

Directed by: Rupert Goold

Synopsis: Joanh Hill stars as Michael Finkle, a New York Times journalist who loses him job following allegations of misconduct in an article. Months into his unemployment, he receives a call, informing him that Christian Longo (James Franco), a man on trial for murdering his wife and kids, has been found hiding under his name. Michael goes to see the accused in jail, and it is revealed that Christian has an unhealthy obsession with Michael. Michael agrees to write an article on him aimed at his aquittal, only to find the story not adding up, and finds that he has been a pawn in a much larger game all along.

Two Cents: It’s a shame James Franco is such a great actor – it makes it really hard to hate him when he comes out with movies this good.