With the arrival of April comes an influx of on-screen action, with enthralling battle scenes, frenzied apocalyptic mayhem and spine-chilling crime investigations wowing audiences in equal measure.
An astounding array of book-to-screen adaptations makes their presence evident this month, taking inspiration from the pages of award-winning novels and engaging webtoon comics. Parasyte: The Grey is one such intriguing series, which sees unidentified parasitic creatures violently taking over human hosts as terror spreads. A-list cast aside, the sci-fi horror also features mutant animation that do the manga series’ original artwork terrifying justice. For a more grounded watch, The Sympathizer takes us back in time to the end of the second Indochina war, starring Sandra Oh amongst its remarkable cast. Based on a Pulitzer-winning novel, the miniseries delves into the exploration of personal and political struggles through a communist spy’s eyes.
If you haven’t already caught one of the most highly-raved-about film releases from this year, Dune: Part 2 will be available on Prime Video this month. With its rousing success drawing comparisons to acclaimed adventure titans such as The Lord of the Rings, the hit sequel boasts more than an elite cast as it deftly examines stirring themes of power and religion. Far from fictional in its relatability to the real world, the release of this box office phenomenon is not to be forgoed.
Below, find Vogue Singapore’s curation of what to watch this April—all available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+ and HBO GO.
1 / 8
The Sympathizer
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title by Viet Thanh Nguyen, this historical black comedy mini series positions itself in the last days of the Vietnam War. Amongst the cast are familiar faces such as Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr and Sandra Oh, who perform this expertly crafted cross-cultural espionage thriller about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist plant who, upon starting afresh as a refugee in Los Angeles, learns that his spying days are far from over.
Watch The Sympathizer on HBO GO from 14 April.
2 / 8
Parasyte: The Grey
Monster movies may not be new, but this Korean sci-fi series orchestrated by the director of Train to Busan and Hellbound breathes new life into the genre through an adaptation of the legendary Japanese manga Parasyte. Dystopian tropes and freakish creatures abound in this riveting watch, which follows Jeon So-nee as Su-in, the only human surviving symbiotically with the parasitic life form within her. The benefits of coexistence are revealed to Su-in as she faces the risk of annihilation by the Grey, a potent task force undertaking all measures to eradicate the extraterrestrials attempting to overthrow mankind.
Watch Parasyte: The Grey on Netflix from 5 April.
3 / 8
Ripley
The cinematography sphere has another go at an adaptation of the best-selling Tom Ripley crime novels by Patricia Highsmith, this time presenting Andrew Scott in the foremost role—a grifter barely scraping by in 1960s New York. Traversing a world of wealth and privilege after being hired for a unique job in Italy, Ripley begins a complex life of deceit, fraud, and murder transcending beyond the confines of his profession. While the iconic 1999 precursor film saw Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow as the lead characters, this eight-part episodic narrative is joined instead by Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn, leaving psychological thriller fans much to anticipate.
Watch Ripley on Netflix from 4 April.
4 / 8
Goodbye Earth
End-of-the-world themes have a resurgence in this pre-apocalyptic drama. Chaos ensues in Korea when predictions of an asteroid collision arise, leaving citizens with 200 days to live. The compelling story zones in on a middle-school teacher struggling to save children in danger, her biotech researcher boyfriend, a Catholic Church’s assistant priest and a combat support battalion commander. With Yoo Ah In, Ahn Eun Jin, Jeon Seong Woo and Kim Yoon Hye in the lead, emotional turmoil and despair intensifies before the disastrous impact wipes out the earth.
Watch Goodbye Earth on Netflix from 26 April.
5 / 8
City Hunter
Yet another action-packed adaptation is en route to us, translating graphic pages into thrilling scenes‚ with a touch of comedic flair. Ryo Saeba is your typical swoon-worthy private eye—jumping at high-risk chances to fight evil in the underworld and lending help to the needy with his suave personality. Following an anonymous tip-off, the exceptional marksman is forced to team up with his late partner’s younger sister to investigate a famed cosplayer’s mysterious abduction.
Watch City Hunter on Netflix from 25 April.
6 / 8
Immaculate
Anyone But You star Sydney Sweeney enters the dark realm of gore and horror in her new role as Sister Cecilia, a devout American nun who eagerly joins a far-removed convent in the Italian countryside. What seems like a picture-perfect training centre for young nuns and a hospice for older ones in Cecilia’s eyes, eventually warps into a sinister house of the Lord as the scream queen discovers the unsettling truth.
Watch Immaculate on Prime Video from 18 April.
7 / 8
Dune: Part 2
This visually spectacular, star-studded sequel picks up where its Academy Award-winning predecessor left off, opening with the body of Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun) being transported home after his defeat by Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet). Paul’s love interest, Chani, played by Zendaya, makes a return with more screen time in this continuation—much to audiences’ delight. Humorous flair and nuanced themes of power and religious fanaticism are artfully introduced throughout the constant battle and danger present in this blockbuster, rendering it a thought-provoking masterpiece. Of course, no follow-up movie comes without fresh faces, so expect to see the likes of Florence Pugh and Austin Butler among the gifted ensemble.
Watch Dune Part 2 on Prime Video from 15 April.
8 / 8
Sugar
Stirring up more suspenseful mystery this month is noir detective drama Sugar, which captures Oscar-nominee Colin Farrell as the dapper John Sugar, tasked to hunt down missing people on behalf of an elite clientele. Black-and-white shots portray him following leads around the city to investigate the sudden disappearance of a legendary mogul’s granddaughter, unravelling harrowing family secrets that shine light on the illusory glamour of Hollywood lifestyles in the process.
Watch Sugar on Apple TV+ from 5 April.
