What’s on in cinemas | April indie films

April’s indie cinema offerings include a disturbing found-footage horror, an exploration of faith and nature and a Japanese anime film. Here are our indie picks for what’s on in cinemas this month. 

The Outwaters / April 7

Credit: Blue Finch Films Releasing

If you’re in need of some frights for your Easter weekend, look no further than The Outwaters. This dream-like, brutal nightmare comes from writer-director Robbie Banfitch and will leave you rattled to your core. Elevating the tired found-footage format, the film is built on the footage found on three memory cards found in the desert, there is no sign of the owners, and the footage reveals their disturbing fate. 

Godland / April 7

Credit: Curzon

If horror isn’t quite your thing, how about a quiet rumination of faith, nature and humanity? Hlynur Pálmason’s beautiful, exhausting Godland is set in the 19th century and follows a Danish priest on his journey to build a church in a remote village in Iceland. Maria von Hausswolff’s camera captures the stark beauty of Iceland but also the brutality of Mother Nature. 

One Fine Morning / April 14

Credit: MUBI

April also gives us a new Mia Hansen-Løve film. One Fine Morning follows Léa Seydoux’s Sandra, who is trying to find suitable assisted living accommodation for her father suffering from a neurodegenerative disease. She embarks on a romance with an old friend after a chance encounter.

Suzume / April 14

Credit: Sony Pictures Releasing

Written and directed by anime auteur Makoto Shinkai, Suzume shot right to the top of the charts in Japan at the time of release and became the fourth highest-grossing film of 2022. The film follows a teenage girl and a mysterious young man who try to prevent several disasters all over the country. 

How to Blow Up A Pipeline / April 21

Credit: Vertigo Releasing

Daniel Goldhaber’s follow-up to CAM follows a group of environmental activists who try to blow up a pipeline, as you might have guessed from the title. The film has a starry cast of well-known indie actors, including The Batman’s Jayme Lawson, Sasha Lane and Lukas Gage. The film is currently enjoying a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Swallowed / April 24

Credit: Blue Finch Films Releasing

 Swallowed had its UK premiere at FrightFest last year and is now getting a general theatrical release so audiences across the UK can experience this gnarly body horror for themselves. Two friends make a deal to ingest and smuggle some drugs across the border but quickly find out what they’ve swallowed is something much more dangerous than your usual drugs.