The SLMan Culture List – April
THE THRILLER: Widow’s Bay
Widow’s Bay blends genuine horror with character-driven comedy. Widow’s Bay is a quaint island town 40 miles off the coast of New England. But something lurks beneath the surface. Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is desperate to revive his struggling community. There’s no wi-fi, spotty phone reception and he must contend with superstitious locals who believe their island is cursed. He wants these people to respect him. They don’t. They think he is soft and cowardly. And he is. But Loftis is determined to build a better future for his teenage son and turn the island into a tourist destination. Miraculously, he succeeds: tourists are finally coming. Unfortunately, the locals were right. After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true, start happening again.
29th April
Visit Apple.com
THE FILM: The Drama
Starring Zendaya and a bespectacled Robert Pattinson, the film centres on a happily engaged couple, Emma and Charlie, who are put to the test when an unexpected revelation sends their wedding week far off course. So far, so rom-com. However, given this is an A24 film and neither Rob or Zendaya tend to do straight-up films, we’re expecting some twists and turns. Fun fact: the A-listers are also starring in The Odyssey and Dune III later this year.
3rd April
Visit Picturehouses.com
THE ENSEMBLE COMEDY: Outcome
Jonah Hill’s upcoming dark comedy Outcome stars Hill himself, Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, Susan Lucci, Laverne Cox, David Spade, Martin Scorsese, Atsuko Okatsuka, Roy Wood Jr, Welker White, Kaia Gerber and Ivy Wolk. Landing on Apple TV on 10th April, Outcome centres on Reef Hawk (Reeves), a beloved Hollywood star who must dive into the depths of his hidden demons after he is extorted with a mysterious video that’s sure to shatter his image and end his career. With the support of his lifelong besties Kyle (Diaz) and Xander (Bomer), along with his crisis lawyer Ira (Hill), Reef embarks on a soul-searching journey to make amends with anyone he could have possibly wronged in hopes of identifying the blackmailer.
10th April
Visit Apple.com
THE COMEDY: American Classic
American Classic tells the story of Broadway star Richard Bean who, following a spectacular public meltdown, returns home to the family theatre where he first became aware of his own brilliance. Once there, his extreme behaviour sets off a series of crises among those closest to him: his ex-girlfriend (now the town's mayor) married to his brother, his brother himself, and his beloved niece who dreams of a life in the theatre. As old loves resurface and buried secrets emerge, Richard must confront the consequences of his past actions and the family and town he left behind for fame and glamour.
11th April
Visit MGMPlus.com
THE DOCUMENTARY: McCartney: The Hunt For The Lost Bass
For over 50 years, the disappearance of Paul McCartney’s original Höfner bass has been one of rock ’n’ roll’s enduring mysteries. McCartney: The Hunt for the Lost Bass tells the extraordinary story of this iconic instrument, and the fan-powered quest to find it. Bought in Hamburg for £30, it was by Paul's side through the birth of The Beatles and their extraordinary rise to fame. When it vanished in the 70s, it was thought lost forever. This detective story features exclusive interviews with Paul, his brother Mike, Klaus Voormann, Elvis Costello and the roadies, journalists and fans who embarked on a mission to track down and restore the bass to its proper place in music history – and to Paul.
2nd April
Visit Picturehouses.com
THE SPORTS DOC: Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait
Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait is centred on Rory's battle with one of the most storied and revered golf courses in the world. To fans, Augusta National represents golf's ultimate cathedral – pristine fairways, blooming azaleas, with a tournament steeped in tradition and glory. But to Rory, it became a place of fears, failures and expectations that tormented him for 14 years. From his devastating 2011 collapse when he blew a four-shot Sunday lead at just 21 years old, to the near misses, disappointments and outright heartbreaks that followed, Augusta National became his nemesis – the one place that refused to yield even as he conquered the other three major championships: the US Open, the PGA Championship and The Open. Built around the dramatic final round of the 2025 Masters, unfolding hole by hole, this film is a cinematic battle between man and course.
Out now
Visit Amazon.co.uk
THE FILM TO STREAM: The Secret Agent
The Secret Agent stars Wagner Moura (Narcos, Civil War). It premiered at Cannes Film Festival, where Moura won the Best Actor prize and Mendonça Filho was named Best Director. After a limited cinema release last month, it’s now landing on streaming service MUBI. Exploring the tension between personal conviction and political corruption, the film is a gripping portrait of resistance and betrayal that resonates in today’s global climate. It follows a university professor who travels from São Paulo to the seaside city of Recife during Carnival week, hoping to reunite with his son. He soon finds out he’s been tailed and spied on by neighbours in his new refuge, leaving him no possible escape from the tentacles of corruption.
17th April
Visit MUBI.com
THE MUSEUM: V&A East
V&A East Museum officially opens on 18th April. At the centre of the museum will be two free permanent galleries, where guests will be able to see over 500 objects from the V&A’s collections spanning art, architecture, design, performance and fashion. In the Why We Make galleries, visitors can explore the most important issues in contemporary culture, with displays revealing unexpected connections across time and creative disciplines. The museum’s first landmark exhibition, The Music Is Black: A British Story, will explore how Black British music has shaped British culture from 1900 to the present day. Expect to see objects like Joan Armatrading’s childhood guitar (going on display for the first time) alongside fashion worn by Little Simz, and newly acquired photographs by artists including Jennie Baptiste, Beezer, Dennis Morris, Eddie Otchere, Sam White and more.
18th April
Visit VAM.ac.uk
THE BOOK: The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones have given Taschen unprecedented access to their archives for this new book. Featuring the work of legendary photographers like David Bailey, Herb Ritts, Peter Beard, Andy Warhol, David LaChapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Cecil Beaton and Anton Corbijn, these images capture the Stones’ captivating 60‑plus-year history and chart their outrageously cool lifestyle in over 500 pages of photographs and illustrations, gathered from archives all over the world. Unprecedented access to the Rolling Stones’ own archives in New York and London adds an equally extraordinary, more private side to Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ronnie’s stories.
Out now
Visit Taschen.com
THE FILM EVENT: Rio Forever!
The Rio Cinema has announced a special programme of events, marking 50 years of community cinema, which will launch with a party curated by contemporary artist Jeremy Deller and cultural troublemakers Sportsbanger on 17th April. This year marks 50 years of Hackney’s Rio Cinema being run by and for its community, and this major milestone is being celebrated with a six-month-long programme: Rio Forever. Throughout the year, filmmakers, artists and cultural agitators will dive into its archive of 50 years of cinema programming, and choose a title to reintroduce to the public.
From 17th April
Visit RioCinema.org.uk
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