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This week’s CinemAddicts covers movies that debut April 18, 2025. Films reviewed include “It Feeds,” “The Shrouds,” “Dead Mail,” and “The Ugly Stepsister.” My recommendation this week is the MUBI release “Grand Tour,” and Eric Holmes’ movie picks is “Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day.” Listen to our latest episode below, and hopefully one of these movies will be on your watch list!
“Dead Mail” centers on Jasper (Sterling Macer Jr.), a kidnapped synthesizer engineer who sends a bloody note in a mailbox only to be stopped by his captor Trent (John Fleck). Jasper (Tomas Boykin) is a post office employee who is a “dead letter” investigator. The narrative beings with Jasper’s investigation of the note and chaos immediately ensues. Directed and written by Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy, “Dead Mail” debuts Shudder and AMC Plus starting April 18th. All of us love this inventive, low-budget indie.
I interviewed McConaghy this week and will post our “Dead Mail” spoilers discussion for our CinemAddicts Patreon members this week.Â
Listen to CinemAddicts Episode 290 on Podbean:
Celebrated filmmaker David Cronenberg is the writer/director behind “The Shrouds.” The narrative centers on Karsh (Vincent Cassel), an entrepreneur who has developed a new software that will allow people to witness the decay of loved ones who have passed and are buried in the earth. Diane Kruger stars as Karsh’s late wife who passed away from cancer and she also plays Karsh’s sister-in-law. The picture is a personal journey from Cronenberg, as the script was penned after the passing of his wife. “The Shrouds” hits theaters in New York and Los Angeles April 18 and expands April 25.
Listen to CinemAddicts Episode 290 on Spotify:
“The Ugly Stepsister,” written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, is a gory and eye-opening twist on the Cinderella tale. Elvira (Lea Myren) is focused on earning the prince’s affection no matter what it takes. Competing with Elivera for the prince’s love is the enchanting Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss). Feature hits theaters April 18th. Purkey reviewed the film and praised Lea Myren’s “fantastic” performance.
Eric Holmes and I absolutely love “It Feeds,” a horror thriller about a clairvoyant therapist named Cynthia (Ashley Greene) who attempts to help Riley (Shayelin Martin), a young girl who claims a malevolent entity is feeding on her. Shawn Ashmore co-stars as the troubled youth’s father and Ellie O’Brien is Cynthia’s daughter Jordan.
Directed and written by Chad Archibald, “It Feeds” works as a completely whacked out horror movie (check out the bonkers third act!) and a resonant family drama. This was the biggest surprise for me this week, as “It Feeds” is simply a well executed and scary as heck narrative. Greene and O’Brien deliver locked in performances as the loving mother and daughter team whose lives are threatened by this demonic force. Catch “It Feeds” in theaters April 18th.
Listen to CinemAddicts Episode 290 on Apple Podcasts:
One of my favorite films this year is “Grand Tour,” an ambitious feature from director Miguel Gomes (he won Best Director at the 77th Cannes Film Festival).
The narrative, set in 1917, centers on Edward (Gonçalo Waddington), a civil servant who leaves Burma to escape his fiancee Molly (Crista Alfaiate). The first half deals with Edward’s travels throughout Asia in attempt to evade Molly, and the second half deals with Molly’s attempts to find her supposed soulmate.
Gomes directed the live action scenes in a Portugal studio, and a lot of the archival footage was shot in 2020 as his film crew shot in various areas in Asia. The footage is employed as a future look at the area Molly and Edward were traveling through in 1917. It sounds a bit confusing, but ultimately “Grand Tour” is an immersive travelogue of the human spirit. While Edward is receeding from life when adversity hits, Molly faces these challenges head on with an unwavering attitude.
“Grand Tour,” predominantly shot in black and white, is an ode to screwball comedies while also existing as a insightful drama on human exploration. Although some cinephiles will not appreciate its unwieldy narrative, “Grand Tour” should garner a loyal following. I love the movie, and hopefully more CinemAddicts will follow suit!
 “Grand Tour” is now streaming on MUBI.
Last but not least, Eric Holmes reviews “Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day.” You can watch that documentary April 17-18 at TCL Chinese Theatres.
Listen to CinemAddicts Episode 290 on YouTube:
Comment below and tell us the movies you are watching this week. Thanks again for supporting CinemAddicts!
