The first weekend in April brought plenty of interesting options on both the big and small screen. Below is a look at the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

The First Omen (Theaters)
Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sonia Braga, and Bill Nighy
Synopsis: It’s a big time for unwanted demonic pregnancies on screen. After the Neon film Immaculate last week, we got a prequel to The Omen this week. We pick up the action in 1971, as a young girl, Margaret (Free), arrives in Rome to work at an orphanage and take her vows. She doesn’t speak much Italian, but she’s excited to be in service after being a ward of the church all her life. But she finds things at the orphanage different than she expected, connecting with an outcast ward who reminds her of her own journey. And it doesn’t take long to see how this film connects to the original Omen, released in 1976. This is a slow build. If we hadn’t just seen a very similar story last week, it might feel a bit more original. There are some decent performances, particularly from Free. There are also some unsettling sequences, all building to a reveal—and ending—that feels fairly predictable if you’re familiar with the source material. We didn’t need a prequel to fill in the gaps, but this ends up being a decent horror film.
Rating: Rated R for violent content, grisly/disturbing images, and brief graphic nudity.

Girls State (Apple TV+)
About: Back in 2020, as the world descended into chaos due to a pandemic, we got an interesting documentary, Boys State, that looked at the political process through the eyes of high school boys in Texas. Now, four years later, the filmmakers are back, repeating the process with a twist. This time we’re with a group of girls in Missouri who are figuring out what it would be like to govern—which includes dealing with the disparity of opportunities and resources between them and their male counterparts in their own state. On paper, it seems too easy to go back to the well. But given the unprecedented time for women when it comes to legislation and rulings, this is an ideal time to explore what it all means to the next generation as they, hopefully, prepare to lead. I loved Boys State when it was released in 2020. It ended up among my favorite films of that year. This film is different—and not just because of the subjects. The experience is different, and the issues are different. But it’s equally compelling and beautifully told. It gives you hope that with these kids charging toward adulthood, the upcoming generation might just be all right.
Rating: TV-14

Musica (Prime Video)
Starring: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, Francesca Reale, and J.B. Smoove
Synopsis: The latest Prime Video original is a romantic comedy and a musical story from Mancuso, who stars in the film, co-wrote the script and directs. It’s about a young man, Rudy (Mancuso), who is trying to find himself and unleash his passion. He’s also torn between his longtime girlfriend (Reale) and a new woman (Mendes) who might know his heart better. It’s a fun and musical ride, full of comedy and showcasing Mancuso’s unique talents and his unique point of view. I enjoyed the ride and the performances. It’s charming and moves at a good pace, while offering a satisfying ending that doesn’t go where you’d expect. This is worth taking time to check out on Prime Video.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some strong language, suggestive references and brief violence.

Scoop (Neflix)
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Romola Garai, and Billie Piper
Synopsis: By now, most everyone is familiar with Jeffrey Epstein and the heinous crimes he committed. This new Netflix film focuses on his connection to Prince Andrew (Sewell), and the BBC interview he granted that led to him losing face and losing his titles. The focus is on the trio of women at the BBC that worked to land and execute the interview. It starts with Sam McAlister (Piper), the booker who is contacted by a member of Prince Andrew’s staff and works to secure the interview. Also, part of the team is the new producer (Garai) and the star reporter (Anderson) who had a hand in the landmark interview. The film also attempts to get us to understand why he granted the interview in the first place, including a close staff member (Kate Fleetwood) who wanted to believe Andrew could redeem himself if given the right chance to go on the record. That, of course, didn’t happen. I love a good journalism film, and this has some moments. It likely also plays a bit better in England, where this was more of a landmark moment. I enjoyed the film for what it was, but I thought it fell short of being great.
Rating: TV-14

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.