What to Watch on IFC in April

By Joanna Varikos on 03/30/2009

April showers have nothing on IFC's April Splatters. We've rounded up a few of our favorite scream-inducing films for one serious fright night. There's "It's Alive," featuring a mutated baby lizard monster on a rampage of evil; "Monkey Shines," about a helper monkey on, er, a rampage of evil; "Pumpkinhead," directed by special effects wiz Stan Winston; and "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," based on the true story of the mass murderer who videotaped his brutal acts. It all starts pouring down at 8PM on Thursday, April 9th.

On Thursday, April 23rd, kicking off at 8PM, we've got a night of indie (or at least indie in spirit) action, starts off with the one, the only "Robocop," from schlock auteur Paul Verhoeven, about a police officer turned cyborg on a mission of revenge. Next, Bruce Willis takes on the Irish and Italian mobs during the Prohibition era in the gangster-meets-western "Last Man Standing." Finally, adding some Oscar-winning hustle to the pack, Ang Lee's masterpiece of martial arts cinema "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" rounds out the night with its tale of lovers and warriors defying gravity to battle for a stolen sword.

Plus, if you were unable to attend this year's festivities in Austin, don't fret. IFC has your backstage pass to the best of music, film and all things interactive from the 2009 SXSW Festival. "South by Southwest, Behind the Badge" airs all this month.

PREMIERES TO LOOK FOR:

• DRUGSTORE COWBOY One of Gus Van Sant's earliest features, this film stars Matt Dillon as an addict traveling the open road to rob drugstores. Kelly Lynch and Heather Graham also appear. Premieres Wednesday, April 1st @ 8PM.


• CHASING AMY Kevin Smith directs this cult indie about a male comic book artist (Ben Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian (Joey Lauren Adams). Premieres Thursday, April 2nd @ 8PM.


• LOVELY & AMAZING A mother deals with three daughters who are bundles of insecurities, relationship problems and desires for plastic surgery. Premieres Monday, April 6th @ 8PM.


• FAST FOOD NATION An exceptional ensemble group of actors, including Greg Kinnear, Catalina Sandino Moreno and Wilmer Valderrama, star in this drama examining the effects fast food has on society. Premieres Friday, April 10th @ 7:15PM.


• KILL THE POOR This dark comedy revolves around a man (David Krumholtz) who moves his pregnant wife into the Lower East Side neighborhood in which his grandparents grew up, only to realize many things have since changed. Premieres Monday, April 13th @ 1AM.


• BEFORE SUNRISE Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy stir up serious chemistry as two young travelers who cross paths in Europe and end up spending one intimate night together. Premieres Monday, April 13th @ 8PM.