Cinematic scribbles of a ham sandwich fan: Search results for fighting with my family

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August 27, 2022

15 films to enjoy this week on de telly

Fargo Sat 27/8 RTE1 @ 23.35

North Dakota. A snowbound plan to get out of financial difficulty comes undone when psychopaths and pregnant police officers get involved. This black comedy from The Coen Brothers is a wickedly enjoyable and viciously violent look at what happens when money is short. The cast is second to none with Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, William H. Macy and a terrifying Peter Stormare all putting in a mighty shift.

Britt-Marie Was Here Sun 28/8 BBC2 @ 01.00

Life takes a wild twist for Britt-Marie when her marriage that's taken up most of her life crumbles and she finds herself alone, in her mid 60's, in a new town and about to take up a new and exciting job. A heartwarming tale from Sweden about having the guts to step away from what makes you miserable and the bravery to walk into the great beyond. Pernilla August, who Star Wars fans might recognise, does nice work in the title role.

Arachnophobia Sun 28/8 Great! Movies @ 18.50

A gigantic creepy crawly makes its way from the jungles of South America to a small town in California and begins to make life hell for it's inhabitants. Especially the new doctor in town who's new patients are dropping like flies. If you hate spiders ( like I do) this is a nerve-wracking couple of hours but it's done with such a light and charming touch you'll end up loving it. Jeff Daniels is a truly plucky lead and John Goodman brings all the fun.

About A Boy Sun 28/8 RTE2 @ 21.00

Will is an immature eejit skipping from one woman to the next while living off family money. Marcus is a troubled boy living with his depressed mother Fiona. One day they meet and it's an odd match but somehow it works. This adaptation of Nick Hornby's book is a joy. Hugh Grant is an effective lead and Toni Collette and a baby-faced Nicholas Hoult bring a tonne of emotion to proceedings.

She Never Died Sun 28/8 The Horror Channel @ 21.00

Lacey carries a large burden on her back but when a young girl is kidnapped she has a chance to use her unusual abilities to help the girl and find a bit of redemption for herself. A gritty blend of crime drama and horror thriller that takes a while to settle into it's stride but when it does it's combination of grimy & gooey practical FX and it's game lead in Olunike Adeliyi make it a memorable end to the weekend.

Bram Stoker's Dracula Mon 29/8 Film4 @ 00.50

Yeah, we all know the story. Jonathan Harker. The Borgo Pass. A scary old dude who turns young when he drinks blood. Mina, the woman he falls for. Renfield. Carfax Abbey. Van Helsing. It's all been done to death but in the hands of Francis Ford Coppola the story of Dracula becomes a hilariously overwrought and bonkers watch that will set your imagination revving. Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder and & Anthony Hopkins lead a packed cast.

Mona Lisa Mon 29/8 Talking Pictures TV @ 21.00

An ex-criminal gets work driving a call girl from job to job and finds himself swiftly disgusted by the sordid things he sees playing out in London's dark underbelly. Bob Hoskins and Cathy Tyson are brilliant in a heady blend of love story and crime drama and surprisingly enough there's even a few laughs in here too to leaven the harshness. It's well directed by Neil Jordan as always and a chance to see the vile side of Michael Caine.

Starter For 10 Mon 29/8 BBC2 @ 22.00

Brian is a new student feeling very out of place when he arrives at Bristol university, but before long he finds himself on a University Challenge team and he has a chance to begin building friends and maybe even a relationship. A charming and funny romantic comedy that will grab you from the get go thanks to a fun early performance from James McAvoy. Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall & Dominic Cooper add fine back up..

Monos Tues 30/8 CH4 @ 01.00

Teenage soldiers on a remote Colombian mountaintop are left to their own devices while holding a prisoner of war hostage. Did I mention they were teenagers? Yeah, teenagers, on their own, with guns. A tough watch as you can imagine, about the bleaker side of human nature and all the impulses that come along with it. But an oddly beautiful story too, one that will linger in your head for an age. Sofía Buenaventura, Moisés Arias and Julianne Nicholson each add to a potent mix.

Black '47 Wed 31/8 Film4 @ 21.00

Martin Feeney has arrived back home to find his country decimated by famine and his sister in law kicked out of her house by a British landlord and his Vichy Irish henchmen. Things then get even worse and soon Martin has British blood on his hands. This 2018 Irish western is magnificent stuff. It's upsetting of course as it's a look at a horrifying period in our history but it's a satisfying revenge thriller too. James Frecheville, Moe Dunford, Jim Broadbent, Sarah Greene and Stephen Rea all do super work.

Fighting With My Family Wed 31/8 RTE1 @ 21.35

The Knight's are a family of wrestlers and bouncing each other off the canvas keeps them close. That is until daughter Saraya applies to join World Wrestling Entertainment inc and gets accepted which leads to more than a bit of strife. The true story of wrestler Paige is a lot warmer and funnier than you'll expect. The usual sport movie cliches are there but the film's energy and fizz will mean you won't care. Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost and Jack Lowden all go well together.

Phil Lynott : Songs For When I'm Away Wed 31/8 RTE2 @ 21.35

73 years ago a mixed race boy was born to an Irish mother who returned to Ireland to raise him. He was an unusual sight in late 50's Ireland but he was happy and into music which eventually led him to Thin Lizzy. A well put together look at Philo, an Irish legend, laced with his fantastic music and contributions from friends and family. It's a bit too coy about his personal problems at times but if you're a fan you'll really like it.

Passport To Pimlico Thur 1/9 Talking Pictures TV @ 16.30

In post war London an unexploded bomb from the Blitz goes off and a treasure trove of hidden goodies is found, including a document proving Pimlico still belongs to France. And being part of France means the people of Pimlico are free from post war rationing. A gentle and whimsical comedy from Ealing studios that captures the grit and warmth of London after WWII. Margaret Rutherford and Stanley Holloway led a stacked cast.

12 Angry Men Fri 2/9 Film4 @ 14.55

A young man is on trial for murder. Eleven men in the jury think he's guilty. One man can see reasonable doubt and sets out to change the mind of the others. Twelve men in a room talking. Sounds deathly dull doesn't it. It's not. It's a triumph of a film, gripping and perfectly acted by a cast of famous faces including Lee J.Cobb, Martin Balsam, Ed Begley and Henry Fonda as the conscience laden juror number eight.

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Fri 2/9 TG4 @ 21.05

Three men, Blondie, Tuco and Angel Eyes, have their sights set on hidden gold and backstab and connive their way across the Mexican desert to get to it first. The final part of Sergio Leone's spaghetti western trilogy is an absolute masterpiece, astonishing in it's scale, jaw dropping in it's cruelty and beauty. Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef do amazing work and the music from Ennio Morricone will just carry you off into another time.

June 04, 2022

15 films on TV this week you might like

Assault On Precinct 13 Sat 4/6 The Horror Channel @ 21.00

The LAPD has just come down heavily on the Street Thunder Gang. They want revenge. A father and his daughter are caught in the middle. Chaos ensues. John Carpenter's 1976 crime thriller might be a bit dated now but it's still a thrilling, nail biting movie that will definitely shock you if you haven't seen it before. Austin Stoker and Darwin Joston lead a mostly unknown cast in robust fashion.

Lullaby Sat 4/6 BBC2 @ 21.00

Miriam has decided to return to work, a choice her husband isn't happy with. But she sticks to her guns and hires a nanny called Louise and well..... you'll just have to see. This 2019 French drama is a very watchable one but don't go into it expecting The Hand That Rocks The Cradle part deux. It's more intelligent and interesting than that and strong turns from Leïla Bekhti and Karin Viard keep things moving nicely.

Ford Vs Ferrari Sat 4/6 RTE1 @ 21.25

Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles, designer and driver respectively of the Ford GT40, the car that will finally end Ferrari's superiority on the race track. Here's their story and it's as entertaining as Hollywood movies get, a film most viewers will enjoy even if they don't give a fig about the sport of car racing. Matt Damon, our own Caitriona Balfe, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Tracey Letts, all are having fun here and that fun translates wonderfully to our screens.

The Cured Sun 5/6 RTE2 @ 01.15

Dublin in the aftermath of a zombie plague is a strange place to live. It's even stranger for the zombies who have been cured because they can remember exactly who they killed and ate during their infection. It leads to some....issues. This 2017 Irish horror is a deadly twist on an old story. It's as bloody and gory as you'd expect but it's clever and subversive as well and a hefty cast including Tom Vaughn-Lawlor, Elliot Page and Sam Keeley do nice work.

Shenandoah Sun 5/6 RTE1 @ 14.45

Charlie Anderson lives a quiet, peaceful and contented life on his Virginian farm with his six sons. The civil war soon encroaches, a conflict he wants no part of, but one he's forced into when his family get involved. A fine, handsomely mounted anti war western epic that takes it's time and nails it's ending. James Stewart leads a cast packed with dozens of faces you'll recognise from a hundred other westerns.

The Royal Tenenbaums Sun 5/6 Great! Movies @ 23.05

Chas, Margot, and Richie Tenenbaum, three immensely gifted teenagers who succeeded wildly in whatever they tried. Nowadays they are three deeply broken adults, ruined by their father's actions. Wes Anderson's 2001 comedy drama is funnier than it sounds but there's also a vein of sadness and humanity running through it that will stay with you. It's also his last great film before he fell up his own backside. Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gene Hackman and Angelica Huston all nail their parts.

The Ground Beneath My Feet Mon 6/6 Film4 @ 01.40

Lola has a laser focus on her job. She's a perfectionist and it transfers over to her personal life as well. Everything is ordered, everything is in it's right place. Everything except the secret she keeps about her family, a secret that's about to ruin her. Made in Austria in 2019, it is an intense one, a twisting, noir-ish, gripping and intelligently told story that lets a stellar turn from Valerie Pachner digs its claws into you.

The Silence Of The Lambs Mon 6/6 TG4 @ 22.15

Women are being killed and an imprisoned murderer may have the answers and it's up to a fresh faced FBI trainee to figure out the clues he's giving her. Aspects of Jonathan Demme's multi Oscar winning psychological thriller/horror have dated badly but it still packs one hell of a punch. A suspenseful, vicious and darkly funny story powered by exceedingly effective turns from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins.

Only The Brave Tues 7/6 Film4 @ 18.25

Eric Marsh is the superintendent of an Arizona fire fighting crew and he's taking a chance on Brendan McDonough, a young man who's let drugs ruin his life. It's wildfire season and now Brendan really has to step up. A tough tale, based on a real life story, about the underpaid, under-resourced heroes who put their neck on the line to save people every day. Josh Brolin, Jennifer Connelly and Miles Teller do well leading a packed cast.

The Brood Wed 8/6 The Horror Channel @ 02.40

A psychiatrist is using some rather unorthodox techniques to help his patients deal with their issues and the parents of one patient are realising it's doing more harm than good. David Cronenberg's 1979 horror is absolutely bonkers and it's premise will be too much for some to swallow but if you go with it you'll have some horrible, uncomfortable squirmy fun. Oliver Reed brings his usual intensity to bear as the doctor.

Goodbye Columbus Wed 8/6 Talking Pictures TV @ Midnight

A man and woman meet and fall in love in late 60's New Jersey. He's an ex soldier and she's a student. Both are Jewish but they still come from different worlds and find that social classes are very much a thing. An adaption of Philip Roth's story that's a bitingly honest look at how love sometimes just isn't enough for a relationship to work. Ali McGraw does well in her debut movie but Richard Benjamin steals the show.

A Star Is Born Thur 9/6 BBC4 @ 22.40

The 1954 version. Norman's career is on the ropes, drink has ruined him, but one night he meets a showgirl called Esther and spots a chance to help her and revitalise himself. But Hollywood is an unforgiving place and alcohol is an unforgiving drug. Judy Garland and James Mason are excellent in a heartbreaking cautionary tale. It's almost 154 minutes long but you'll be glued to every single one of them.

Overlord Thur 9/6 Film4 @ 23.50

D-Day. 6th of June, 1944. Paratroopers are descending on Normandy to take on the might of the German army but little do they suspect what's lurking in the darkness under the small town they must infiltrate. Ok, this action/horror is probably the goriest WWII film you'll ever see so avoid if you are squeamish but if you enjoy seeing nazis dying horribly you'll have a whale of a time here. Jovan Adepo and Wyatt Russell do decent work as the guys in charge.

Creed Fri 10/6 RTE1 @ 22.35

Adonis Creed wants to follow in his father's footsteps and to do so he looks up to the only man who could ever challenge him, Rocky Balboa. No one expected the 7th installment in the Rocky series to work but it's a fantastic achievement and one that sees Rocky stepping down to a supporting role as a new contender steps up. Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and of course Sylvester Stallone all do amazing work.

The Flesh And Blood Show Fri 10/6 Talking Pictures TV @ 22.55

The stage of an abandoned theater beside the sea becomes stained red with blood when a group of actors brought together by a mysterious benefactor start dying in strange and ghoulish ways. Infamous horror maestro Pete Walker's 1972 horror thriller is as sleazy and silly as you can imagine but it's also a fun and inventively grisly friday night watch. Ray Brooks and Jenny Hanley are the standouts here.

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August 21, 2021

17 films on TV for you this week

Fighting With My Family Sat 21/8 CH4 @ 21.00

The Knight's are a family of wrestlers and bouncing each other off the canvas keeps them close. That is until daughter Saraya applies to join World Wrestling Entertainment inc and gets accepted which leads to more than a bit of strife. The true story of wrestler Paige is a lot warmer and funnier than you'll expect. The usual sport movie cliches are there but the films energy and fizz will mean you won't care. Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost and Jack Lowden all go well together.

Lords Of Chaos Sat 21/8 Film4 @ 23.15

In the early 90's the young men of Oslo took their metal music very seriously and efforts to one up each other led to a crime spree that made worldwide news. At the centre of it all were musicians Øystein Aarseth and Kristian Vikarnes. A true story so bonkers it will seem like fiction, laced with treacle black humour and some almost unwatchable bloodshed. It's not for the faint of heart but great acting from Rory Culkin and Jack Kilmer add lightness to it.

The Drummer And The Keeper Sat 21/8 RTE1 @ 23.55

Gabriel is a drummer with a bipolar disorder. Christopher is a teenager with Asperger's. Thrown together at a football game as part of their treatment they form a bond. This Dublin set drama is a captivating look at the therapeutic power of friendship. It's a tough watch in places but it builds to a heart warming finish. Jacob McCarthy & Dermot Murphy lead a lovely Irish cast that also includes Peter Coonan and Niamh Algar. Warning - lego fans may be traumatised

The Straight Story Sun 22/8 Film4 @ 11.00

A health scare has given Alvin a fright and when his brother fails ill he decides to visit him. But he lives in Iowa, his brother is in Wisconsin and his only mode of transport is a little lawn tractor. David Lynch's road trip story from 1999 is a glorious slice of Americana. Sentimental but never mawkish, it's a film that laughs with but never at it's hero. Richard Farnsworth is just super as the man with the plan.

The Lady Vanishes Sun 22/8 BBC2 @ 13.15

While travelling on a train across Europe a young woman makes friends with an elderly lady who all of a sudden disappears from the train. No one else seems to know who the older woman was at all. One of Hitchcock's earliest thrillers is a doozy of a watch, full of suspense and so so watchable. So influential too. Margaret Lockwood, May Whitty and Michael Redgrave are all magnificent.

Of Mice And Men Sun 22/8 TG4 @ 16.35

The Great depression has American in upheaval and brothers George & Lennie are trying to survive whatever way they can. Gentle giant Lennie is often misunderstood and one day his behaviour is going to cause real trouble. Adapted from John Steinbeck's 1937 book it's a beautiful looking and brilliantly acted look at loneliness and the myriad forms of human interaction. John Malkovich, Gary Sinise and Sherilyn Fenn do wonderful work.

If.... Sun 22/8 Great! Movies Classics (formerly Sony Movies Classics) @ 22.00

English public schools. Vile places. Hotbeds of snobbery, torture and abuse. Three pupils have had enough of the school sanctioned violence carried out by older students and they decide to.... Lindsay Anderson's 53 year old satire of the English social class system was very controversial on release and still packs a hell of a punch. A funny, subversive and vicious watch lead by a wicked turn from a baby faced Malcolm McDowell.

Dance With A Stranger Mon 23/8 Film4 @ 00.45

An English woman named Ruth Ellis made history in 1955 and this film tells us her dark story. She ran a club frequented by the rich and shameless and her dalliances with the men she met never ended well. Miranda Richardson is amazing in the lead role, turning in one of those performances that make you forgot you're watching an actor at work. Ian Holm and Rupert Everett offer strong support in a film you'll need to psyche yourself up for.

Black Panther Mon 23/8 RTE2 @ 21.00

His father, the king of Wakanda, is dead and now T'Challa aka Black Panther must step up and lead his country against those that wish it harm. Arguably the jewel in Marvel's crown, it's a hell of a ride. Yeah it follows the usual comic book movie formula but it also steeps itself in African culture in a way rarely seen in western cinema and it's all the better for it. The late Chadwick Boseman is a mighty hero and Michael B. Jordan nails the bad guy(?) role.

Rough Cut Tues 24/8 Talking Pictures TV @ 02.55

Jack and Gillian. Partners in crime. Two successful jewel thieves who've decided to work together to get their mitts on millions in precious stones. Hopefully nothing romantic will happen to complicate matters. Burt Reynolds was always at his best in comedies and this entertaining and energetic Hitchcockian tale uses him well. Charming turns from Lesley-Anne Down and David Niven add to it's fun.

Hallam Foe Wed 25/8 Film4 @ 01.15

From his tree house in the woods Hallam loves to spy on people. He's a weird chap, he hates his stepmother and his problems stem from a tragedy in his past. A move to Edinburgh might be just what he needs. A dark and dreamy coming of age film that might give you the ick but Jamie Bell is so good in the lead role that you'll eventually be able to look past his damage and see the broken heart trying to fix itself.

Phil Lynott : Songs For While I'm Away Wed 25/8 RTE1 @ 21.35

72 years ago a mixed race boy was born to an Irish mother who returned to Ireland to raise him. He was an unusual sight in late 50's Ireland but he was happy and into music which eventually led him to Thin Lizzy. A well put together look at Philo, an Irish legend, laced with his fantastic music and contributions from friends and family. It's a bit too coy about his personal problems at times but if you're a fan you'll really like it.

Personal Shopper Wed 25/8 BBC2 @ 23.15

Maureen is a young woman working in the Parisian fashion world. She's also engulfed by grief and sorrow after a family tragedy and she's waiting for a sign connected to an oath she once took. An unusual and unsettling drama to say the least that's best watched knowing as little as possible. A restrained but very affecting performance from Kristin Stewart makes this a compelling watch.

Wind Chill Thur 26/8 The Horror Channel @ 00.55

On the day before Christmas eve a couple are heading home and decide to take a shortcut through the snowy wilderness. As you can probably guess things go sideways for them. Really sideways. Wind Chill starts off relatively normal before descending rapidly into a blast of surrealistic horror that's by turns bleak, terrifying and claustrophobic. It's not an enjoyable watch but it's an interesting one. Emily Blunt and Martin Donovan do well here.

Suddenly, Last Summer Fri 27/8 Great! Movies Classics (formerly Sony Movies Classics) @ 01.15

From the pen of Tennessee Williams comes a dark tale of a woman troubled by something she witnessed on holiday the year before and the lengths to which her aunt will go to hide what exactly happened. A dark, decadent and sultry slice of Southern Gothic melodrama that was X-rated on it's release 63 years later and still feels quite forceful today. Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift and Katharine Hepburn are unsurprisingly, all excellent.

Mean Girls Fri 27/8 ITV2 @ 21.00

The world of American high schools is a scary and complex place as 16 year old Cady Heron finds out when her family return from working in Africa and she goes to class for the first time in her life. Tina Fey's 2004 comedy is a smart, knowing and funny look at the hierarchies and horrors of what many people call the best times of their lives. The fools. Lindsay Lohan, Lizzy Caplan, Rachel McAdams, Amy Poehler and Amanda Seyfried all rock their roles.

Jimmy's Hall Fri 27/8 Virgin Media One @ 23.00

After 10 years in the United States Jimmy's come home and he's brought ideas with him. Ideas that don't sit well with a church run state or with the garda siochana who enforce the rules. When he starts opening people's minds he's a goner. Ken Loach directs an angry and caustic look at post civil war Ireland and the social mores that held us down for decades. Barry Ward, Simone Kirby and a vicious Jim Norton all hit the spot.

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April 03, 2021

16 films on TV this week for you to enjoy with an easter egg or three

BlacKkKlansman Sat 3/4 CH4 @ 21.00

In the 1970's an African American policeman managed to con his way into the Klu Klux Klan using the secret combination of a telephone and a Jewish co-worker. Yup, it sounds like a joke but Spike Lee's 2018 film is based on a true story. It's also superb watching that manages to be tense as hell and surprisingly funny while always feeling horrifyingly topical. John David Washington, Patrice Dumas and Adam Driver all do first rate work.

Personal Services Sat 3/4 Talking Pictures TV @ 22.45

A struggling waitress realises that she can supplement her income by catering to the strange needs of older men. Her services become popular fast but unwanted attention is coming her way too. This charming and insightful comedy drama might seem rather tame nowadays but it was actually banned in Ireland upon it's release 34 years ago. Julie Walters put in a stunner of a turn as Christine, a woman burnt by the hypocrisies of modern society.

Collective Sat 3/4 BBC4 @ 23.40

A Romanian nightclub goes up in flames and dozens are killed and hundreds are injured. Then in the aftermath dozens more die due to shoddy health care. An investigation into it all uncovers corruption that reaches the high echelons of society. This 2019 documentary is a jawdropper, a deep dive exposé into the injustices that rattled a country and one that will remind you of just how ropey the people in charge really are.

Some Like It Hot Sun 4/4 RTE1 @ 13.50

Joe and Jerry have just witnessed the the St. Valentine's Day massacre and now they're running for their lives. To get out of town they disguise themselves as women and join an all woman music troupe heading for Florida. This is a classic that truly lives up to the hype. It's a scream, hysterical in parts and touching in others. Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis are all on fire. A perfect Easter Sunday watch.

The Incredible Shrinking Man Sun 4/4 The Horror Channel @ 17.50

A cocktail of radiation and insecticide has done a job on Scott Carey and he's starting to get smaller and smaller. Life becomes terrifying when the things he could once crush underfoot are now big enough to see him as an hors d'oeuvre. This scifi/horror may be 64 years old be it's as effective as the day it came out and it's use of metaphor to deal the fears of the 50's still feel topical today. Grant Williams does stellar work in the titular role.

Red Joan Sun 4/4 BBC2 @ 22.00

Who's Joan and why is she red? Joan's an English woman working in atomic research. She's also a spy who's been giving the secrets of England's nuclear industry to communist Russia for a very very long time. Parts of this film are, without doubt, kind of pedestrian and dull but a committed turn from the always reliable Judy Dench as latter day Joan, and a story filled with intrigue, will keep you watching until the end.

The Thief Of Baghdad Mon 5/4 Virgin Media One @ 07.45

A young Iraqi Sultan is betrayed by a member of his own side and thrown into a dungeon. There he meets a thief who's destiny is to set wrongs to right. This feast for the eyes is 81 years old and still as full of wonder as it was when it was first released, if you can get by some of the dubious casting choices that is. Sabu as the titular character is good fun and Conrad Veidt as evil Jaffar is an effective scumbag.

Alpha Mon 5/4 Film4 @ 14.45

20,000 years ago, during the last ice age, a teenage boy accompanied his father on a hunt for vital supplies and during a bison hunt had an accident and was feared dead. But he was very much alive, and about to make a new friend that would change the future of humanity. Alpha's a fine watch for the family, an exciting and beautiful looking history lesson that's enchantingly led by Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson.

First Man Mon 5/4 TG4 @ 21.50

July 20th. 1969. One small step for man. One giant leap for mankind. Words spoken by Neil Armstrong as he set foot on the surface of the moon. First Man is the story of how he got there. First Man is a solid film, one that takes an intimate look at an epic story, zoning in on the man instead of the mission. That said the moon landing is awe inspiring but it's the cast led by Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy that make it really work.

An American Werewolf In London Tues 6/4 Sony Movies @ 21.00

Two American tourists ignore the warnings of locals and hike through the Yorkshire moors where they are attacked by something unnatural. An attack that has lingering effects. In my opinion this is the best horror comedy ever made. A film that gets the balance just right. The comedic aspects are riotous but the horror stuff is flat out terrifying. A brilliant movie with David Naughton and Jenny Agutter excellent as the leads.

It's All About Love Wed 7/4 Film4 @ 01.50

In the near future (actually 2021, this was made in 2003) climate change has doomed Earth to a horrible ending and in the midst of it all two estranged people decide that their relationship is worth fighting for. Thomas Vinterberg brings the quirkiness of the Danish films he's famous for to his first English language film and while it's not entirely successful, it's always interesting. Claire Danes and Joaquin Phoenix head a cast stuffed with faces you'll recognise.

Poor Cow Wed 7/4 Talking Pictures TV @ 23.05

It's Wednesday night so it's time for a dose of Ken Loach realism™ with this story of a young woman and the effects the terrible decisions she makes have on her and her young son. 60's London on screen has always been flashy and exciting but here we see the dark side of it in all it's dingy, upsetting glory. You won't leave this one happy but you'll be glad you've watched it as Loach's humane approach to the story will stick with you. Carol White is a magnificent lead.

The Elephant Man Thur 8/4 BBC4 @ 21.00

The story of John Merrick, a lovely & gentle man, despised by the society he grew up in because of the way he looked and Frederick Treves, the doctor who treated him like a human. David Lynch's justifiably lauded 1980 drama is a heartbreaking look at a life ruined by a birth defect. A terribly sad but strangely beautiful film. John Hurt in the lead role does career best work while Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft excel in support.

Cliffhanger Thur 8/4 ITV4 @ 22.05

The early 90's were a wicked time for action films and this is one of the most entertaining of the lot. Sylvester Stallone is in great form as a mountain rescue climber haunted by a past mistake who faces off against a team of murderous thieves who have crashed in the Rocky Mountains. Loads of nasty behaviour and crunchiness ensues. John Lithgow as the big bad is fantastically hammy and the scenery is lovely. What's not to like.

The Raid 2 Fri 9/4 Film4 @ 01.00

In crime ridden Jakarta, a cop goes undercover in a crime gang to bring down it's leaders and to root out the corrupt cops involved with them. If you like action films & haven't seen this I'm extremely jealous. 2.5 hours of unreal fights and stunts and thrills and spills. It's blisteringly violent and won't be for everyone but if you are able for it, it will blow you away. Iwo Uwais rocks the lead role and director Gareth Evans' ideas and visuals will amaze you.

Hatchet Fri 9/4 The Horror Channel @ 21.00

A group of New Orleans tourists take a boat ride into the bayou in search of the legend of Victor Crowley. They get exactly what they are looking for and more aside. Ok, if you are anyway squeamish avoid this like the plague but if you like your horror movies gooey and rib tickling then this homage to all things 80's will hit the spot big time. Tamara Feldman and Joel Moore are fun as the main characters.

As always a retweet is appreciated if you find this helpful or if you discover a new favourite. Thank you.