This Week's Essential Movies for Free T.V Guide

By Oliver Pfeiffer / October 20, 2007

Warning: A slight spoiler alert for 'Horror Zone' channel fanatics Halloween is fast approaching and while I consider myself to have experienced the majority of the essential and extreme horror films out there, theres always a few exceptional treats that appear to have passed me by - which more often than not are advertising as up and coming treats on the Zone Horror channel, that I admit, no matter how ridiculously titled I always find the prospect rather intriguing. The Clown at Midnight(1998), a slasher horror that was screened on Thursday, was just one of those titular treats which in my mind was essential not to miss. The basic plot of a 'Pennywise' style psychotic killer clown striking out in a decrepit opera house was too flamboyant an opportunity to let down, what with a cast list that included such veterans of horror lore as Margot Kidder (famous for Lois Lane, but equally impressive in both Brian De Palma's Sisters and original festive slasher Black Christmas), and Christopher Plummer, (that old pro who pops up to give a touch of decadent class in supporting roles in all sorts of high-gloss Hollywood affairs (The Insider, Syriana, Inside Man), but still manages to snuck in a few low brow-trashy horror and sci-fi straight to DVD flicks. Kudos to the man who filled the kiddies with beady-eyed dread as far back as The Sound of Music. Unfortunately in the end Clown wasn't up to much. A mere imitation of the vastly superior Scream series, with annoying, cliche casted teen types (one gay, one creepy-looking, one coloured, a geek and some eye candy) running hopelessly around as they get knocked off one by one by the titular ghoul. Whats more Kidder was killed off far too early and good old Plummer only made painfully brief appearances near the start and at the overblown denouncement. Maybe I expected more than the trailer could possibly promise. Oh well we still have the intriguing prospect of Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (no Lance Henriksen this time though) and the Jesus Franco helmed Virgin Among the Living Dead screening tonight if anyone's interested? But seriously I will attempt to pick out more from Zone Horror in the run up to Halloween in next weeks guide...where else can you view the implausible prospects of the Joan Collins creature feature Enemy of the Ants or the Zombie Flesh Eater sequels? Watch this space. Now down to next weeks screenings...the impeccably timed airing of the original Sleuth coincides effortlessly with the Kenneth Branagh remake and Spike Jonze existential comedy Being John Malkovich are notable highlights. As is the Mel Brooks collection of hit and miss sketches with The History of the World Part I, enjoy... Saturday 13.00, MORE 4 €“ A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH (Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger, 1946) Bittersweet metaphysical fantasy drama from those British pros Powell and Pressburger. This is about a British wartime aviator (Peter Niven) who, having cheated death, must face a 'trial' with heaven in order to claim his life back and be with the women he now loves. 13.30, BBC2 €“ MILDRED PIERCE (Michael Curtiz, 1945) This finally gave Joan Crawford the Oscar she deserved, playing the titular independent housewife cum businesswomen who triumphantly takes control of her life but has her work cut out for her when she wants to win the approval of her spoilt daughter. Brilliant and gripping melodramatic film noir, with a scolding final twist climax. 15.10, ITV1 €“ DR NO (Terrance Young, 1962) The first of the Bond outings proves an entertaining nostalgic affair with those classic ingredients: a suave Sean Connery as Bond, minimal gadgets, (Q doesn€™t turn up till the next installment), a flamboyant titular villain and those notable entrances by both Bond and Bond girl Ursula Andress. Only blimp: Monty Forman's score does tend to over dramatise the action sequences somewhat , (Barry Norman would start his impressive scoring stint in the next one) otherwise timeless. 21.00, FIVELIFE €“ SINGLE WHITE FEMALE (Barbet Schroeder, 1992) The early 90s were a curious time. If it weren't your psychotic neighbour, lover, mistress, nurse or nanny trying to kill you it was your weird offbeat roommate, as this rather stylish thriller proves. When Bridget Fonda uses the rather prejudice titular advertisement to gain an ideal tenant, little does she realise she will attract the likes of a bunnie-boiling doopleganger. 21.40, BBC3 - THE CLIENT (Joel Schumacher, 1994) Courtroom thriller which sees a young boy hire a lawyer (Susan Sarandon) to protect him from what he learns after he witnesses the suicide of a Louisiana mafia lawyer. 22.10, ITV4 €“ TREMORS (Ron Underwood, 1990) 'Jaws on land or rather sand'. A knowing throwback to 50s monster camp classics, which sees a Texian town terrorised by human hungry sandworms. 23.55, BBC1 €“ THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU'RE DEAD (Gary Fleder, 1995) Looking forward to this 90s Crime thriller which promises a thrilling, intriguing ride by just glancing at the cast list alone: Garcia, Walken, Buscemi et al. Five individual criminals face certain death after they blotch up a major criminal plan... 02.10, C4 €“ BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (Ted Post, 1970)Rather good first sequel to the original Apes film. This sees James Franciscus' astronaut sent to the ape planet to rescue Chuck Heston's Taylor but equally finding himself in a similar predicament to his doomed colleague. What he finds 'beneath the planet of the apes' proves as intriguing as the equally thrilling climax. Sunday 19.00, FILM4 €“ A SHOT IN THE DARK (Blake Edwards, 1964) Best of the sequels to the 'Panther' films, sees Peter Sellers clumsy detective on fine form as he attempts to unravel a murder case at a country house. That catchy opening title score will stick in your memory for weeks along with the hilarious pratfalls of Clouseau. 21.00, ITV3 €“ SLEUTH (Joseph L Mankiewicz, 1972) With Kenneth Branagh's remake released next month, nows the appropriate time to explore the vintage original with Michael Caine in the role of the English hairdresser who is invited to meet a renowned writer of detective novels (Laurence Olivier) to undertake a cunning burglary in which to favour both parties. In an interesting reversal of roles Caine will play the Olivier part in the new movie, while Jude Law will play his original role. 21.00, C4 €“ MICKEY BLUE EYES (Kelly Makin, 1999) Crime comedy that sees Hugh Grant propose to the daughter of a mafia boss (Godfather veteran James Caan), only to find that he will be marrying into more responsibilities than expected. A nice twist to the rather bland rom-com format that should see some interesting developments. 22.55, C4 €“ GANSTER NO.1 (Paul McGuigan, 2000) Serious gangster pic with Paul Bettany brilliantly imitating as a young Malcolm McDowell during the rise and fall of his ego-centric English gangster. Bettany steals the show in this mostly successfully if uneven crime thriller. 00.40, ITV3 €“ SLEUTH (Joseph L Mankiewicz, 1972) See 21.00 Monday 19.15, FILM4 €“ DAYS OF HEAVEN (Terrance Malick, 1978) Oscar winning drama from ace director Malick (Badlands), concerning an ill-tempered farmer who convinces the love of his life to marry his rich, dying boss in order to claim a fortune. Intoxicating cinematography from Nestor Almendros. 21.00, MORE4 €“ GIRL, INTERRUPTED (James Mangold, 1999) Before he delivered classy direction with 3:10 To Yuma it was clear Mangold's forte was tough, hard-hitting dramas such as this one. Featuring an Oscar winning performance from Angelina Jolie, who stars alongside Winona Ryder as inmates in a mental institution. 23.40, C4 €“ BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (Spike Jonze, 1999)Audacious existential comedy with puppeteer John Cusack discovering a portal into the head of John Malkovich. What endues is a superbly surreal endeavour as the puppeteer attempts to market the portal into a small business. Orson Bean is hilarious as Cusack's 105 year old boss: "Carrot juice, lots of it. I swear, sometimes it's not worth it. I piss orange. I have to piss sitting down like a goddamn girlie-girl every fifteen minutes." Tuesday 21.00, E4 €“ SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY (Joseph Ruben, 1991) Another 90s extreme endeavour into domestic psychotic bliss. This sees creepy Patrick Bergin (where is this fine actor these days?) playing an abusive, compulsively obsessed husband who keeps his demure wife Julia Roberts in check, to undertake his rigorous domestic cleansing. That is until she decides to fake her own death and start a new life in the suburbs€until hubby comes a calling. 21.00, VIRGIN1 €“ DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN (Susan Seidelman, 1985) She may now be considered box-office poison, but people forget she gave a once bravo early performance in this 80s romantic drama. Here Madge plays a frustrated suburban housewife who gets the shock of her life after she is accidentally knocked on the head and wakes up with amnesia and an identity crisis when the Mob are close on her tail. 22.55, FILM4 €“ MELINDA AND MELINDA (Woody Allen, 2004) Posing the ultimate life seen as comic or tragic question the real question is whether Woody Allen really is back on form with this tragi-comedy? You decide with the freeview premiere of this critically acclaimed compendium, concerning a story centered around the same character, interpreted in two different versions. 00.00, ITV2 €“ THE BEACH (Danny Boyle, 2000) Danny Boyle€™s box office flop has aged pretty well despite the elongated running time. Obviously not the successful page to screen adaptation everyone hoped for, but a intriguing diversion into surreal endeavours nevertheless. This sees DiCaprio€™s young backpacker fleeing himself from mainstream society by traveling to Asia where he discovers a map to a paradise island. 01.00, ITV4 €“ CROSS OF IRON (Sam Peckinpah, 1977)Controversial war film depicting a sympathetic side of WWII from the point of view of a German squad. Staring James Coburn and James Mason, this is a high-caliber drama directed with trademark fighting spirit by Peckinpah. Wednesday 22.00, ITV2 €“ THE BEACH (Danny Boyle, 2000) See Tuesday 00.00 22.30, ITV4 €“ CROSS OF IRON (Sam Peckinpah, 1977) See Tuesday 01.00. 23.00, FILM4 €“ FIGHT CLUB (David Fincher, 1999)You know the drill: Edward Norton plays an office employee who, upon meeting an impressionable young soap salesman Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), discovers a porthole to fuel his aggression through the seedy underworld of a boxing club. Thursday 22.00, ITV4 €“ ENTER THE DRAGON (Robert Clouse, 1973) Bruce Lee's final film also proves to be his most accessible, popular and exciting. Lee€™s biggest hit in the west has allegiances to the Bond Franchise, which sees Lee as a spy infiltrating a renegade Shaolin Monk believed to be running a secretive drug franchise. Also staring John Saxton. The pivotal martial-arts tournament show down and the €˜hall of mirrors€™ duel sequence are particular highlights. Look out for Jackie Chan towards the end, rumoured to have received a nasty injury by an apologetic Lee during a fight sequence. 00.10, C4 €“ 2046 (Wong Kar Wai, 2004) Follow up to Wong€™s In the Mood for Loveis a complex but enthralling romantic drama posing a sci-fi edge. 01.10, ITV4 €“ HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART1 (Mel Brooks, 1981)An array of hit and miss sketches tracing significant world figures and events. This is more often than not a hilarious comedy of pratfalls that boasts some eye-catching cameos from Brooks regulars Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn and Harvey Korman. Offensive but compulsive. Friday 11.15, MORE4 €“ A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH See Saturday 13.00 19.00, FILM4 €“ A SHOT IN THE DARK See Sunday 19.00 21.00, FILM4 €“ CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER (Phillip Noyce, 1994) Complex to a pulp, but intriguing if you stick with it. This is Harrison Ford€™s second outing as Tom Clancy€™s CIA analyst Jack Ryan, this time battling enemies within the government who threaten his family, colleagues and very existence. 21.00, FIVE LIFE €“ LAYER CAKE (Matthew Vaughan, 2004) Daniel Craig won the role of Bond after producers caught him in this intelligent Brit-Gangster flick from, then first time director Vaughan €“ producer of Lock, Stock and Snatch. Craig plays a successful drug dealer who, upon planning his early retirement, has his boss assign him with the task of locating the missing daughter of old mob veteran Michael Gambon. Smart, sassy spectacle. 23.00, ITV4 €“ HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART 1 See Thursday 01.10. 23.35, BBC1 €“ DRAGON:THE BRUCE LEE STORY (Rob Cohen, 1993) Jason Scott Lee successfully fills the shoes of the titular martial-arts master in this interesting biographically account of the ill-fated star. 23.40, FILM4 €“ SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE (Steven Soderbergh, 1989) Before his CV got clogged up with high gloss A-lister affairs like Ocean€™s 11 through 13 this scrapped down emotional drama was all the rage, what with its story of a sexually repressed woman who's husband embarks on a clandestine affair with her sister. Staring an impossibly young James Spader, along with Andie MacDowell and a pre-greying Peter Gallagher. 01.50, ITV4 €“ CALIFORNIA SPLIT (Robert Altman, 1974)Altman€™s uncharacteristically small cast foray into buddy territory is essentially a two hander between down-on-his-luck gambler George Seagal and free spirit Elliott Gould. Looking forward to this one.