Holding an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score, one critic dubbed it as being ‘as violent as the Coens, as vérité as Ken Loach’.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Wednesday, 16 October) is Down Terrace, the debut film from acclaimed co-writer and director Ben Wheatley (Free Fire, High-Rise, Kill List).
The darkly comic crime thriller revolves around Bill (Robert Hill, Kill List) and his son, Karl (co-writer Robin Hill, The Borderlands), who work together in the “oldest of family businesses – organised crime”.
“After spending a few days in jail, they return home and realise they may have a rat in their midst,” the plot synopsis reads.
“As they try to pick out the informant from a group, that includes an unpredictable hit man (Michael Smiley, Bad Sisters), Karl learns his girlfriend (Kerry Peacock) is pregnant and must deal his parents’ disapproval.”
Co-starring David Schaal (The Inbetweeners), Julia Deakin (Shaun of the Dead) and Tony Way (After Life), Down Terrace was made in just eight days on a micro budget of just £30,000.
And yet, it earned rave reviews thanks to its fun mix of kitchen sink family drama and taut gangster thriller, its hilarious yet scary performances from Robin Hill and Michael Smiley, and its deeper themes regarding toxic masculinity and the futility of violence.
Accurately dubbed by one critic as being “as violent as the Coens, as vérité as Ken Loach”, Down Terrace holds an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The movie is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 11.40pm and will be available to stream on Channel 4’s website following the TV showing.
Here are the other films airing on TV tonight:
Rocky II – ITV4 – 9pm
The first sequel to the Oscar Best Picture winning sports flick with Sylvester Stallone.
Bad Boys for Life – RTÉ2 – 9pm
“Bad boys, bad boys / Whatcha gonna do?”
The King’s Man – Film4 – 9pm
This prequel in the Kingsman series of action spy comedies takes place during WWI and stars Ralph Fiennes.
Bushwick – Legend – 9pm
The hidden gem action thriller movie starring Brittany Snow and Dave Bautista that we recommended recently.
The Factory – Legend Xtra – 9pm
John Cusack is a cop hunting for a serial killer in this 2012 thriller.
The Family – Legend – 10.50pm
Also known as Violent City, this ’70s cult crime thriller stars Charles Bronson and Telly Savalas.
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever – Sky Sci-Fi – 11pm
A sequel to Eli Roth’s breakthrough flesh-eating virus horror that its director – X trilogy filmmaker Ti West – disowned.
The Sorcerers – Legend Xtra – 11.05pm
This ’60s sci-fi horror from Britain has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Lady in the Van – BBC Four – 11.20pm
The beloved 2015 comedy-drama starring the late and great Maggie Smith.
Bullitt – ITV4 – 11.25pm
This very cool ’60s neo-noir action thriller starring Steve McQueen boasts one of the best car chases ever captured on film.
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- A legendary epic Western movie is airing on TV tonight
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- Irish star gets long overdue showcase in powerful new drama you can watch this week
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