One of the best Irish thriller movies of the decade is on TV tonight

The film stars Irish actors from Kin, Love/Hate and Say Nothing.

Birthistle's feature directorial debut, the film follows Kathleen (Hazel Doupe, Say Nothing), an 18-year-old fresh out of foster care who returns to her hometown to take ownership of her deceased mother's house.

Unsatisfied with her life and lonely, she forms a connection with her next-door neighbour, Dee (Clare Dunne, Kin), a wife and mother also grieving the loss of a loved one.

While their relationship at first seems beneficial for both of them, it isn't long before one of them forms an unhealthy attachment with the other.

Also co-starring Peter Coonan (Love/Hate) as Dee's husband, Kathleen Is Here begins as a social realist drama, showcasing the struggles young people can face coming out of care.

As the film goes, though, it gradually evolves into an extremely tense thriller, which is all the more effective because you believe in the people at the centre of the story.

JOE had the pleasure of speaking to both Birthistle and Doupe ahead of Kathleen Is Here's release in cinemas, and during our conversation, we brought up those comparisons.

In particular, we asked the writer-director whether she was looking to those types of movies for inspiration.

Birthistle said in response:

Kathleen Is Here is airing on TV tonight on RTÉ2 at 9.25pm. The movie is also available to rent on Apple TV, IFI@Home, Rakuten TV and the Sky Store.

Kathleen is Here Trailer

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:

Bohemian Rhapsody - Film4 - 9pm

Rami Malek won the Best Actor for his turn as Queen frontman Freddie Mercury in this music biopic.

Knives Out - E4 - 9pm

The Daniel Craig-starring murder mystery that launched a trilogy.

Survivor - Legend - 9pm

Milla Jovovich and Pierce Brosnan star in this action spy thriller with a very low 8% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Big Kill - Legend Xtra - 9pm

A 2019 indie Western with Danny Trejo, Jason Patric and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Forsaken - TG4 - 9.30pm

This 2015 Western stars real-life father and son Donald and Kiefer Sutherland, and earned mixed reviews.

Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead - Legend - 10.55pm

An underrated '90s dark comedy crime thriller about five different criminals (led by Andy Garcia) who face imminent death after botching a job.

Silver Haze - BBC Two - 11pm

This 2023 British drama follows a young nurse (Vicky Knight) obsessed with a thirst for revenge who falls in love.

Be Good or Be Gone - RTÉ One - 11.15pm

This solid 2020 Irish drama follows two cousins (Declan Mills and Les Martin) over four days in contemporary Dublin as they receive temporary release from Mountjoy prison.

Despite big plans to turn their life around, they find themselves pulled back into the criminal underworld.

Acts of Vengeance - Legend Xtra - 11.30pm

Antonio Banderas plays a man who seeks vengeance after his wife and daughter are killed in this 2017 action thriller.

Benedetta - Film4 - 11.45pm

One of the most provocative movies of recent years, Benedetta sees legendary director Paul Verhoeven (Basic Instinct, RoboCop, Showgirls) tell the story of a notorious 17th-century nun in Italy (played by an excellent Virginie Efira).

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