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Movies & TV

07th Jul 2022

A terrific sci-fi Western is among the movies on TV tonight

Stephen Porzio

It was the inspiration for a hit HBO series.

It is Thursday.

That means it’s nearly the weekend but not quite.

That doesn’t mean, however, you can’t relax this evening with a good film.

Here’s your movie on TV options for tonight.

Westworld – Turner Classic Movies – 9pm

Our pick for tonight is this ’70s sci-fi Western revolving around two guests (James Brolin and Richard Benjamin) at an interactive Western-themed amusement park.

After a computer breakdown, the pair find themselves being stalked through the park by a rogue robot gunslinger (an incredibly menacing Yul Brynner).

Written and directed by Michael Crichton, who would go on to write the novel of Jurassic Park, Westworld is basically the Spielberg smash-hit but with killer robots in the place of the dinosaurs.

The movie is also notable for inspiring the hit HBO series of the same name which launched in 2016 and is currently in its fourth season.

Speaking of Brolin, you can check out JOE’s recent interview with him for Lightyear below where he discussed the new version of Westworld.

Dangerous Liaisons/The Wife – BBC Four – 9pm/10.55pm

A Glenn Close double bill.

Freaks – Film4 – 9pm

This 2018 sci-fi thriller about a young girl who leaves her home for the first time after being kept inside by her father (Emile Hirsch) has an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Frankenstein – Horror Channel – 9pm

Mary Shelley’s classic horror story gets adapted for the screen by the director of Candyman.

Aliens – ITV 4 – 10pm

Having survived a close encounter with the alien creature from the first movie, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is recruited to help a group of highly trained colonial marines fight off more of the horrifying extraterrestrials.

Up there with The Godfather Part 2 as one of the best sequels of all time.

The Exorcist: The Version You’ve Never Seen – Turner Classic Movies – 10.55pm

A different cut of one of the best horrors ever made.

Watchmen – Film4 – 11.10pm

Director Zack Snyder’s divisive adaptation of the very adult comic book series from writer Alan Moore.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II – Horror Channel – 11.50pm

The iconic villain Pinhead (Doug Bradley) returns in this horror sequel.

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