An incredibly underrated thriller with huge twist is on TV tonight

Based on a graphic novel, the film mines a universal fear for maximum tension.

Based on the Swiss graphic novel Sandcastle, the film revolves around a group of people - including a husband (Gael García Bernal, Y tu mamá también) and wife (Vicky Krieps, Phantom Thread) whose marriage is on the rocks - that find themselves trapped on a secluded beach while on a luxurious holiday.

The group of strangers also quickly realise that the beach is aging them super fast - one year for every 30 minutes to be exact.

Also a part of the cast of Old is Aaron Pierre (Foe), Abbey Lee (Horizon), Alex Wolff (Hereditary), Eliza Scanlen (Little Women), Ken Leung (Industry), Nikki Amuka-Bird (The Outfit), Rufus Sewell (Zen), Thomasin McKenzie (Jojo Rabbit) and Shyamalan himself in an ingenious cameo.

A box office hit upon release, the movie received mixed reviews - with many critics taking issue with its ending.

While we here at JOE would agree the film's conclusion is not as successful as what came before, we'd also say this is only because what came before was incredibly strong.

Old sees Shyamalan turning humans' innate existential fear of aging - both parents watching their children age, children watching their parents age, as well as what aging does to your body - into a propulsive ticking clock thriller.

On top of this, the filmmaker does such a brilliant job - through stunning make-up work and the deployment of different actors to play the same characters at various ages - at capturing the effects of this rapid aging.

And with the director's new thriller Trap arriving in theatres this weekend, what better time to revisit this under-sung gem of his?

Old is airing on TV tonight at Film4 at 11.40pm.

Here are the other movies on TV tonight:

Little Miss Sunshine - TG4 - 9.30pm

Comedy drama, with Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Abigail Breslin and an Oscar-winning Alan Arkin.

Rocky - ITV4 - 8pm

Philadelphia brawler Rocky Balboa gets a shot at the world heavyweight title when current champion Apollo Creed decides to give an unknown boxer a chance in celebration of America's bicentennial.

Bushwick- Legend - 1.05am

When a US-based military force invades their Brooklyn neighbourhood, 20-year-old Lucy and war veteran Stupe must depend on each other to survive.

The Missionary - Film4- 1.50am

A naive clergyman suffers various unfortunate temptations while trying to raise funds for an East End mission for fallen women.

Narrow Margin - Legend Xtra - 9pm

A Los Angeles assistant district attorney arrives in Canada to escort the key witness in a gangland murder case back to the States.