One of the best thriller movies of recent years is on TV tonight

Boasting a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score, the film also features one of the best lead performances in recent memory.

The movie centres around the title character (played by co-writer Mia Goth, Frankenstein), a young woman living in Texas in 1918 who dreams of becoming a star.

This is much to the chagrin of her bitter and overbearing mother (Tandi Wright), who expects Pearl to stay on their isolated family farm and tend to her ailing father (Matthew Sunderland).

Already on the brink of madness, Pearl finds some joy in her connection to a young cinema projectionist working in the city (David Corenswet, Superman).

Her claustrophobic living situation and the pressure to achieve her dreams, however, end up placing the character on a terrifying, villainous path.

Co-written and directed by cult horror icon Ti West - and serving as a stand-alone prequel to his 2022 hit slasher X - Pearl was a major success, earning 10 times its budget at the box office and rave reviews.

One element of the movie singled out for praise was West's filmmaking, which pays homage to classic Hollywood movies like The Wizard of Oz and Mary Poppins.

Over the course of Pearl's running time, however, the movie's tone gradually curdles into something much more disturbing.

Goth's performance as the troubled lead character also earned plenty of plaudits, particularly for how she manages to alternate between being funny, terrifying and sympathetic, sometimes all in one scene.

In fact, some commenters even said that the actress should have nabbed an Oscar nomination.

Pearl is airing on TV tonight/tomorrow morning on Channel 4 at 1.05am. The movie is also available to rent on Apple TV, Google Play, Prime Video and the Sky Store.

For JOE's list of the other movies on TV tonight, click here.