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A brilliant cult classic thriller movie is airing on TV tonight

Published 10:58 28 Jan 2026 GMT

Updated 11:00 28 Jan 2026 GMT

Stephen Porzio
A brilliant cult classic thriller movie is airing on TV tonight

Homemovies & tv

The incredible film is also currently streaming on Disney+.

The Empty Man, the incredible 2020 mystery-horror-thriller epic, is airing on TV tonight (Wednesday, 28 January).

Set mostly in modern-day Missouri, the film follows a grieving retired cop named James Lasombra (James Badge Dale, Spectral) who is asked by his friend, Nora (Marin Ireland, Dope Thief), to investigate the disappearance of her daughter, Amanda (Sasha Frolova, Red Sparrow).

Amanda seemingly packed up in the middle of the night, leaving the ominous message on the bathroom mirror: “The Empty Man made me do it.”

"As he investigates this mysterious figure further, James begins to see and hear strange things, and is forced to come to terms with his past and what it means for his future," the plot synopsis adds.

Loosely based on the comic book series of the same name, don't let The Empty Man's generic title stop you from seeking out the ambitious, nerve-rattling horror thriller.

The Empty Man Trailer

As James investigates Amanda's disappearance, he uncovers a strange conspiracy involving the titular local legend, a group of missing teenagers that possibly summoned it, and a shady organisation called The Pontifex Institute hiding its sinister motivations in plain sight.

The movie also begins with an absolutely terrifying opening 22-minute sequence set in 1995 Bhutan, which only connects to the plotline involving the ex-cop towards the end of the 137-minute-long flick.

The Empty Man was written and directed by David Prior (the upcoming Boy in the Iron Box) in his feature debut, with his script exploring a variety of weighty themes, including existentialism, identity and nihilism.

It's worth noting, too, that Prior got his start directing documentaries about David Fincher's films.

As such, he imbues his debut with the same dark style that Fincher brought to the likes of Gone Girl, Mindhunter and Zodiac.

Though it received middling reviews upon release, The Empty Man quickly earned reappraisal and is now seen by many critics as a modern cult classic.

The movie is airing on TV tonight/tomorrow morning on Channel 4 at 1.50am. It's also available to stream on Disney+.

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

Turn your home into a cinema with this projector 

Do you love movies? Have you ever dreamt of turning your home into your own cinema?

If so, then you may be interested in a home theatre projector we spotted on sale on Amazon with “impressive quality”.

The 4K projector has the likes of YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video built-in, so you can access thousands of films and shows without an additional TV stick, and you can also connect it to bluetooth on your phone and laptop.

It’s currently priced from €36.99 on the Amazon website.

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A brilliant cult classic thriller movie is airing on TV tonight