A very tense thriller series is now available to stream at home

Made by one of the directors behind the hit gangster drama Kin, the Ireland-shot show feels like a modern-day riff on Taxi Driver.

Streaming through Virgin Media Television, the show revolves around a nocturnal taxi driver named Tony (played by a magnificent, tightly wound Robert Glenister, Hustle).

Tony used to be a teacher, but was forced to leave education after a mysterious incident that still haunts him.

Already angry and bitter over this, the late hours of his taxi driving gig and his often drunk and/or sleazy passengers intensify these dark feelings.

Tony finds some brief solace in a call-in radio show hosted by the charismatic Lawrence (a smooth-talking Sean Pertwee, Dog Soldiers), with the ex-teacher eventually gathering up the nerve to phone in to the programme and voice his feelings.

It isn't long, however, before Tony develops an unhealthy obsession with Lawrence, taking the late-night DJ's words and twisting them to justify some disturbing actions.

The Night Caller was filmed in Dublin, with the Irish capital standing in for Liverpool.

The show's four episodes were also directed by Irishman Diarmuid Goggins (Kin) from scripts by Nick Saltrese (A Prayer Before Dawn).

JOE checked out the pilot of the series, and we'd describe it as a modern-day riff on Martin Scorsese's '70s classic Taxi Driver, with a touch of that director's other '80s gem, The King of Comedy, thrown in for good measure.

Yet, despite coming out decades after these two movies, The Night Caller's tale of radicalisation still feels timely.

Plus, Glenister and Pertwee's great, duelling performances and the show's grimy atmosphere have us eager to check out more.

Having first aired on the UK channel 5 in 2024, you can read some other positive write-ups for The Night Caller below:

The Arts Desk: "This is an impressive effort by screenwriter Nick Saltrese, who has carefully built his narrative around a small core of well-developed characters. He has kept his focus tight and resisted the temptation to stray off-piste and dilute the drama with too many red herrings or unnecessary plot twists. Nice one."

The i: "By the end of its first episode, The Night Caller had set out a very appetising stall: well-paced, beautifully acted and aesthetically distinctive, moments of overzealous exposition were easy to forgive. In Tony, the drama offered a richly compelling protagonist – neither straightforwardly sympathetic nor vilified, yet entirely recognisable."

The Telegraph: "The Night Caller begins in dramatic fashion. A man in the shower, washing away the blood, then staring in the mirror at his battered face. That’s what I like about Channel 5 dramas: there’s no messing about. You’re straight in with a wallop."

The Times (UK): "This is a drama that stays with you, and — if there is any justice in the world — there should be some recognition for Glenister come awards season."

The Night Caller is streaming on Virgin Media Television now.

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 at €53.52 in a limited-time deal on the Amazon website.

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission on any sales generated from it.