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An ‘almost unbearably tense’ Irish movie is on TV tonight

Published 10:32 17 Jul 2026 BST

Updated 10:32 17 Jul 2026 BST

Stephen Porzio
An ‘almost unbearably tense’ Irish movie is on TV tonight

Homemovies & tv

From the same director as Adam & Paul and Garage, the film won five IFTA awards, including the Best Film prize.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 17 July) is What Richard Did, the acclaimed 2012 Irish drama from Oscar-nominated director Lenny Abrahamson (Adam & Paul, Garage, Normal People).

A loose adaptation of Kevin Power's novel Bad Day in Blackrock, the film follows Richard Karlsen (Jack Reynor), a charismatic and confident 18-year-old who leads a privileged life on Dublin's Southside.

When he gets into a fight on a night out with an old rugby teammate over a girl, however, the golden-boy's world quickly unravels.

The movie that made Reynor (Lee Cronin's The Mummy, Midsommar, Sing Street) a star, What Richard Did earned rave reviews from critics.

In particular, its lead performance, its "thought-provoking" morality tale, and its sense of realism were singled out for praise.

A review by website What Culture called the film a "sublimely acted and almost unbearably tense drama".

Holding a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie swept the IFTAs in 2013, winning five awards, including the Best Film prize.

What Richard Did is airing on TV tonight on RTÉ2 at 10pm. It is also currently available to stream for free on the RTÉ Player.

Here are the other movies on TV tonight:

Titanic - Virgin Media One - 9pm

James Cameron's Oscar Best Picture-winning retelling of the sinking of the titular ship.

Morbius - Film4 - 9pm

Jared Leto's poorly received vampire superhero flick.

The Inbetweeners 2 - E4 - 9pm

The inbetweeners gang's second big screen outing.

Deep Rising - Legend - 9pm

From the director of the 1999 Mummy movie, this decent action horror focuses on a newly unveiled luxury cruise ship that is targeted by both heavily armed hijackers and murderous sea creatures while on its maiden voyage.

Hunter Killer - Legend Xtra - 9pm

Gerard Butler leads the cast of this 2018 submarine thriller.

Bandolero! - TG4 - 9.30pm

A '60s Western with James Stewart.

Creed - RTÉ One - 9.35pm

Michael B. Jordan headlines this excellent spin-off of the Rocky franchise.

Insomnia - BBC Two - 11.05pm

In this excellent crime thriller, a veteran LA cop (Oscar-winner Al Pacino) under an internal affairs investigation is sent to Alaska to assist in the investigation into the murder of a teenage girl.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film co-stars Oscar-winners Hilary Swank and Robin Williams.

X - Film4 - 11.05pm

Mia Goth faces off against unexpected killers on a '70s rural Texas farm in this very stylish slasher.

Papi Chulo - RTÉ2 - 11.35pm

The 2018 America-set comedy drama from These Sacred Vows creator John Butler about the unexpected but profound friendship that develops between a TV weatherman (Matt Bomer) and a Latino day labourer (Alejandro Patiño).

Mulholland Falls - RTÉ One - 12am

A stylish '90s neo-noir crime thriller with an ace ensemble cast, led by Nick Nolte.

My Old Ass - BBC One - 12.30am

The 2024 coming-of-age comedy drama about an 18-year-old girl (Maisy Stella) who encounters her 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza).

Pig - Film4 - 1.10am

One of the best movies of recent years, Nicolas Cage stars as a reclusive former chef living in the woods who must venture back into the city when his beloved foraging pig is kidnapped.