Category: TV

December evenings will be full of mystery, madness and murder as LEGEND presents a seasonal selection of horror, sci-fi & action movies, headed up by the UK TV premiere of stirring Canadian Western LONESOME DOVE, based on the true story of the founding of the Lonesome Dove Church and starring Tom Berenger. Plus, there is a Channel premiere for BEWARE MY BRETHREN (aka The Fiend), Robert Hartford-Davis’ sadistic study of religious repression, starring Patrick McGee, which will be broadcast at 9pm on Xmas Day. This headlines THE VINTAGE VAULT strand, the popular Sunday night presentation of double-bills of classic and cult favourites

There are also Channel premieres for serial killer horror JACK’S BACK, starring James Spader, tense crime thriller REASONABLE DOUBT, starring Samuel L Jackson and Dominic Cooper, Brit mystery drama THE INTERNECINE PROJECT, starring James Coburn, tough war thriller SNIPER: SPECIAL OPS, starring Steven Seagal, gripping action adventure SHOUT AT THE DEVIL, starring Lee Marvin and Roger Moore and gun-toting avenging Western A MAN CALLED MOON.

December also heralds the Channel premiere of the final season of cult favourite KNIGHT RIDER, in which Michael, K.I.T.T. and gang return for more roadside adventures.

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Full film details in transmission order:

Thurs 1 Dec @ 21:00 – JACK’S BACK (1988) *Channel Premiere

Women are being murdered in Los Angeles a hundred years after Jack the Ripper terrorised London. Is it a sickening coincidence, or a sinister homage? Police think John Westford (James Spader), a young doctor, is the murderer, and when he’s found hanging from a noose, the investigation takes a stunning turn.

Sat 3 Dec @21:00 – REASONABLE DOUBT (2014) *Channel Premiere

After being involved in a fatal hit and run incident Assistant DA Mitch Brody (Dominic Cooper) must prosecute an innocent man (Samuel L Jackson) for a crime he knows he didn’t commit. Brody manages to throw the case, however he quickly realises that he may have been wrong and the man he thought to be innocent could just be the most dangerous man he has ever met.

Sun 4 Dec @ 21:00 – WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1958)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Matthew Hopkins (Vincent Price), a lawyer and self-appointed ‘Witchfinder General’, tours the Eastern counties instigating witch-hunts and extracting ‘confessions’ under torture. When a young woman, Sara (Hilary Dwyer(, is raped by Hopkins and her priest father murdered, Sara’s lover, Richard Marshall (Ian Ogilvy), a soldier in Cromwell’s army, vows revenge. This is the last and best film of director Michael Reeves‘ tragically brief career.

Sun 4 Nov @ 22:45 – CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR (1968)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

The late Mark Eden plays Robert Manning, an antiques dealer searching for his missing brother. He stumbles upon a coven led by Morley (Christopher Lee), who is enacting the revenge of his witch ancestor (Barbara Steele) burned in the 17th century. This cult masterpiece, an adaptation from Lovecraft’s Dream in the Witch House, also stars Boris Karloff as a local witchcraft expert, which is also the last British film that Karloff made.

From Wed 7 Dec @ 19:00 – KNIGHT RIDER, Season Four (1985) *Channel Premiere

The final season of the popular American television adventure series, continues to follow the shadowy Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) and his sentient car KITT as they fight crime and protect the innocent. In this series finale, KITT is reborn with some new gadgets, including a rocket-fast “super pursuit” mode. Michael must now race to save the real Devon and prevent the theft of the isotope.

Fri 9 Dec @ 21:00 – THE INTERNECINE PROJECT (1974) *Channel Premiere

Tipped to take a major post in the American government, Robert Elliot (James Coburn) is faced with one big problem: a quartet of people know of his dangerous and illegal activities in England. Elliot devises an ingenious plan whereby all four will kill each other. Ken Hughes’ intriguing psychological thriller also stars Lee Grant.

Sat 10 Dec @ 21:00 – LONESOME DOVE (2014) – *UK TV premiere

In this true story of one man’s fight for justice in a brutal and hostile land, John Shepherd (Tom Berenger) is a western preacher with dreams of building his own church. When his estranged son is accused of robbery and murder, John puts his future on the line by coming to his defence. In doing so, he will have to face off against a cold-blooded killer in a guns-blazing stand for redemption.

Sun 11 Dec @ 21:00 – THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR (1968)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

A 19th-century entomologist’s daughter undergoes a metamorphosis into a giant death’s head moth which needs human blood to survive. Her father creates a giant moth to keep her company, but only succeeds in unleashing more blood-sucking terror. Meanwhile, a police inspector (Peter Cushing) tries to find the key to the series of gruesome murders. This gothic shocker is directed by Vernon Sewell and also stars Robert Flemyng and Wanda Ventham.

Sun 11 Dec @ 22:45 – BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW (1971)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

When a mysterious corpse is accidentally dug in a small town, a group of local teens starts acting very strangely. The adolescents, led by a girl named Angel (Linda Hayden), are convinced the corpse was once possessed. They start to act out a series of demonic rituals, with devastating consequences. This 17^th century British supernatural horror film is directed by Piers Haggard and also stars Patrick Wymark and Barry Andre.

Fri 16 Dec @ 21:00 – SNIPER: SPECIAL OPS (2016) *Channel Premiere

A special ops military force, led by expert sniper Jake Chandler (Steven Seagal), is sent to a remote village to extract an American congressman being held by terrorists. The mission is a success but Jake and his squad decide to stay behind to help an injured soldier. Finding themselves outnumbered and outgunned, the squad must engage in a massive shootout against the enemy to save them all from certain death.

Sat 17 Dec @ 21:00 – SHOUT AT THE DEVIL (1976) *Channel Premiere

During World War I, a British aristocrat, an American entrepreneur, and the latter’s attractive young daughter, set out to destroy a German battlecruiser. American ex-military man Col. Flynn O’Flynn and wealthy Sebastian Oldsmith are unlikely partners in the East African ivory trade. Oldsmith woos O’Flynn’s daughter, Rosa, but on the eve of World War I, the men spend most of their time eluding occupying German troops. When the Germans kill Rosa’s daughter, Oldsmith and both O’Flynn’s join the battle against German Cmdr. Fleischer and his men.

Sun 18 Dec @ 21:00 – DR JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE (1971)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Young Doctor Jekyll pursues his search for a drug to prolong life. He tries his potion upon himself and to his horror finds it changes him into a young and beautiful woman. So Sister Hyde is born, who stalks the dark alleys of Whitechapel for young, innocent, female victims, ensuring continuation of the bloodstained research. With each transformation Sister Hyde becomes the more dominant personality, determined to eventually suppress the frail, ineffectual Dr Jekyll forever. Directed by Roy Ward Baker, the film is based on the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Sun 18 Dec @ 22:55 – BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB (1971)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

On an expedition to Egypt, Professor Fuchs (Andrew Keir) discovers the tomb of the beautiful Queen Tera, legendary Queen of Darkness (Valerie Leon), whose power was reputed to stretch beyond the grave. He returns to London, bringing the queen’s mummified body and her severed hand, which still oozes blood. Strange things begin to happen to Fuchs as the objects seem to take on a life of their own and possess the power to strike down anyone who crosses their path. This was director Seth Holt’s final film, and was loosely adapted from Bram Stoker’s 1903 novel The Jewel of Seven Stars.

Fri 23 Dec @ 21:00 – A MAN CALLED NOON (1973) *Channel Premier

After an attempt is made on his life, Noon (Richard Crenna) wakes up with no recollection of his past or identity, retaining only his gunfighting prowess. With the help of outlaw Rimes (Stephen Boyd), Noon learns he had a wife and child who were killed, and that the attack on him was made in an attempt to get his hidden treasure. Together they set out to avenge his murdered family.

Sun 25 Dec @ 21:00 – BEWARE MY BRETHREN (1971) *Channel Premiere

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Led by a sinister minister (Patrick Magee), zealous religious sect The Brethren have taken control of widow Birdy Wemys, sending her unstable son, Kenny, into a descent of madness and murder. No woman is safe when Kenny’s religious mania overpowers him and leads to a rampage of carnage and chaos. This gritty story of lust, murder and terror, now a favourite cult horror, is directed by Robert Hartford-Davies

Sun 25 Dec @ 22:50 – COUNTESS DRACULA (1971)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Countess Elizabeth is an embittered widow. One day in a fit of rage, she strikes a chambermaid and blood from the girl splashes onto the Countess’s face. To her amazement, the blood has made her skin youthful and smooth. Enlisting the help of her devoted servant, she kidnaps the maid and kills her, making herself look twenty-five years younger. She embarks on a passionate romance with a young officer, until one day she reverts back to her old appearance. What will she do next and who will be able to stop her? Starring Ingrid Pitt, Nigel Green, Sandor Eles, Maurice Denham, Patience Collier and Lesley-Anne Down

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TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

November weekends will be daring, dangerous and deadly as LEGEND presents a bumper month of horror, sci-fi & action movies, headed up by the UK TV premieres of Doron and Yoav Paz’s unnerving, original Israeli terror experience THE GOLEM and Eric Bress’s grisly Brit supernatural horror film GHOSTS OF WAR. Plus there is a Channel premiere for John McTiernan’s compelling chiller NOMADS, starring Piers Bronsan,

There are also Channel premieres for a series of starry cult 70s and 80s action thrillers THE DISAPPEARANCE (Donald Sutherland & David Hemmings), WHO DARES WINS (Richard Widmark & Ingrid Pitt), HANNIE CAULDER (Raquel Welch & Christopher Lee) and WHEELS OF TERROR (David Carradine & Oliver Reed). Plus, there are first-time Legend showings for THE GUNMAN, starring Sean Penn and AIR AMERICA, starring Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr.

Plus, two Channel premieres head up THE VINTAGE VAULT strand: Robert Hartford-Davies’ gothic masterpiece THE BLACK TORMENT and Sci-fi horror classic THE SORCERERS, starring Boris Karloff. Both headline the popular Sunday night double-bills of cult favourites from decades gone by.

Other titles include drive-in favourite THE BLOB (1958), starring Steve McQueen, Terence Fisher’s irresistibly lurid THE MUMMY (1959), starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, the fantasy horror anthology DR. TERROR’S HOUSE OF HORRORS, Terence Fisher’s intense sci-fi thriller NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT, ISLAND OF TERROR, one of the great British Sci-Fi thrillers starring Peter Cushing, and QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, another memorable British Sci-Fi horror from Hammer Films, based on the TV series and directed by Roy Ward Baker.

And the third season of hit series KNIGHT RIDER, in which Michael, K.I.T.T. and gang return for more roadside adventures, has its channel premiere.

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Full film details in transmission order:

Friday 4 November @ 21:00 – THE DISAPPEARANCE (1977) *Channel Premiere

When a contract killer (Donald Sutherland) is hired by an international organisation to carry out a hit, he suspects they are connected with his wife’s disappearance.

Saturday 5 November @21:00 – WHO DARES WINS (1982) *Channel Premiere

The British receive intelligence that an anti-nuclear militant group is planning to kill the U.S. ambassador at the Iranian embassy. The British Special Air Services enlists the help of Capt. Peter Skellen (Lewis Collins), who is charged with going undercover. But he is quickly found out by the terrorists, and his wife and child are taken hostage.

Sunday 6 November @ 21:00 – THE BLOB (1958)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Two teenagers, Steve (Steven McQueen) and his best girl, Jane (Aneta Corseaut), notice a shooting star fall to earth, destroying an elderly man and growing to a terrifying size. The blob continues to grow, killing many, until the teenagers, with the, initially reluctant aid, of policeman Dave (Earl Rowe) discover a way to stop it..

Sunday 6 November @ 22:35 – THE MUMMY (1959)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

In 1895 Egypt, a team of British archeologists led by John Banning, opens the tomb of Princess Ananka, despite warnings of a death curse which will fall upon any desecrators. Three years later in England, a vengeful Egyptian man arrives and unleashes the living mummy Kharis on the men. This superior Hammer Films production reunites the director, Terence Fisher, with stars Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

From Tuesday 8 November @ 19:00 – KNIGHT RIDER, Season Three (1984) *Channel Premiere

The third season of the popular American television adventure series, follows the shadowy Michael Knight (David Hasselhoff) and his sentient car KITT as they fight crime and protect the innocent. In this series, a young couple stumble onto KITT’s evil prototype KARR, and accidentally reactivate him, and KITT’s memory is wiped in an electrical storm, causing him to abandon Michael

Friday 11 November @ 21:00 – HANNIE CAULDER  (1971) *Channel Premiere

In the Wild West, vicious bandit brothers Emmett (Ernest Borgnine), Frank (Jack Elam) and Rufus Clemens (Strother Martin) botch a heist, and in anger they rape local woman Hannie Caulder (Raquel Welch), murder her spouse and destroy her home. Wrong move…

Saturday 12 November @ 21:00 – AIR AMERICA (1990) – Channel Premiere

It is 1969 and the Vietnam War is raging. Billy, a brilliant helicopter pilot (Mel Gibson) is recruited by the CIA as part of ‘Air America’ an elite but clandestine unit. When he and fellow pilot Ryan (Robert Downey Jr.) discover their aircraft are being used by government agents to smuggle heroin, they must fight to avoid being framed as the drug-smugglers.

Sunday 13 November @ 21:00 – THE BLACK TORMENT (1964) *Channel Premiere

*Part of The Vintage Vault

When Sir Richard (John Turner) returns to his manor with his new wife. he hears rumours that he had already secretly returned and had committed several murders. Has he lost his mind, or is something dark afoot? Also stars Heather Sears and Patrick Troughton.

Sunday 13 November @ 22:45 – DR. TERROR’S HOUSE OF HORRORS (1965)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Just as a train departs, a mysterious stranger, Dr Shreck, enters the carriage with his pack of tarot cards to tell the fortunes of five fellow passengers. The cards predict that every one of them will suffer a terrible death, but will fate deal them the same hand. Stars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

Friday 18 November @ 23:10 – GHOSTS OF WAR (2020) *UK TV Premiere

Five battle-hardened American soldiers are assigned to hold a French Chateau near the end of World War II. Formerly occupied by the Nazi high command, this welcome respite quickly descends into madness when they encounter a supernatural enemy far more terrifying than anything seen on the battlefield.

Saturday 19 November @ 21:00 – WHEELS OF TERROR *Channel Premiere

During World War 2 a German penal unit composed of hardened criminals, political dissidents and religious non-conformists from the Nazi Prison camps are compelled to fight for something they do not believe in. Now they have the job from hell – a suicide mission on the Eastern Front that becomes one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Stars Bruce Davison, David Patrick Kelly, Oliver Reed and David Carradine.

Sunday 20 November@ 21:00 – NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT (1967)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

A freak heat wave sends the temperatures soaring on a remote island. Dr Stone (Peter Cushing) and Callum (Patrick Allen) try to uncover the mysterious reason for the sudden change in climate. But the arrival of Callum’s former mistress (Jane Merrow) forces the atmosphere to boiling point and it falls to Godfrey Hanson (Christopher Lee) to discover that the rising heat is the start of an invasion of merciless aliens…

Sunday 20 November @ 22:55 – ISLAND OF TERROR (1966)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

When the inhabitants of Petrie’s island succumb to a mysterious disease, doctors Stanley (Peter Cushing) and West (Edward Judd) investigate. Puncture marks on the corpses reveal the horrifying truth: the islanders are being killed not by a disease, but by a strange type of organism that sucks the bone from their bodies…

Friday 25 November @ 21:00 – NOMADS (1986) *Channel Premiere

A French anthropologist, who is an expert on nomadic groups, stumbles across a group of urban nomads who turn out to be more than he expected. Directed by John McTiernan, this terrifying supernatural chiller stars Pierce Brosnan and Lesley-Ann Down.

Friday 25 November @ 22:50 – THE GOLEM (2018) *UK TV Premiere

During an outbreak of a deadly plague, a mystical woman must save her isolated, tight-knit community under attack from the plague and deadly evil invaders. She conjures an entity that she moulds out of mud to protect them but the innocent-looking boy hides a much greater evil. This superb Golem tale is directed by Doron and Yoav Paz.

Saturday 26 November @ 21:00 – THE GUNMAN (2015) *Channel Premiere

A sniper, on a mercenary assassination team kills the Congo’s Minister of Mines. Terrier’s successful kill shot forces him into hiding. Returning to the Congo years later, he becomes the target of a hit squad himself. This taut action thriller, directed by Pierre Morel stars Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Mark Rylance and Ray Winstone.

Sunday 27 November @ 21:00 – THE SORCERERS (1967) *Channel Premiere

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Scientist (Boris Karloff) and his wife (Catherine Lacey), possess a device that enables them to impose, through telepathy, their fantasies on people and allows them to experience sensations felt by their subjects. They take control of a teenager (Ian Ogilvy) and have him live out what they associate with contemporary youth: violence and sex. This disturbing and powerful psychological horror is the debut feature of cult-director Michael Reeves

Sunday 27 November @ 22:45 – QUATERMASS AND THE PIT (1967)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

An ancient Martian spacecraft is discovered buried in the ground at the site of an extension to the London Underground. Also uncovered nearby are the remains of early human ancestors more than five million years old. Now uncovered the craft begins to exert a malign influence, resurrecting Martian memories and instincts buried deep within the human psyche. Mayhem breaks out on the streets of London as the alien force grows in strength. Can Professor Quatermass (Andrew Keir) and his team save the day?

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TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

Friday and Saturday nights in September on Legend are premiere-packed, headed up by the UK TV premiere of Doug Liman’s (director of The Bourne Identity, Edge of Tomorrow), deadly psychological thriller THE WALL, staring John Cena and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. There are also Channel premieres for horror-mystery THE FINAL WISH, dark comedy vampire horror THE SHED, Walter Hill’s neo-noir crime thriller THE DRIVER, starring Sam O’Neill and Bruce Dern and Sam Peckinpah’s gritty action-comedy CONVOY, starring Kristofferson and Ali McGraw. Plus, IRON EAGLE II and IRON EAGLE III are on the weekend menu, both starring Louis Gossett Jr.

And the popular strand THE VINTAGE VAULT continues, once again presenting double-bills of classic sci-fi and horror films every Sunday night. The season premieres on Sunday September 4^th with BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, the celebrated sequel to the 1931 classic with Boris Karloff reprising his role as the monster. This is paired with Christy Cabanne’s frightening chiller masterpiece THE MUMMY’S HAND. Then on Sunday September 11^th we have FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, featuring the original Wolfman, Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein’s monster, followed by THE INVISIBLE MAN, in which Claude Rains delivers a remarkable performance in his screen debut.

Sunday September 18^th brings us pulp-horror favourite TARANTULA twinned with  REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, the sequel to Universal’s fabulously successful The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Finally, on Sunday September 25^th mutant octopus-rampaging favourite  IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA hits our screens, followed by the heart-pounding Alien invasion classic IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE

Plus, the immortal KNIGHT RIDER is back! The cult TV series starring the legendary David Hasselhoff receives its channel premiere on Legend.

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Full film details in transmission order:

Saturday 3 September @ 21:00 – IRON EAGLE II (1988) *Channel Premiere

The United States and the Soviet Union must work together to destroy a nuclear missile. The real challenge in this mission is to get the pilots from both countries to work as a team. They are more used to fighting each other rather than alongside each other. But when Chappy and the Soviets discover that an American General may sabotage their mission and his plans may kill hundreds of innocent people, they finally unite.

Sunday 4 September @ 21:00 – BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

This celebrated sequel to the 1931 classic finds Mary Shelley’s monster alive and well and forcing the good baron to create a mate. Horror film icon Boris Karloff reprises his role as Dr. Frankenstein’s fabled creation and Elsa Lanchester co-stars as his monstrous lady love.

Sunday 4 September @ 22:30 – THE MUMMY’S HAND (1940)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Two broke archaeologists, Steve Banning (Dick Foran) and Babe Jenson (Wallace Ford), head to Egypt to uncover the legendary sarcophagus of Princess Ananka. Not only is the tomb cursed, it has its own guard – an eternal mummy named Kharis! When expedition members start dying at the mummy’s hand, it’ll take wits and courage to survive the undying horror uncovered under the sands.

From Monday 5 September @ 19:00 – KNIGHT RIDER, Season One (1992) *Channel Premiere

Knight Rider is a fantastic thrill-ride starring David Hasselhoff as a mysterious loner who fights crime with the aid of a super-advanced car equipped with artificial intelligence named K.I.T.T.. An invaluable tool in combatting injustice in the shadowy underworld of America, It has the ability to think and talk, often offering up hilarious witticisms that are remarkably clever considering he’s a 1982 Pontiac Trans-Am. Great action! Great fun! Great car!

 Saturday 10 September @ 21:00 – IRON EAGLE III (1992) *Channel Premiere

Colonel Charles “Chappy” Sinclair teams with three retired maverick fighter jocks from England, Germany and Japan as they fly souped-up World War II airplanes to combat a ruthless German drug lord and his high tech weaponry in the lawless South American jungles.

Sunday 11 September @ 21:00 – FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN (1943)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Two of the silver screen’s most fearsome creatures battle it out when the Wolfman (Lon Chaney reprising his role) seeking to end his curse, looks to the notorious Dr Frankenstein for a cure. However, his mission pus him on a collision course with Frankenstein’s monster, played by Bela Lugosi.

Sunday 11 September @ 22:30 – THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Claude Rains plays a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery. But the same drug that renders him invisible slowly drives him to commit acts of unspeakable terror. Based on H.G. Wells’ classic novel and directed by the master of macabre James Whale, The Invisible Man not only fuelled a host of sequels, but also features some special effects that are still imitated today.

Friday 16 September @ 21:00 – THE WALL (2017) *UK TV Premiere

U.S. Sergeants Allen Isaac (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nocturnal Animals, Godzilla, Avengers: Age of Ultron) and Shane Matthews (WWE’s John Cena) are investigating a pipeline construction site in a desert of Iraq. When he heads into open space, Matthews is shot by an Iraqi sniper, leaving Isaac to take cover and form a rescue plan behind an unsteady, crumbling wall. What unfolds is as much a battle of will and wits as it is of lethally accurate marksmanship in the toughest of conditions.

Saturday 17 September @ 21:00 – THE DRIVER (1978) *Channel Premiere

Ryan O’Neal plays a get-away driver. Bruce Dern plays the relentless detective who sets out to trap him and Isabella Adjani plays the mysterious gambler who goes along for the thrill of the game. It is a tale of confrontation between two men of iron will. Each of the characters is the best at what they do; each is committed to a lifestyle that thrives on competition. Who will come out on top?

Sunday 18 September @ 21:00 – TARANTULA (1955)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

This classic science fiction film featuring screen legend Clint Eastwood, tells the story of a scientist who, while researching the effects of a new synthetic nutrient, releases a giant spider in the American Southwest. Directed by Jack Arnold and starring John Agar, Mara Corday and Leo G. Carroll.

Sunday 18 September @ 22:35 – REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1954)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

Two oceanographers (John Bromfield and Robert B. Williams) capture the creature and put him on display. Here the hapless Gill-Man is taught a few words of English by compassionate ichthyologists, John Agar and Lori Nelson. Eventually, however, the creature reverts to type, kills one of his captors and goes on a rampage, managing to abduct the heroine and carry her off. Intense underwater photography and practical effects make “The Revenge of the Creature” a horror classic.

Friday 23 September @ 21:00 – THE SHED (2018) *Channel Premiere

When you’re the outcast, the underdog; they all think they can mess with you. But what happens when you have a vampire in your shed? The game changes and everyone becomes a target. Make a choice, who lives, who dies? Who enters THE SHED?

Saturday 24 September @ 21:00 – CONVOY (1978) *Channel Premiere

A mighty convoy of dust-raising trucks heads for a State Line in south-western America. The massive collection of vehicles of all shapes and sizes is led by ‘Rubber Duck’, a legendary trucker who has gathered this vast army together in protest against police corruption, federal and state laws and shady politicking.

Sunday 25 September @ 21:00 – IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1956)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

While on a routine mission, Cmdr. Pete Mathews (Kenneth Tobey) runs into trouble when his submarine is nearly sunk by an unknown creature, which is identified as a giant octopus from the nether reaches of Mindanao Deep. The beast has been awakened by nearby nuclear testing and now, radioactive and monstrously huge, the rampaging leviathan is heading toward the North American Pacific Coast.

Sunday 25 September @ 22:35 – IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953)

*Part of The Vintage Vault

John Putnam (Richard Carlson), an amateur astronomer, is looking at the skies with his fiancée, schoolteacher Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush), when they see what looks like a huge meteor crash into the desert. As events unfold, various townspeople start to disappear, including Ellen, to be replaced by alien ‘duplicates’ As the townspeople become aware of the danger, the likelihood of bloodshed becomes apparent. Based on a story by Ray Bradbury.

Friday 30 September @ 22:45 – THE FINAL WISH (2018) *Channel Premiere

Be careful what you wish for because every wish comes at a price. Following the death of his father, Aaron (Michael Welch) returns to his hometown to help his devastated mother (Lin Shaye) pack up his father’s belongings. Discovering one item of unknown origin, Aaron soon comes to believe his wishes are coming true but the more wishes he makes the more danger he puts those closest to him in. What will happen when Aaron makes ‘The Final Wish’?

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TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

and the return of THE VINTAGE VAULT

Horror Channel continues its transformation into new channel Legend with a heady mix of  classic horror, sc-fi, thriller, action, fantasy and suspense titles.

Saturday nights on Legend in August get trigger-happy, with four action-packed premieres, including the UK TV premiere of CODE NAME: GEROMINO, John Stockwell’s explosive military thriller starring Tom Sizemore. There are also channel premieres for AN EYE FOR AN EYE, Michael D. Moore’s classic Western revenge drama starring Robert Lancing and Slim Pickens, BUFFALO BILL & THE INDIANS, Robert Altman’s acclaimed revisionist Western starring Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, Geraldine Chaplin and Harvey Keitel, and Peter Yate’s  superior crime thriller THE ROBBERY, which stars Stanley Baker, Frank Finlay and Barry Foster.

And the popular stand THE VINTAGE VAULT continues, once again presenting double-bills of classic sci-fi and horror films every Sunday night. The vault is unlocked on Sunday August 7^th with THE CHANGELING, Peter Medak’s classic supernatural horror starring George C. Scott. This is paired with THE BROOD, David Cronenberg’s early body-horror shocker, which stars Oliver Reed and Samantha Eggar.

The following Sundays boast some of the greatest genre movies of all time – John Carpenter’s THE FOG, and Joe Dante’s werewolf cult hit THE HOWLING, David Cronenberg’s body horror masterpiece SCANNERS, Tony Maylam’s THE BURNING,  John Carpenter’s brilliant body-mangling monster horror THE THING and the equally brilliant VIDEODROME Croneberg’s cult-classic with acclaimed performance from James Woods and music legend, Deborah Harry.

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Full film details in transmission order:

Saturday 6 August @ 21:00 – AN EYE FOR AN EYE (1966) *Channel Premiere

Talion is on the trail of Ike Slant and his gang, responsible for the murder of his wife and child. He teams up with Benny, a youthful bounty hunter. During a fight with the killers, Benny is blinded and Talion’s hand shattered. In order to overcome their handicaps, Benny learns to shoot according to Talion’s shouted command.

Sunday 7 August @ 21:00 – THE CHANGELING (1980)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

Months after the death of his wife and child in a car accident, composer John Russell retires to an old mansion which has been unoccupied for years. But John’s hopes of peace and quiet prove unfulfilled, as he finds himself regularly disturbed by a strange and uncanny presence that haunts the house. John begins to research the house’s past, and soon finds secrets more terrible than he ever imagined.

Sunday 7 August @ 23:05 – THE BROOD (1979)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

Frank Carveth is becoming increasingly concerned about his ex-wife Nola’s secretive treatment at the sinister ‘Somafree Institute of Psychoplasmics. Headed by cult figure Dr Raglan, his controversial and extreme methods seek to unleash his patients’ rage, often taking on physical manifestations. As Frank delves deeper he is finally led to an horrific and repellant final confrontation.

Saturday 13 August @ 21:00 – BUFFALO BILL & THE INDIANS (1976) *Channel
Premiere

In 1885, Buffalo Bill’s name is the symbol of heroism in America. His famous “Wild West Show”, which is known all over the country, is organised by his brilliant manager, Nate Salsbury. But when he is off stage, Buffalo is a show-off who drinks and continually seeks new mistresses, while trying to consolidate his prestige. When he calls Sitting Bull for help to improve his show, he begins to get into trouble…

Sunday 14 August @ 21:00 – THE FOG (1980)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

A Northern California fishing town, built 100 years ago over an old leper colony, is the target for revenge by a killer fog containing zombie-like ghosts seeking revenge for their deaths.

Sunday 14 August @ 22:50 – THE HOWLING (1981)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

A female reporter is attacked by a notorious serial killer and to get over her trauma she is sent to ‘The Colony’, a remote mountain resort. But there her problems really begin, as the residents are werewolves.

Saturday 20 August @ 21:00 – ROBBERY (1967) *Channel Premiere

Based on the infamous Great Train Robbery, we follow Paul Clifton (Stanley Baker) as he forms a team to carry out an ambitious heist of cash from a government mail train traveling from Scotland to London. Everything goes to plan until the very last moment when a series of unforeseen events conspire against them and the police manage to capture the gang. Clifton however tries to escape the country using a counterfeit identity.

Sunday 21 August @ 21:00 – SCANNERS (1981)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

Drifter Cameron Vale is plagued by incessant voices in his head unaware that he is a Scanner, a group of people with extraordinary powers who can not only read minds but literally tear them apart. He is discovered by a scientist aiming to help his kind adapt to society. However an underground movement of Scanners led by the psychotic Derryl Revok have other intentions and the ultimate confrontation of minds awaits.

Sunday 21 August @ 23:05 – THE BURNING (1981)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

At summer camp, some teenagers pull a prank on the camp’s caretaker, Cropsy (Lou David). But the joke goes terribly wrong, and the teens leave Cropsy for dead after setting him on fire. A few years later, the burned and disfigured caretaker returns to camp equipped with his trusty shears, ready to unleash his particular brand of vengeance…

Saturday 27 August @ 21:00 – CODE NAME: GEROMINO (2012) *UK Premiere

Seal Team 8 must fight their way through the Congo to defuse one of the greatest threats the world has ever known.

Sunday 28 August @ 21:00 – THE THING (1982)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists are disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks them and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. Helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) leads the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature.

Sunday 28 August @ 23:05 – VIDEODROME (1983)
PART OF THE VINTAGE VAULT

Creative and idiosyncratic filmmaker David Cronenberg directs this delightfully bizarre film about a television programmer who stumbles onto a sado-masochistic video stream that might just be trying to subliminally effect television viewers everywhere.

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TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

LEGEND reveals slate of thrilling premieres and the return of THE VINTAGE VAULT
plus FARSCAPE miniseries lights up daytime

Promo trailer: https://youtu.be/IaqpoW1TRGY

Horror Channel has rebranded and is now Legend. Legend will still be showing classic horror and sc-fi but its eclectic mix of movies and TV series will now broaden out to include more thriller, action, fantasy and suspense titles.

Saturday nights on Legend gets deadly in July, with four Channel premieres –  Don Mancini’s criminally entertaining CULT OF CHUCKY, starring Jennifer Tilly and Brad Dourif as the voice of the iconic deadly doll of destruction, Walter Hill’s neo-Western action thriller, EXTREME PREJUDICE, starring Nick Nolte, Paul Aaron’s murderous crime drama DEADLY FORCE, and Richard Fleischer’s epic sword and sorcery fantasy RED SONJA, starring Brigitte Nielsen and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Plus, FARSCAPE returns with the channel premieres of Season 4 and FARSCAPE: THE PEACEKEEPER’S WARS, which, following the original series’ cancellation, wraps up the series cliff-hanger with a two-episode conclusion. This Australian-American Sci-Fi TV series, created by Rockne S, O’Bannon, has proved s big hit with LEGEND audiences.

And THE VINTAGE VAULT is back, once again presenting double-bills of classic sci-fi and horror films every Sunday night.

The vault is unlocked on Sunday July 3^rd with Terence Fisher’s irresistibly lurid, THE MUMMY (1959), starring Peter Cushing and Christopher. This is paired with 13 GHOSTS, the infectious 1960 supernatural classic, directed by William Castle. Then on Sunday July 10^th, we have two of the great British Sci-Fi thrillers, ISLAND OF TERROR, starring Peter Cushing, followed by QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, based on the BBC TV series and directed by Roy Ward Baker.

On Sunday July 17^th, the deliciously sinister DR JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE directed by Roy Ward Baker, hits our screens, followed by another of Hammer Film’s greatest hits, the sensually daring COUNTESS DRACULA, starring Ingrid Pitt. Sunday July 24^th sees another stylishly impressive Hammer production double-bill, kicking off with BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB, the swan song for director Seth Holt, . This is paired with TWINS OF EVIL, widely recognised as a masterpiece of gothic and erotic horror.

Finally on Sunday July 31^st, the satanic cult masterpiece, TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER, is unleashed on the channel.  This adaptation of the 1953 novel of by Dennis Wheatley, stars Christopher Lee, Richard Widmark, Honor Blackmanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Lee and Nastassja Kinski.  This is followed by DOOMWATCH, an eco sci-fi thriller based on the 1970s BBC series, starring Ian Bannen and Judy Geeson.

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Full film details in transmission order:

From Thurs 30 June @ 18:00 – FARSCAPE: SEASON 4 (2002) *Channel Premiere

Continuing work on his theories of wormhole technology, Crichton ekes out an existence on board Elack – an old, dying Leviathan. The peace is shattered by the intrusion of a female alien, Sikozu, and a squad of Grudek mercenaries intent on harvesting Elack’s neural tissue. Crichton fights to save his new home, his struggle hindered by the Grudeks’ pet: a vicious and deadly alien canine called the Brindz Hound.

Sat 2 July @ 21:00 – CULT OF CHUCKY (2017) *Channel Premiere

Confined to an asylum for the criminally insane for the past four years, Nica Pierce (Fiona Dourif) is wrongly convinced that she, not Chucky, murdered her entire family. But when her psychiatrist introduces a new therapeutic “tool” to facilitate his patients’ group sessions — an all-too-familiar “Good Guy” doll — a string of grisly deaths begins to plague the asylum. Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent), Chucky’s now-grown-up nemesis, races to Nica’s aid. But to save her he’ll have to get past Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), Chucky’s long-ago bride, who will do anything to help her beloved devil doll.

Sat 9 July @ 21:00 – EXTREME PREJUDICE (1986) *Channel Premiere

In a small border town between Texas and Mexico, Jack Benteen has a hard time fighting a drug trafficking ring led by his childhood friend Cash Bailey. Wen the town becomes the battlefield between traffickers and mercenaries, the two former friends will finally settle their differences. One on one, they will duel.

Saturday 16 July @ 21:00 – DEADLY FORCE (1984) *Channel Premiere

Stoney who has been fired from the Los Angeles police force and has parted from his wife. He settles down as a freelance detective in New York but his past comes back to challenge him when a friend calls him for help: his niece has become the 17th victim of a serial killer and the Los Angeles police are at deadlock. Stoney’s old colleagues  are unhappy about his arrival but Stoney persists, determined to hunt the murderer down.

Sat 23 July @ 21:00 – RED SONJA (1985) *Channel Premiere

The peaceful life of Sonja is shattered when her parents are murdered by Queen Gedren, who rules by terror and carries a talisman with which she can annihilate the planet. Sonja sets out to avenge her parents’ death and is granted extraordinary powers by a mysterious vision. But she must vow never to fall in love with a man unless he is stronger than her.

Sat 30 July @ 13:00 – FARSCAPE: THE PEACEMAKER WARS (2004) *Channel Premiere

In this two-part miniseries John Crichton (Ben Browder) is back. A living starship harbours an ensemble of alien fugitives, including a human astronaut in the wrong place at the wrong time. Add the birth of his new starchild, a half-human with untold secrets, and an enemy race set to destroy and conquer them all, and this can only be the beginning of the end.

THE VINTAGE VAULT

Sunday 3 July @ 21:00 – THE MUMMY (1959)

In 1895 Egypt, a team of British archeologists led by John Banning, opens the tomb of Princess Ananka, despite warnings of a death curse which will fall upon any desecrators. Three years later in England, a vengeful Egyptian man arrives and unleashes the living mummy Kharis on the men. This superior Hammer Films production reunites the director, Terence Fisher, with stars Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

Sunday 3 July @ 22:45 – 13 GHOSTS (1960)

When occultist Dr Plato Zorba leaves a huge ramshackle house to his nephew Cyrus and his impoverished family, they are shocked to find the house is haunted. Their new residence comes complete with Doctor Zorba’s housekeeper, Elaine Zacharides, plus a fortune in buried treasure and twelve horrifying ghosts. However, there is someone in the house who is also looking for the money and is willing to kill for it…

Sunday 10 July @ 21:00 – ISLAND OF TERROR (1966)

A meteor crashes in the desert, leaving behind huge black chunks. While being analysed in a science lab, the crystalline stones are accidentally drenched with water and begin to grow to gargantuan dimensions. A sudden rainstorm further exacerbates the situation, causing the monoliths to grow to hitherto unimagined heights. Can the world be saved by the saline solution which the scientists are hurriedly developing in the lab?

Sunday 10 July @ 22:45 – QUATERMASS AND THE PIT (1967)

An ancient Martian spacecraft is discovered buried in the ground at the site of an extension to the London Underground. Also uncovered nearby are the remains of early human ancestors more than five million years old. Now uncovered the craft begins to exert a malign influence, resurrecting Martian memories and instincts buried deep within the human psyche. Mayhem breaks out on the streets of London as the alien force grows in strength. Can Professor Quatermass (Andrew Keir) and his team save the day?

Sunday 17 July @ 21:00 – DR JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE (1971)

It’s London in the 1800’s and Dr Jekyll is experimenting on newly deceased women, determined to discover an elixir for immortal life. Success enables his spectacular transformation into the beautiful but psychotic Sister Hyde who stalks the dark alleys of Whitechapel for female victims, ensuring continuation of the bloodstained research. With each transformation Sister Hyde becomes the more dominant personality, determined to eventually suppress the frail, ineffectual Dr Jekyll forever.

Sunday 17 July @ 22:55 – COUNTESS DRACULA (1971)

When the aging Countess Elizabeth Bathory (Ingrid Pitt) discovers that bathing in the blood of virgin girls will keep her eternally young and beautiful, she devises a master plan. But Bathory’s plan goes awry when she runs out of blood and begins to change back into her former self. What will she do next and who will be able to stop her?

Sunday 24 July @ 21:00 – BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB (1971)

An expedition led by Professor Fuchs (Andrew Keir), finds the cursed tomb of an evil Egyptian princess. He takes her preserved, still-bleeding severed hand – which sports a dazzling ruby ring. Several years later, Fuchs gives the ring to his young daughter Margaret (Valerie Leon), whereupon she begins to take on the malevolent traits of its original wearer.

Sunday 24 July @ 22:55 – TWINS OF EVIL (1971)

After being orphaned, two beautiful identical twins move from Vienna to the village of Karnstein. There they are to live with their Uncle, a fanatical Puritan (Peter Cushing). Nearby, the Count of the village is performing a sacrificial rite which raises his ancestor, the vampire Countess. He turns his attention to the twins. One of them is destined to fall under the castle’s spell, but which one?

Sunday 31 July @ 21:00 – TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER (1976)

Henry Beddows (Denholm Elliott) asks occult novelist John Verney (Richard Widmark) to protect his 18 year-old daughter, Catherine (Natasha Kinski), who has attracted the attention of ex-communicated priest Father Michael Rayner (Christopher Lee). Rayner wants Catherine to become the incarnation of one of the crowned princes of Hell, Astaroth. Pitted against black magic, ancient rituals and a clan of Satanists, Verney battles to save the young girl from a diabolical fate.

Sunday 31 July @ 22:50 – DOOMWATCH (1972)

Dr. Del Shaw (Ian Bannen), part of the government’s investigative environmental organisation Doomwatch, travels to the island of Balfe to examine the potentially adverse effects of a recent oil spill. The villagers are all suspicious of Shaw, especially the menfolk, who seem to have transformed into near-Neanderthals. After teaming up with a local teacher, Shaw discovers that the transformation of the men is due to a disease called acromegaly.

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TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137

Film news (UK): Horror Channel continues to unlock THE VINTAGE VAULT this June with four more Sunday night classic genre double-bills

Promo Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deBBCnlev68

This June, Horror Channel once again journeys into the history of genre cinema with THE VINTAGE VAULT, presenting double-bills of classic sci-fi and horror films every Sunday night.

The vault is unlocked on Sunday June 5^th with Nathan Juran’s Ray Harryhausen inspired 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH. This is paired with Fred F. Sears’ rampaging alien bird yarn THE GIANT CLAW. Then on Sunday June 12^th, we have THE MONOLITH MONSTERS, in which the world is attacked by thirsty giant crystals, followed by the beastly mutant classic THE DEADLY MANTIS.

On Sunday June 19^th, the brilliantly lurid THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957), directed by Terence Fisher, hits our screens, followed by drive-in favourite THE BLOB, starring Steve McQueen. Finally on Sunday June 26^th, a Terence Fisher double-bill as the hypnotically sensual and gory DRACULA (1958) swoops onto the channel. This adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic launched Cushing and Christopher Lee into global stardom. This is followed by Fisher’s equally successful adaptation of the classic Universal monster movies, THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN, again starring the incomparable Peter Cushing.

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Full film details in transmission order:

Sunday 5 June @ 21:00 – 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH (1957)

A manned space flight from Venus crash lands in the Mediterranean, losing its most precious cargo: reptilian eggs from the planet’s surface. Italian zoologist (Frank Puglia), his American granddaughter, Marisa (Joan Taylor), and returned astronaut Calder (William Hopper) must battle to the creature before it destroys everything in its path.

Sunday 5 June @ 22:35 – THE GIANT CLAW (1957)

When a strange flying object is spotted, it is believed to be a UFO. However, it turns out to be an extraterrestrial bird made of anti-matter which leaves a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

Sunday 12 June @ 21:00 – THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957)

A meteor crashes in the desert, leaving behind huge black chunks. While being analysed in a science lab, the crystalline stones are accidentally drenched with water and begin to grow to gargantuan dimensions. A sudden rainstorm further exacerbates the situation, causing the monoliths to grow to hitherto unimagined heights. Can the world be saved by the saline solution which the scientists are hurriedly developing in the lab?

Sunday 12 June @ 22:30 – THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957)

When a giant insect attacks several people in a remote Arctic region, Col. Joe Parkham (Craig Stevens) swings into action. Parkham and his associates, Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper) and Ned’s assistant Margie Blake (Alix Talton), track the predatory mantis as it heads southward to Washington DC.

Sunday 19 June @ 21:00 – THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957)

Scientist Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) will stop at nothing in his quest to reanimate a deceased body and assembles a hideous creature (Christopher Lee) out of dead body parts. He succeeds in bringing it to life, but the monster is not as obedient or docile as Frankenstein expected…

Sunday 19 June @ 22:40 – THE BLOB (1958)

Two teenagers, Steve (Steve McQueen) and his best girl, Jane (Aneta Corseaut), notice a shooting star fall to earth, destroying an elderly man and growing to a terrifying size. The blob continues to grow, killing many, until the teenagers, with the, initially reluctant aid, of policeman Dave (Earl Rowe) discover a way to stop it.

Sunday 26 June @ 21:00 – DRACULA (1958)

On a search for his missing friend, Jonathan Harker (John Van Eyssen), vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) is led to Count Dracula’s (Christopher Lee) castle, where he finds an undead Harker in Dracula’s crypt and discovers that the count’s next target is Harker’s ailing fiancée, Lucy Holmwood (Carol Marsh). With the help of her brother, Arthur (Michael Gough), Van Helsing is determined to protect Lucy and put an end to Count Dracula’s parasitic reign of terror.

Sunday 26 June @ 22:35 – THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957)

Having escaped execution and assumed an alias, Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) transplants his deformed underling’s brain into a perfect body, but the effectiveness of the process and the secret of his identity soon begin to unravel. Directed by Terence Fisher, this was a sequel to THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and the second instalment of Hammer’s Frankenstein series.

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TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138

Website: http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrorchannel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/horror_channel

Horror Channel launches assault of premieres for June plus further seasons of FARSCAPE

Ryan Simon’s British supernatural chiller DEMON EYE, starring Darren Day, and Liam Fox, and Brad Baruh’s Coen-sequel mystery thriller NIGHT DRIVE, starring AJ Bowen and Sophie Dalah, both receive Friday night UK TV premieres on Horror Channel.

There are also channel premieres for John Carpenter’s cult classic ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 and Finnish-German sci-fi Nazi horror spoof IRON SKY: THE COMING RACE, directed by Timo Vuorensola (Iron Sky) and starring Udo Kier, reprising his role as Adolf Hitler.

Plus, cult classic FARSCAPE returns with the channel premieres of Season 3 and 4. This Australian-American Sci-Fi TV series, created by Rockne S, O’Bannon, has proved s big hit with Horror Channel audiences.

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Full film details in transmission order:

From Thurs 2 June @ 18:00 – FARSCAPE: SEASON 3 (2001) *Channel Premiere

Crichton remains a virtual prisoner in the Ice Planet lab. Now that the chip – and the clone – implanted in Crichton’s brain have been removed, Scorpius is free to examine the secrets of the wormhole technology. However, something is awry. An imprint of the Scorpius Clone remains trapped inside Crichton’s mind. Faced with this intolerable existence, the clone tells John that there is only one way to escape the unholy partnership – Crichton must die.

Fri 3 June @ 21:00 – DEMON EYE (209) *UK TV Premiere

Inspired by the 1850’s tale of the Saddleworth Witch, a young woman returns to her father’s country house on the moors, following his mysterious death, and finds a cursed amulet, connected to local witchcraft. She discovers the amulet has dark powers and will grant you your greatest wish, but in return, she must unlock two deadly demons…

Sat 4 June @ 21:00 – ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976) *Channel Premiere

An LA gang’s revenge-fuelled killing spree leads them to a half-abandoned police station in the throes of closing down. Under siege with power and phone lines cut, a lone cop and his skeleton staff recruit a condemned killer from the cells in a desperate battle to survive the night. As the gang close in the tension escalates to boiling point in John Carpenter’s brutal and unrelenting cult classic.

Friday 10 June @ 22:45 – NIGHT DRIVE (2021) *UK TV Premiere

Russell (AJ Bowen) is a taxi driver in LA, who’s reeling from a series of bad decisions. While his life seems to be caught in a downward spiral, a business proposition from an enigmatic passenger (Sophie Dalah) proves too good to turn down. A simple ride turns deadly, catapulting Russell into an even darker place, but his alluring passenger may be the key to the second chance he thought he’d never have…if he can make it through the night.

Fri 17 June @ 21:00 – IRON SKY: THE COMING RACE (2019) *Channel Premiere

Twenty years after the events of Iron Sky, the former Nazi Moonbase has become the last refuge of mankind. Earth was devastated by a nuclear war, but buried deep under the wasteland lays a power that could save the last of humanity – or destroy it once and for all. The truth behind the creation of mankind will be revealed when an old enemy leads our heroes on an adventure into the Hollow Earth. To save humanity they must fight the Vril, an ancient shapeshifting reptilian race and their army of dinosaurs.

From Thurs 30 June @ 18:00 – FARSCAPE: SEASON 4 (2002) *Channel Premiere

Continuing work on his theories of wormhole technology, Crichton ekes out an existence on board Elack – an old, dying Leviathan. The peace is shattered by the intrusion of a female alien, Sikozu, and a squad of Grudek mercenaries intent on harvesting Elack’s neural tissue. Crichton fights to save his new home, his struggle hindered by the Grudeks’ pet: a vicious and deadly alien canine called the Brindz Hound.

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TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138

Website: http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrorchannel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/horror_channel

Ahead of Horror Channel’s UK TV Premiere of BOOK OF MONSTERS, on May 14, director Stewart Sparke talks about the influence of horror fans, his obsession with the Alien franchise and collaborating with horror icon Nicholas Vince.

Did you know from a young age that you wanted to be a film director?

I remember first realising that I wanted to make films during one of many viewings of ‘The Mummy’ (1999) on VHS in my bedroom on an old 15” TV. I became quite obsessed with the film and tried to make all my friends come over to watch it because I wanted to share all the amazing trivia about how they made the special effects. This sparked the idea that perhaps I could make my own films and so my first effort was to remake the entirety of the Phantom Menace in my bedroom with myself and my friends miming along to the audio of the VHS being played in the background. I didn’t even have a camcorder back then, so we shot the whole thing from a webcam mounted to the top of my computer monitor! Things escalated from there and I have been making films ever since, although I’m glad to say that we upgraded from the fixed webcam long ago!

How did Book of Monsters come about?

Book of Monsters was the result of myself and writer Paul Butler’s love of all things 80s horror. We love movies like Evil Dead 2, The Monster Squad and Fright Night. We developed a story designed to be filmed on a low budget in a single studio set over just a few weeks and doubled down on our commitment to practical effects, bringing in the fantastic team from DDFX Studio to create our monsters!

The movie was also heavily influenced by the horror community who, via Kickstarter, actually chose which monsters showed up in the movie and how some of our hapless characters were brutally dispatched! I’m still really proud to say that Book of Monsters is very much a movie made for horror fans, by horror fans as they had a huge hand in the way everything turned out on screen!

It’s very different to you first feature, The Creature Below, was this a deliberate choice?

As a psychological horror movie, ‘The Creature Below’ took itself very seriously which was something of a blessing and a curse to shoot. On the one hand, Paul and I loved drawing upon the Lovecraft mythos for inspiration and playing with the serious themes of madness and motherhood in a very domestic setting. At the same time however, we had so much fun with the practical effects creatures in the film that we felt somewhat shackled by the serious tone which restricted us from doing some of the more camp, 80s inspired, silly fun that you can have with a killer squid monster that you’re keeping in your basement. Which is why, when it came time to make ‘Book of Monsters’ that we fully committed to going all out on a practical effects driven movie with lots of opportunity to have some Gremlins 2 style fun!

Did it take long to cast?

We already knew going in that we wanted to bring back some of the fantastic cast that we’d had the pleasure of working with on The Creature Below but this time in very different roles. Anna Dawson (Arya), Michaela Longden (Mona) and Daniel S. Thrace (Gary) all returned to be splattered with buckets of fake blood and were fully on board for the shift to a more comedic tone this time round. Lizzie Arryn-Stanton had previously auditioned for our last film and we immediately thought of her for the role of Beth, making our job very easy! For our lead Sophie, the incredibly talented Lyndsey Craine came on very early in development as we knew immediately that she could convey the sweet and unassuming nature of our final girl who could swing a chainsaw with the best of them.

What was it like working with the legend that is Nicholas Vince?

Working with Nick was an absolute dream come true! We were lucky enough to have met him a few times at FrightFest and had the pleasure of being guests on his horror themed interview series Chattering with Nicholas Vince when we were promoting ‘The Creature Below’ (he is now hosting the brilliant The Chattering Hour on YouTube which is well worth checking out!). As someone who is known for playing horrific monsters on film, we really wanted to give Nick a completely different role in ‘Book of Monsters’ and he excelled in the movie as Sophie’s father.

Was it a tough shoot as it takes place in just one location?

Having the single location of Sophie’s house made things an absolute dream to shoot! We built the entire interior of the house at Prime Studios in Leeds which is just next to ITV’s old Emmerdale studios. Having a set build rather than an actual location meant that we had so much more control over lighting and could do whatever we wanted when it came to flinging fake blood and guts all over the walls! With everyone being confined to the studio for two weeks the set almost started to feel like home by the end of the shoot and it was sad to see it all taken down when we wrapped shooting.

It has a cool retro vibe to it; was the feeling and tone of the movie influenced by horror from the 80s and 90s?

Writer Paul Butler and I were hugely influenced by 80s and 90s horror. Since the movie came out people have likened it to everything from ‘Spookies’ to ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and they’re not wrong! We drew inspiration from the entire spectrum of horror from those decades, specifically creature features which we absolutely adore. A huge part of my childhood was wearing out VHS copies of ‘Tremors’, ‘Gremlins’ and ‘Aliens’ which all burned into my brain and influenced so many moments in Book of Monsters!

There’s a lot of practical effects here for fans of old school horror, was this a deliberate choice?

We made a commitment to have all of the film’s monsters realised with practical effects as soon as we had settled on the basic concept of the movie. As huge fans of old school horror, it was incredibly important to us that we paid tribute to the genre and did things how they would have been done in the 80s. CGI has its place and we did end up using it to enhance a few effects but when it came to the monsters themselves, we knew it could only be practical. The beauty of practical effects creatures is that they are a real, tangible presence on set that the actors can interact with and react to. Even if it’s a performer in a rubber suit, once you get the lighting right and slather on the slime, the monster comes alive in a way that CGI can never realise. It’s also an amazing feeling to see everyone on the cast and crew light up with joy every time we had an actual monster on set!

Did you have much budget to play with? 

The entire budget for ‘Book of Monsters’ was probably the equivalent to what a Hollywood movie would spend on just a single shot so I’m proud of what our amazing cast and crew were able to achieve on such a tiny budget. We have the incredible international horror community to thank for making the film a reality in the first place as most of the film’s budget was raised on Kickstarter. Without their belief in us and the movie, I wouldn’t be talking about it with you right now, so I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who backed the Kickstarter campaign and the outpouring of support that we’ve seen for the film since its release!

Are you a big fan of monster movies and do you have a favourite?

I absolutely adore monster movies and my all-time favourite is ‘Aliens’! I’m obsessed with the Alien franchise in general and the Lovecraft-esque mystery of the Xenomorph as a monster is so intriguing to me. ‘Aliens’ really expanded that mythology with the Queen and it’s a movie I can watch repeatedly without ever getting bored. Coming in at a close second is ‘The Thing’ with a creature design that is just stunning in every way. Rob Bottin’s work on that movie is timeless and the monster is truly terrifying. The defibrillation scene completely blew my mind when I first saw it and it’s movies like that which inspire me every day.

You’re a multi-talented creative, do you have a favourite job?

Directing is certainly my favourite role as there’s nothing quite like being on set with passionate, like-minded people who love monsters as much as you do. The reward of seeing something you’ve spent months (or sometimes years) visualising in your head suddenly materialise in front of you is unparalleled. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have directed two features and on both I was blessed with cast and crew who poured everything into making the films the best they could be.

So, what are you up to at the moment?

Since ‘Book of Monsters’, myself and Paul Butler have been busy working on the script for our next movie which will be produced by our studio, Dark Rift Horror. We’re excited to start shooting the movie this summer and whilst we can’t reveal anything just yet, fans of old school, practical effects driven monster movies will be very happy!

Dark Rift Horror is also working with the wonderful Nicholas Vince to adapt his one-man stage show I Am Monsters into a feature film which has been such a privilege for us. Those who were lucky enough to see the show during its run will know how witty, fascinating, and uplifting Nick’s story is and we’ve had a blast working with him to give it a cinematic feel that does justice to his incredible journey.

Finally, we’ve been working with some hugely talented indie horror filmmakers to bring their movies to Blu-ray later this year under our new Dark Rift Presents label. We had great success when we released ‘Book of Monsters’ as a UK exclusive Collector’s Edition Blu-ray last year and that inspired us to give more indie horror movies the premium physical media release they deserve. We will be announcing our first two titles later this year, but horror fans can expect plenty of practical effects driven blood and guts with a darkly comedic edge!

BOOK OF MONSTERS will be broadcast on Horror Channel on Saturday May 14, 10.55pm.

Film news (UK): Horror Channel celebrates history of genre cinema with THE VINTAGE VAULT

Promo trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deBBCnlev68

Starting in May, Horror Channel journeys into the history of genre cinema with THE VINTAGE VAULT, which will present double-bills of classic sci-fi and horror films every Sunday night.

The season premieres on Sunday May 1^st with THE INVISIBLE MAN, in which Claude Rains delivers a remarkable performance in his screen debut. This is paired with BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, the celebrated sequel to the 1931 classic with Boris Karloff reprising his role as the monster. Then on Sunday May 8^th, we have Christy Cabanne’s frightening chiller masterpiece THE MUMMY’S HAND, followed by FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, featuring the original Wolfman, Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein’s monster.

On Sunday May 15^th the heart-pounding Alien invasion classic IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, hits our screens, followed by pulp-horror favourite TARANTULA. Sunday May 22^nd brings us REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, the sequel to Universal’s fabulously successful The Creature from the Black Lagoon, twinned with mutant octopus-rampaging IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA. Finally, on Sunday May 29^th, Fred F. Sears’ saucer-invading caper EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS, crash lands on the channel, followed by the subterranean monster thriller THE MOLE PEOPLE

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Full film details in transmission order:

Sun 1 May @ 21:00 – THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933)

Claude Rains plays a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discovery. But the same drug that renders him invisible slowly drives him to commit acts of unspeakable terror. Based on H.G. Wells’ classic novel and directed by the master of macabre James Whale, The Invisible Man not only fuelled a host of sequels, but also features some special effects that are still imitated today.

Sun 1 May @ 22:25 – BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935)

This celebrated sequel to the 1931 classic finds Mary Shelley’s monster alive and well and forcing the good baron to create a mate. Horror film icon Boris Karloff reprises his role as Dr. Frankenstein’s fabled creation and Elsa Lanchester co-stars as his monstrous lady love.

Sun 8 May @ 21:00 – THE MUMMY’S HAND (1940)

Two broke archaeologists, Steve Banning (Dick Foran) and Babe Jenson (Wallace Ford), head to Egypt to uncover the legendary sarcophagus of Princess Ananka. Not only is the tomb cursed, it has its own guard – an eternal mummy named Kharis! When expedition members start dying at the mummy’s hand, it’ll take wits and courage to survive the undying horror uncovered under the sands.

Sat 8 May @ 22:20 – FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN (1943)

Two of the silver screen’s most fearsome creatures battle it out when the Wolfman (Lon Chaney reprising his role) seeking to end his curse, looks to the notorious Dr Frankenstein for a cure. However, his mission pus him on a collision course with Frankenstein’s monster, played by Bela Lugosi.

Sunday 15 May @ 21:00 – IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953)

John Putnam (Richard Carlson), an amateur astronomer, is looking at the skies with his fiancée, schoolteacher Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush), when they see what looks like a huge meteor crash into the desert. As events unfold, various townspeople start to disappear, including Ellen, to be replaced by alien ‘duplicates’ As the townspeople become aware of the danger, the likelihood of bloodshed becomes apparent. Based on a story by Ray Bradbury.

Sunday 15 May @ 22:35 – TARANTULA (1955)

This classic science fiction film featuring screen legend Clint Eastwood, tells the story of a scientist who, while researching the effects of a new synthetic nutrient, releases a giant spider in the American Southwest. Directed by Jack Arnold and starring John Agar, Mara Corday and Leo G. Carroll.

Sun 22 May @ 21:00 REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (1954)

Two oceanographers (John Bromfield and Robert B. Williams) capture the creature and put him on display. Here the hapless Gill-Man is taught a few words of English by compassionate ichthyologists, John Agar and Lori Nelson. Eventually, however, the creature reverts to type, kills one of his captors and goes on a rampage, managing to abduct the heroine and carry her off. Intense underwater photography and practical effects make “The Revenge of the Creature” a horror classic.

Sunday 22 May @ 22:35 – IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1956)

While on a routine mission, Cmdr. Pete Mathews (Kenneth Tobey) runs into trouble when his submarine is nearly sunk by an unknown creature, which is identified as a giant octopus from the nether reaches of Mindanao Deep. The beast has been awakened by nearby nuclear testing and now, radioactive and monstrously huge, the rampaging leviathan is heading toward the North American Pacific Coast.

Sunday 29 May @ 21:00 – EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS (1956)

UFOs from a doomed star system invade Earth with plans of world conquest. Surrender is not an option so the human race must fight to the bitter end. Special effects are by Ray Harryhausen.

Sunday 29 May @ 22:40 – THE MOLE PEOPLE (1957)

John Bentley (John Agar), leads a Middle Eastern expedition in search of a lost tribe of Sumerians. He and his cohorts follow a tunnel deep below the surface of the earth, eventually coming across a tyrannical tribe of albino Sumerians, who use the semi-human Mole People as slaves. Aware of the danger the scientists pose, the subterranean High Priest wants them eliminated.

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