LEGEND reveals slate of horror, sci-fi and action premieres for December
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.
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 17th 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
TV: Sky 148 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 41 / Freesat 137