For a full guide visit Film Cheltenham
Monday (17/10) 21:00 Great Movies Prisoners (2013)
Before Denis Villeneuve established himself as a member of modern Hollywood's elite, he directed this impressive crime thriller about two young girls who go missing from outside their homes, with father and detective fighting to rescue them from an uncertain fate. Gorgeously shot by Roger Deakins, using a noticeable visual motif soaked in light and dark, and boasting fine work from an impressive cast of Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhall, Paul Dano, Melissa Leo and Viola Davis.
Monday 23:15 BBC2 Poltergeist (1982)
Tobe Hooper's (Texan Chainsaw Massacre) supernatural horror, written and produced by Steven Spielberg, has managed to gain cult status, but in truth, may be overestimated. I think it would prove to be underwhelming to modern audiences thanks to it's very 80s feeling special effects and storytelling, which feels like it neglects some of the basics of character development. Given the pedigree of the creative powerhouses behind it, it should live linger in the memory than it does.
Sunday (16/10) 16:00 Channel 4 Shrek 2 (2004)
2001's Shrek was an instant classic upon release, and this sequel does a good job of building on the world of fairy tale lore meets nudge - nudge, wink - wink satire. The titular ogre and his new wife Fiona are invited to meet her parents, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Far, Far Away, both of whom are less than impressed by their daughter's partner. Inspired additions to the original voice castnincluding Jennifer Lawrence as the fairy godmother who is desperate for her son Prince Pharming to rule the kingdom.
Wednesday (19/10) 23:35 Film4
In Bruges (2008)
Bone dry black comedy from Martin McDonagh, who has since carved himself out a bit of a niche in Hollywood with such hits as Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri. Two Irish contract killers played by Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson find themselves with time to kill while hiding away in Bruges in light of a hit gone horribly wrong. Ralph Fiennes supports as their gangster boss who wants to hunt them down.
Saturday (15/10) 15:05 5 Action Rio Grande (1950)
John Ford directs John Wayne, certainly the the most bankable actor/director pairing before Scorsese met De Niro. Wayne plays an army colonel who must juggle his regiment and family life after his estranged son Jefferson is recruited to his unit, and Jefferson's mother (Maureen O'Hara) turns up to try and take him home. Despite the obligatory western chases and gunfights, lots of scenes of singing help keep the film's cheerful and light hearted tone.
Saturday (15/10) 23:35 BBC1
Halloween (1978) (also BBC3 Friday 22:00)
John Carpenter's 1978 milestone follows a psychopathic killer who murdered his sister as a young boy and 15 years later escapes from his mental hospital to return to the scene of his terrible crime, Haddonfield. It helped kick-start the slasher genre heyday and has become synonymous with understatedness due to the straight forward approach and lack of actual violence shown. It relies on tension building, helped in no small way by the now iconic music and killer, Michael Myers. As seems to be the way in the modern world, there are now a slew of Halloween reboots which, perhaps unsurprisingly, fall far short of the mark.
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