Mediaweek TV Guide: 28 Oct – 30 Oct 2016
What to watch on the box this weekend
Friday
The Level 8.30pm on ABC
ITV’s latest six-part crime drama follows a female cop (Under The Dome’s Karla Crome) investigating a murder while hiding the fact that she also knew the victim (Life on Mars’ Philip Glenister). Set in and around Brighton, it’s got an unusual premise and a great cast that also includes Downton Abbey’s Rob James-Collier and EastEnders’ Lindsey Coulson. And like National Treasure, we are getting this within just a few weeks of it airing in the UK.
Saturday
A Nightmare On Elm Street Pop-Up Channel on Foxtel Movies
Just in time for Halloween on Monday, here are all nine movies from the second highest-grossing horror franchise of all time. It starts with the original 1984 movie (co-starring Johnny Depp) and finishes with the 2010 remake (a financial success but mauled by critics and fans – which could be why they are planning another remake). While the Friday the 13th crossover flick Freddy vs Jason (2003) is quite ridiculous, the sixth sequel, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, is a hoot as it wickedly sends up the movie-making business and the Elm St franchise itself.
Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? 6.20pm on TCM
With paparazzi shots now leaking out of Susan Sarandon dressed as Bette Davis and Jessica Lange as Joan Crawford, now is a great time to re-watch this 1962 thriller that forms the basis of Ryan Murphy’s new TV series Feud.
Sunday
Before The Flood 7.30pm on National Geographic
Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary film about climate changes has him interviewing Barack Obama, Pope Francis and John Kerry. The movie was co-produced with James Packer.
Sydney Harbour Patrol 7.30pm & JonBenet: An American Murder Mystery 8.30pm on Discovery
A big night kicks off with a new Aussie reality series (think Water Rats for real) and then an all-new documentary series about the 20-year murder mystery everyone is talking about again.
Night of Fear 10.05pm on World Movies
With a running time of just one hour, this barely qualifies as a movie and indeed, it was originally intended to be a pilot for a TV series called Fright. But when that didn’t eventuate, it was slapped with an R rating for cinema release and had its World Premiere in Kings Cross’ Penthouse Cinema (and I think we can all guess what sort of cinema that usually was). Without a single line of dialogue, and a nasty plot that involves Homicide’s Norman Yemm torturing Class of 74’s Carla Hoogeveen with rats, this is recognised as being the first horror film of the Australian film renaissance.