Starring Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega, the movie launched a franchise.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 26 April) is X, the extremely cool 2022 slasher horror from writer-director Ti West (The House of the Devil, Pearl).

The film revolves around a group of young filmmakers (including Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega and Brittany Snow) in 1979 who gather to shoot an adult film on an elderly couple’s rural Texas property.

The cast and crew, however, eventually find themselves a target of the hosts.

Basically a blend of Boogie Nights and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, X was a hit with both audiences and critics upon release thanks to its dark comedy, its stylish evocation of the ’70s and Goth’s incredible dual performance.

Launching a franchise, which also includes the prequel Pearl and the upcoming sequel MaXXXine, X is airing on TV on Friday night/Saturday morning on Channel 4 at 1.10am.

It will be available to stream after this time on Channel 4’s website. Check out its trailer right here:

Here are the movies on TV tonight:

Gran Torino – Virgin Media One – 9pm

Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this powerful drama about a widowed Korean War veteran who develops a friendship with a young neighbour who tried to steal his prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino.

War of the Worlds – E4 – 9pm

Steven Spielberg directs this updated version of H.G Wells’ sci-fi classic about an alien invasion threatening the future of humanity.

Tom Cruise stars as a father trying to protect his family.

Bad Samaritan – Legend Xtra – 9pm

In this 2018 thriller, Robert Sheehan stars as a parking valet who burglarises the houses of the drivers he services, only to discover one of his rich customers (David Tennant) is a serial killer.

Fisherman’s Friends – Film4 – 9pm

The 2019 British comedy based on the true story of Fisherman’s Friends, a group of fishermen who achieved a top 10 hit with their debut album of traditional sea shanties.

The Alamo – TG4 – 9.35pm

As regular readers of this column know, Friday is Western night on TG4. This one is from 1960 and was directed by and stars John Wayne.

On the Basis of Sex – RTÉ2 – 9.50pm

The Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic from 2018 starring Felicity Jones.

American Pie: Reunion – Channel 4 – 11.05pm

The last in the sex comedy franchise to get a cinema release.

Richard Jewell – RTÉ One – 11.15pm

Clint Eastwood, again, directs this 2019 drama based on the true story of a security guard who found a bomb during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and alerted authorities to evacuate the scene.

While hailed as a hero, he was later wrongly accused of having placed the device himself.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Film4 – 11.15pm

Tim Burton helms this sci-fi that is basically his take on X-Men.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – BBC One – 11.35pm

Two drag queens (Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce) and a transgender woman (Terence Stamp) travel across the Australian desert to perform their unique style of cabaret in this acclaimed road comedy.

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