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14th Jan 2025

One of the scariest movies of the decade is on TV tonight

Stephen Porzio

The film’s also very good sequel was out in cinemas just a few months ago.

Our TV movie pick for tonight (14 January) is Smile, the 2022 acclaimed smash-hit horror movie.

Written and directed by Parker Finn, based on an earlier short he made, the film revolves around a doctor named Rose (a brilliant Sosie Bacon, Mare of Easttown) who witnesses a bizarre and traumatic incident involving one of her patients.

Not long after this, the doctor starts being stalked by a malevolent entity that makes it appear as if everyone around her is smiling unnaturally.

And those who saw the 2022 movie will know that this is only the beginning of the horrors the evil force has in store for its victims.

Co-starring in the movie alongside Bacon are Caitlin Stasey (Tomorrow, When the War Began), Jessie T. Usher (The Boys), Judy Reyes (Scrubs), Kal Penn (the Harold & Kumar films), Kyle Gallner (American Sniper), Rob Morgan (Don’t Look Up) and Robin Weigert (Deadwood).

A hit with both critics and audiences – we here at JOE called it “properly scary”, particularly in its “startling” final act – Smile was quickly greenlit for a sequel, which was released in theatres last October.

The original is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 9pm. It is also currently available to stream on Netflix.

Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:

The Inglorious Bastards – Legend Xtra – 9pm

The ’70s war flick that inspired the similarly titled Quentin Tarantino masterpiece Inglourious Basterds.

Studio 666 – Comedy Central – 10pm

In this comedy horror starring the Foo Fighters, the band members play themselves as they move into a cursed mansion to record a new album.

Jaws 2 – ITV4 – 10pm

“Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.”

Quiz Lady – BBC One (expect NI and Wales) – 10.40pm

In this 2023 comedy, a tightly wound, gameshow-obsessed young woman (Awkwafina) and her estranged, chaotic sister (Sandra Oh), must work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts.

Not Okay – Film4 – 11.15pm

In this satirical comedy-drama, Zoey Deutch plays a young woman who desperately wants to be famous and beloved on the Internet who starts lying to boost her social media clout.

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