Film choice

Mysterious Island (1961) FILM4, 4.55PM ★★★★

 Michael Craig and his buddies break out of jail by hot-air balloon (as one does) but are blown to an uncharted island where they’re attacked by a giant crab in this cracking adaptation of Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea sequel. Film-buff bonuses include Bernard Herrmann’s music and stop-motion effects by the great Ray Harryhausen. Herbert Lom co-stars as Captain Nemo, along with Joan Greenwood and Beth Rogan.

Con Air (1997) SKY1, 9.00PM ★★★

 John Malkovich claims never to have seen this action thriller, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, about a plane full of escaped criminals. That’s a shame: his performance as mass-murderer Cyrus the Virus is the gleefully bonkers cherry atop a rich icing of a cast: Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames, John Cusack and heroic Nicolas Cage. It’s preposterous, of course, but explosive, fast-paced fun all the same.

Nocturnal Animals (2016) SKY CINEMA PREMIERE, 11.40PM ★★★★

 The elegantly ludicrous – and ludicrously enjoyable – film from Tom Ford is a delicious parade of misery. Susan (Amy Adams) is a successful gallery owner. One day she receives the manuscript of a novel from her first husband (Jake Gyllenhaal), whose heart she broke twice. The book is about revenge and this is revenge shot straight into her perfect little life. Aaron Taylor-johnson, Michael Shannon and Isla Fisher also star.