Wild Things

Friday 3 May, 10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

This deliciously twisty thriller stars Scream’s Neve Campbell and Denise Richards as teenage students who accuse their guidance counsellor (Matt Dillon) of sexual assault. The ensuing trial goes in an unexpected direction – and so does the plot, as lies are stacked upon lies, double-crosses are crossed and uncrossed, and a detective (Kevin Bacon) tries to untangle it all. Schlocky, steamy and at least twice as silly as it sounds, this is enormous fun, all set against a dazzling backdrop of Floridian wealth and sunshine that positively glitters in ultra HD.

The Craft

Saturday 4 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

It’s Neve Campbell again in another 90s cult classic, this one about a group of outcast teenage girls who find a common bond through witchcraft. When their spells start to have an effect on their lives, they soon discover that you should be careful what you wish for – not to mention which demons and spirits you invoke. Melodramatic and hallucinatory, this is both a superior supernatural thriller and glimpse into what it’s like to be a teenager. Or was in the 90s.

I Know What You Did Last Summer

Mondays from May Day Bank Holiday Monday, 9.30pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

On Sunday 5 May at 9pm, you can see Buffy’s Sarah Michelle Gellar try to escape both her past and a scary fisherman in one of the quintessential 90s teen horror movies, I Know What You Did Last Summer. Then the next night, the recent eight- part revival series begins: Madeline Iseman (from the new Jumanji films) plays twin sisters Alison and Lennon, who along with their friends are stalked by a killer a year after covering up a fatal car accident. It’s a classic story told with relish and highly effective scares, and filmed on the extremely telegenic island of Oahu.

Taxi Driver

Saturday 11 May, 10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

“You talkin’ to me? Who the hell else are you talkin’ to? You talkin’ to me?” It’s one of the most quoted and most parodied scenes of all time, but almost 50 years later, there’s no denying the power of this intense soliloquy from Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle. It’s at the centre of Martin Scorsese’s alternately violent and dreamlike study of an obsessed man undergoing a breakdown as he drives the dark streets of New York. Stylish, uncompromising and compelling throughout, with a star-making performance from a young Jodie Foster, it’s commonly acknowledged as one of the great American movies. Don’t miss it in ultra HD.

Holmes & Watson

Sunday 12 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

The pairing of Will Ferrell and John C Reilly gave us plenty of laughs in Step Brothers and Talladega Nights: The Legend Of Ricky Bobby before they took on Sherlock Holmes in this comic take on the great detective. After Holmes (Ferrell) points out that the supposed Moriarty on trial cannot possibly be his criminal nemesis, a corpse in a birthday cake sets off a chain of events that get more mysterious and also more ridiculous. It’s a lot of raucous fun, also starring Ralph Fiennes, Rebecca Hall and Rob Brydon.

Maremma: Italy’s Untamed Land

Monday 13 and Monday 20 May, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

You may not think of Italy as a wild country, but it’s one of Europe’s most biodiverse regions and Maremma Park in Tuscany is one of its largest protected areas. Located among sandy and rocky seacoasts, it has wetlands, scrub-covered hills and vast pine forests. Over two episodes you can see how the park changes over a year, as its inhabitants – peregrine falcons, wolves, fallow deer, cranes, foxes and more – cope with everything from frost and snow to scorching heat. Seen in stunning ultra HD, this is a fascinating glimpse into a wilderness that sits close to urban areas but could not be more different.

Deliver Us From Evil

Saturday 18 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana, The Dry) is a New York cop called to investigate some seemingly inexplicable cases, from a woman who throws her baby into a lion enclosure to lightbulbs that refuse to stay lit. A priest (Édgar Ramírez, Zero Dark Thirty) tells him he thinks demons are involved, and Sarchie is sceptical – until the evidence starts to persuade him. Cop and priest are drawn into an increasingly bizarre and deadly hunt as an unnatural evil worms its way into their lives. A tense, creepy and effective chiller that’ll make you want to sleep with the lights on. If they’ll stay on…

Battle: Los Angeles

Sunday 19 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Have you ever wondered if you would survive a terrifying alien invasion? Well, your chances would be pretty high if you stuck with US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart, The Dark Knight). Immerse yourself in the thrilling fight between mankind and unknown forces with mind-boggling effects in every frame, as Nantz leads a team of Marines on a mission to evacuate the Los Angeles area before it’s too late. Michelle Rodriguez, Ramón Rodriguez, Ne-Yo and Bridget Moynahan also star.

Namibia’s Natural Wonders

Tuesday 21 and Tuesday 28 May, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Pack your suitcase and head off on the adventure of a lifetime to Namibia in southwest Africa, all from the comfort of your sofa. This jaw-dropping documentary explores all the natural wonders that this country has to offer in stunning ultra-high-definition, from its rugged coastline that’s home to fur seals and hyenas to the Kalahari Desert where scores of elephants roam freely.

Fantastic Friends

Thursdays from 23 May, 8.10pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

Actors and twin brothers James and Oliver Phelps have been away with more of their fantastic friends and they want you to come along for the action-packed ride. In the second series of their hit show, the pair have invited some of their Harry Potter pals including Matthew Lewis, Mark Williams, Alfie Enoch and Natalia Tena to try their hand at snorkelling, flying a plane and even joining the circus! Mischief managed.

Coyote

Thursdays from 23 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

If you’re a fan of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, then don’t miss this heart-racing series that comes from one of the series’ executive producers, Michelle MacLaren. The six-parter follows retired Border Patrol agent Ben Clemens (Emmy Award winner Michael Chiklis), who after a run-in with a family cartel is forced to work for the same people he spent his career trying to keep out of the United States. Full of twists, turns and stand-offs, it’s a thrilling watch that will keep you guessing throughout.

The Shallows

Sunday 26 May, 9pm, Virgin TV Ultra HD (CH 175/999)

A surfing trip goes badly wrong for Nancy (Blake Lively, A Simple Favour) when she is stranded on an isolated rock and left at the mercy of a wounded and seemingly enraged great white shark. In a tense, nerve-jangling stand-off, she must rely on her ingenuity to survive in the face of terrifying nature. If you can stand seeing those rows of razor-sharp teeth up close in ultra HD, you’ll love this white-knuckle ride of a thriller.

How to access the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel

You’ll find all the details explaining what you need here. Then simply go to CH 175 or CH 999 to access Virgin TV Ultra HD. Don’t have a 4K TV? Never fear, because you can also watch the Virgin TV Ultra HD channel through your HD TV. Lucky you!