Further appy-polly-logies required this week; geophysical blocking in Europe, which sounds like something Donald Trump would be responsible for, if he knew any words with more than one syllable, prevented access to the film schedules, so the best BC on TV can do in the circumstances is recommend three films on HBO – without even being certain that they will screen at the same time on the same channels in the Caribbean as in England.

Today’s Number One Film:

The Silence of the Lambs, 1.15pm HBO Signature. Watch this if you liked Manhunter, Psycho or Se7en. Though judged by some critics to be not as scary as Manhunter, the first movie based on the “Hannibal Lecter” books, The Silence of the Lambs is a top-notch thriller with huge atmosphere and two very strong performances from Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. The cage-to-elevator-to-ambulance scenes alone make the whole film worthwhile. Of course you have to come to terms with the extremely challenging concept of a cannibal – someone who eats human beings - being a “star”, but that’s a piece of cake in the age of Quentin Tarantion/moral relativism and a fat lying racist misogynist crook being put into the Oval Office by the Russians.Directed by Jonathan Demme/ 1991/ USA / Thriller/ 118 mins/ R).

Also watch:

Damien: The Omen II, 4.50pm HBO. Watch this if you liked The Others, The Exorcist or A Nightmare on Elm Street. One of the best spooky horrors, Damien picks up ten years after The Omen left off, with the young boy finding out what Destiny has in store for him. Everything that made the original so watchable – nail-biting tension, huge atmosphere, spectacular deaths (including one that might have inspired those in the Final Destination films), great human sympathy for the plight of the poor Devil set up to fulfil the Book – is as good as or better in the sequel; a horror that ought to make sleeping difficult. Directed by Don Taylor/ 1978/ USA / Horror-Thriller/ 107 mins/ R.

Being John Malkovich, 11.25am HBO. Watch this if you liked Stranger Than Fiction, Adaptation or The Big Lebowski. Not for the literal-minded at all-at all but, for the fans of magical realism, this story of a man who finds a portal into actor John Malkovich’s mind – you can actually enter his mind and see things from his eyes – based on Charlie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” Kaufmann screenplay is pure delight, provided, of course, you can get over your deep-seated and entirely understandable hatred of John Malkovich.Directed by Spike Jonze/ 1999/ Fantasy-Comedy-Drama/ 112 mins/ R.