ACORN TV ANNOUNCES OCTOBER 2020 SLATE – Acclaimed Australian crime drama MYSTERY ROAD, Scandinavian crime thriller DARKNESS: THOSE WHO KILL, Final Episodes of Kiwi Psychological Thriller THE SOUNDS
October brings a cornucopia of intriguing new and returning mystery and drama series on Acorn TV. North America’s leading streamer devoted to British and international television has a wide selection of compelling premieres to binge, including the eagerly-awaited return of multiple award-winning Australian crime series MYSTERY ROAD, Series 2 (Trailer), starring Aaron Pedersen (Jack Irish, A Place to Call Home), as well as the Scandinavian psychological and character-driven crime thriller DARKNESS: THOSE WHO KILL, which aired last year on BBC4(UK trailer). We also have the last two episodes of the new, acclaimed Acorn TV Original twisty psychological thriller THE SOUNDS starring Rachelle Lefevre (Proven Innocent), Matt Whelan (Narcos) and Matt Nable (Arrow) (Trailer) (EPK), as well as beautiful documentaries on castles and gardens, a pair of riveting New Zealand true-crime dramas, a classic British sitcom, and more!
Members of the media in search of new and alternative streaming options can continue to stream all recent and upcoming premieres through our press watch site or request a code for the main service. https://acorn.tv/press
Acorn TV also adds the following in October:
-BLOODLINES (October 5), a true-crime story on a South African-born doctor (Mark Mitchinson) in New Zealand, who used his medical knowledge to poison and kill his wife
-TALES OF IRISH CASTLES (October 5), a riveting series on Ireland’s most beautiful and historic castles hosted by Simon Delaney
-THE GULF (October 5), a New Zealand psychological thriller about a woman (Kate Elliott), who loses her memory in a car crash that killed her husband, and becomes determined to bring the killer to justice
-THE LABOURS OF ERICA, Series 1 and 2 (October 12), the classic British sitcom starring Brenda Blethyn (Vera) about making the most of middle-age
-HEAVENLY GARDENS (October 19), a portrait of six of Britain’s most spectacular, sacred gardens visited by countryman and garden aficionado Alexander Armstrong and garden designer Arit Anderson
-HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE (October 26), a New Zealand set true-crime story about an animal welfare inspector (Simon O’Connor) who murdered his wife (Geraldine Brophy) in 1977
-TERRY PRATCHETT’S HOGFATHER (October 26), Adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s novel, starring David Jason, Michelle Dockery, Marc Warren, and David Warner
-TERRY PRATCHETT’S THE COLOR OF MAGIC (October 26), Adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s tale, starring David Jason, Sean Astin, Tim Curry, Jeremy Irons, and Brian Cox
WATCH NOW: Premieres will be added as they become available, https://acorn.tv/press. Mirror to your TV via Apple TV or Chromecast.
OCTOBER 2020- Acorn TV Calendar
*All premieres will stream in U.S. and Canada unless otherwise indicated
Monday, October 5, 2020
THE SOUNDS (Acorn TV Original Series, Commissioned) – Episode 7 of 8
Trailer Press Release Screeners
In this riveting, twisty psychological thriller, Rachelle Lefevre (Proven Innocent, Under the Dome) and Matt Whelan (The Luminaries, Narcos) star as a married Canadian couple who moves halfway around the world to a small idyllic town in New Zealand to start a new life –to escape the husband’s wealthy, oppressive father and launch his own business venture – a sustainable salmon fishery- that will help revive the local troubled economy, but not everyone in the community welcomes the change. When Tom Cabbott (Whelan) disappears after he goes out kayaking, unsettling facts about him soon come to light, and the search for him brings long-buried wounds to the surface. As wife Maggie (Lefevre) struggles to navigate the escalating events, it becomes clear that in this small, seemingly close-knit community of Pelorus, nothing and no one are quite what they seem. As it turns out, the couple chose the wrong town for their happy ending. The series is created and written by international bestselling novelist, Sarah-Kate Lynch(Blessed Are the Cheesemakers.)
BLOODLINES
“In a brilliantly nuanced performance, Mark Mitchinson captures Bouwer’s charm and arrogance – and his careful falsehoods.” – The Listener
This television thriller reveals the true story of one of the most evil crimes in New Zealand history. In November 1999, the head of Psychiatry at Otago Hospital, Dr Colin Bouwer (Mark Mitchinson, High Road, Mystery Road), thought he was clever enough to commit the perfect murder, and he almost got away with it. He wanted his wife, Annette (Nathalie Boltt, Riverdale), out of the way and over three months slowly poisoned her with insulin, causing a slow and painful death watched by helpless family and friends. Believing medical authorities and police were not smart enough to ever catch him, this “Dr. Death” almost got away with murder. But he was detected by Andrew Bowers (Craig Hall, A Place To Call Home), a young consultant physician, who never expected that he would stumble upon a murder in process. It was down to Bowers and Detective Brett Roberts (Will Hall, Netherwood), whose dogged pursuit of the truth eventually uncovered Annette Bouwer’s cold-blooded murder by her husband, an evil man with a Mensa IQ who thought he was smarter than anyone else in New Zealand. (Movie, 2010)
THE GULF
“Stellar cast” – Stuff.co.nz
This psychological thriller series captures the moral disintegration of Detective Jess Savage (Kate Elliott, Wentworth), who investigates crimes in Waiheke Island, New Zealand. After losing her memory in a car crash that killed her husband, Jess becomes determined to bring the killer to justice. Convinced that someone is trying to kill her because of something she has uncovered in a recent investigation, she in effect begins investigating herself, retracing her steps over the weeks prior. As her colleagues become increasingly uncooperative, Jess suffers from paranoia, while starting to fight an addiction to morphine. As she gets closer to the truth she so desperately seeks, Jess discovers that her world is not so morally black and white. The personal story of Jess and the revelation of it to her and the audience is complex and intriguing, which dovetails seamlessly with three intriguing criminal cases that have a major impact on her career. (6 EPS, 2019)
TALES OF IRISH CASTLES
“Fascinating” –The British TV Place
This six part series explores the great stories, legends and characters associated with the most beautiful, notorious and historical castles across Ireland – in Dublin, Trim, Blarney, Limerick, Carrickfergus, Kilkenny, Birr and more. Hosted by Simon Delaney, the series takes the audience on an incredible journey throughout the island of Ireland – where more castles were built than in the rest of the British Isles combined. From the imposing Anglo-Norman strongholds of the 13th and 14th centuries (e.g. Trim, Carrickfergus and King John’s), to the more modest tower houses of the 15th and 16th centuries (e.g. Clonony and Leap) and to the lavish fortified houses of the 17th and 18th centuries (Tullynally, Ashford), Irish castles have provided the backdrop for countless bloody battles, savage sieges, haunting happenings and lavish lifestyles over the years. The series documents these magnificent stone structures and the stories contained within their walls, bringing them to life through specially shot re-enactments, archive footage and contributions from Ireland’s leading historians, archaeologists, castle owners and inhabitants. (6 EPS, 2014)
Monday, October 12, 2020
MYSTERY ROAD, Series 2 (Acorn TV Original series) – Episodes 1 and 2 of 6
“Stellar cast and outstanding cinematography” –The Guardian (UK)
“Epic setting… rarely seen on TV: ancient, monumental, remote, spectacular” – Sydney Morning Herald
Aaron Pedersen (Jack Irish, A Place to Call Home) reprises his signature role as Indigenous detective Jay Swan in this beautifully-filmed, acclaimed mystery set in the Australian outback. When a decapitated body is found in the mangroves of a coastal town of Gideon, Jay teams up with local constable Fran Davis (Jada Alberts, Wentworth) to investigate the crime. Facing obstruction from an archaeologist (Sofia Helin, The Bridge) working nearby, Jay must expose the web of corruption plaguing the town as the body count rises. Voted Most Popular Drama at the 2019 Logie Awards and winner of five AACTA Awards, including Best Television Drama Series, as well as awards from the Australian Directors Guild and the Australian Writers’ Guild. (6 EPS, 2020)
THE SOUNDS (Acorn TV Original Series, Commissioned) – Episode 8 – SERIES FINALE!
Trailer Press Release Screeners
See series description above (1 EP, 2020)
THE LABOURS OF ERICA, Series 1 and 2
In this classic Britcom, Erica (Brenda Blethyn, Vera) realizes that she has so far spent her life only looking after other people. Since the death of her husband on their wedding night, she has divided the time between the needs of her son, Jeremy (Paul Spurrier, Eullenia) and her boss, Dexter (Geoffrey Davies, Doctor in the House) with who she’s been having an unsatisfactory affair for the past 12 years. Now Jeremy is 16 and is a managing director of a successful computer company and Dexter wants love, involvement and passion – like her, but with as many women as possible. Within a few hours, Erica gives up her lover, her job and her chances of marriage. Then she finds her teenage diary containing a list of “Twelve things I am going to do before I am Forty.” The discovery symbolizes all the hopes and dreams she has never achieved and heralds the start of a startling change in Erica’s approach to life. (Series 1- 6 EPS, 1989; Series 2- 6 EPS, 1990)
Monday, October 19, 2020
DARKNESS: THOSE WHO KILL (Acorn TV Exclusive series, Foreign Language, with English subtitles)
“Breathtaking new Scandi-noir to binge” – The Guardian
This gripping Danish crime drama, which aired last year on BBC4, centers on a duo of investigators who probe a series of brutal murders combining classical investigation techniques with psychological leads to find the small hidden details that can make them understand the location and motives of the murderer and hopefully rescue their next victim. Six months after the abduction of 17-year-old Julie from the streets of Copenhagen, Detective Jan Michelsen (Kenneth M. Christensen, The Legacy) is the only one who believes she might still be alive. In a desperate attempt to keep the case alive, Jan digs into their cold case archive and comes across a missing girl who vanished under similar circumstances 10 years ago. He quickly discovers fresh evidence that eventually leads the police to retrieving her body from a lake. Jan joins forces with expert profiler Louise Bergstein (Natalie Madueño, Follow the Money) and they discover that the girl in the lake was killed 10 years ago by the same person who abducted Julie a few months back. When another girl, Emma, disappears, the pair are convinced they now have a serial killer on their hands. As Jan and Louise race against the clock to find where Julie and Emma are being held captive, more bodies are discovered across Copenhagen. Patterns of a mysterious mind begin to emerge and Jan and Louise finally start to unravel the mystery. However, all is not as it seems… (8 EPS, 2019)
MYSTERY ROAD (Acorn TV Original Series) – Episode 3 of 6
Believing the human remains found near the church to be her missing cousin, Zoe, Fran asks for Jay’s help investigating. Sandra faces pressure to close the dig site, and the discovery of the missing head provides new leads. (1 EP, 2020)
HEAVENLY GARDENS
In this BBC One series, garden aficionado Alexander Armstrong and garden designer Arit Anderson visit six spectacular sacred UK gardens that symbolize beauty, joy and hope: from The Bishop’s Palace in Somerset to Pluscarden Abbey in the Highlands of Scotland; from Cambridge University’s stunning Botanical Gardens to Alnwick Castle’s restored gardens in Northumberland; from Scone Palace’s gardens of kings in Perthshire to Sudeley Castle’s sacred connections in the Cotswolds. Alexander and Arit celebrate the significant inclusion of gardens in the spiritual world and meet the custodians of these glorious gardens to pick up gardening tips, as they get their hands dirty, discovering the very special and surprising significance of plants in each place. (2 EPS, 2020)
Monday, October 26, 2020
HOW TO MURDER YOUR WIFE
“Superb cast” – Stuff.co.nz
This melodramatic black comedy is the true story of Alfred Benning (Simon O’Connor, Heavenly Creatures), a seemingly mild-mannered animal welfare inspector who prowled 1970’s Wellington for feral cats and stray dogs before becoming an infamous murderer. In 1977, sixty-five year old Alf Benning decided that life was too short if he had to spend the rest of it with his overbearing wife, Elizabeth (Geraldine Brophy, King Kong) … so he decided to murder her and cut her into bits – six to be exact! A set of outlandish plans and misadventures make Alf the most unlikely murderer you will ever know, and his actions will take you on the most bizarre journey of any true story you’ll ever experience. (Movie, 2015)
MYSTERY ROAD (Acorn TV Original Series) – Episode 4 of 6
When Mary’s new boyfriend, Simon, saves Jay by shooting and killing his attacker, Jay weighs whether to say he fired the fatal gunshot himself. As Fran reels from the news that the bones do not belong to Zoe, Jay suspects Fran’s boss, Owen, may be involved in the murder and asks for her help proving it. (1 EP, 2020)
TERRY PRATCHETT’S HOGFATHER
“Fabulous fantasy adventure” – Daily Mirror
It’s Hogswatch (equivalent to Christmas) on the Discworld- a parallel universe drifting through space perched on top of four elephants standing on the shell of a giant turtle, the Great A’Tuin. The Hogfather has gone missing, requiring Death (voice of Ian Richardson) to take his place while his granddaughter Susan (Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey) endeavors to find out what has happened. Weaving together pagan myths, druid worship, winter solstice rites, childhood bogeymen, fanciful dreams, and incredible nightmares, Hogfather is like nothing else ever imagined. By turns hilarious and horrifying, magical and menacing, wicked and witty, it’ll restore your faith in the power of invention. This adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s classic novel also stars David Jason (A Touch of Frost), Marc Warren (Beecham House), and David Warner (Titanic). (2 EPS, 2006)
TERRY PRATCHETT’S THE COLOR OF MAGIC
In Terry Pratchett’s ingenious overture to the outlandish and now-legendary Discworld universe, failed wizard Rincewind (David Jason, Hogfather) is so bad at magic he only knows one spell, and he doesn’t even know what it does. This goes some way to explaining why he is expelled from the Unseen University for Wizards. Despondent, he contemplates throwing himself into the river that flows through Ankh-Morpork, the Discworld’s biggest city. However, his attention is diverted by the arrival of Twoflower (Sean Astin, Lord of the Rings), the Discworld’s unreasonably optimistic first Tourist. But most of all, his attention is diverted by the tourist’s Luggage, which is not only full of pure gold but is also able to walk by itself. This adaptation of the tale from the first two books of Terry Pratchett’s fantasy series “Discworld” also stars Tim Curry (Congo), Jeremy Irons (Brideshead Revisited), and Brian Cox (Succession). (2 EPS, 2008)
UPCOMING IN 2020:
THE SOUTH WESTERLIES (November 9; Acorn TV Original series, commissioned): Picturesque Irish drama starring Orla Brady (American Horror Story: 1984, Into the Badlands, Star Trek: Picard, Mistresses) as a single working mom and environmental consultant who goes undercover among protesters to quash objections to a Norwegian-owned wind farm earmarked for a small town. Also stars Patrick Bergin (Sleeping With The Enemy, Patriot Games) and Sorcha Cusack (A Discovery of Witches.) (6 EPS, 2020)
REUNIONS (November)- Light French family drama (6 EPS, with English subtitles)
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About Acorn TV: Called a “glorious streaming service… an essential must-have” (The Hollywood Reporter)and “Netflix for the Anglophile” (NPR), AMC Networks’ Acorn TV is North America’s largest streaming service specializing in British and international television with well over 1 million paid subscribers in the U.S and Canada. Acorn TV adds exclusive new programs every week with a deep library of mysteries, dramas, and comedies with no commercials. In 2020, Acorn TV featured several commissioned series including the return of Agatha Raisin starring Ashley Jensen, period mystery Dead Still, New Zealand thriller The Sounds; as well as the return of Irish thriller Blood; Essie Davis in feature film Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears; David Tennant in Deadwater Fell; Julia Ormond and Ben Barnes in Gold Digger; BBC One comedy The Other One;and highly-rated BBC One drama The Nest; and a growing catalog of popular bingeable dramas A Place to Call Home, Detectorists, Jack Irish and Foyle’s War; among much more. Acorn TV offers a free trial and thereafter is just $5.99/month or $59.99/year.
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