HBO is all set to add juice to weekend entertainment this month by introducing HBO Friday Double Bill .Two films will be shown back to back under the programme initiatives She-Heroes at 9:30 pm, followed by After Dark.
In May, the She-Heroes programme initiative will be replaced with Kung-Fu Knights.
Interestingly, arch rival Star Movies used to have a Double Bill programme initiative on Wednesdays some time back. Two films starring one actor were shown back to back every Wednesday. The initiative was discontinued as the channel felt it would be better to concentrate on a genre each night at 9:30 pm with the exception of Fridays, when the channel telecasts premieres.
She Heroes deals with female protagonists saving the day in a variety of situations. Barb Wire sees Pamela Anderson of Baywatch fame enter the action film genre. Anjelina Jolie uses the help of a paralysed Denzel Washington to track a serial killer in The Bone Collector. Tanya Roberts plays a young girl raised by a mystical African woman using her ability to talk to animals and knowledge of jungle lore against high tech weapons of mercenaries in Sheena.
The After Dark programme initiative sees action films with a noirish feel take centrestage. Films include Second Skin with Natasha Henstridge and Angus MacFadyen, The Arena with Karen McDougal & Lisa Dergan.
Body Double deals with an actor getting involved with a murder plot in the thriller. It stars Melanie Griffith, Craig Wasson and Gregg Henry.
The Double Bill schedule
She-Heroes ( Fridays 9:30 pm)
5 April The Bone Collector
12 April The Assassin
19 April Barb Wire
26 April Sheena
After Dark
5 April Body Double 12:00 am
12 April The Arena 11:45 pm
19 April Second Skin 11:30 pm
26 April Wild Things 11:45 pm