The Terror: Devil in Silver, the third standalone story in the acclaimed horror anthology series, premieres tonight on Sky Atlantic at 9pm. Dan Stevens stars as Peter “Pepper” Coffin, a man wrongfully committed to an understaffed, underfunded, and quite possibly cursed psychiatric hospital. The series promises both jump-scares and a subtler, more genuinely unsettling ambient hum of horror.
A Cursed Institution and a Sinister Doctor
Set within the confines of the hospital, the narrative introduces viewers to patients in both their past and present lives. The story connects them through the sinister Dr Walter, played by John Benjamin Hickey, who may hold the key to the entire mystery. The opening line, “We all got our demons, don’t we?” sets the tone for a tale where demons manifest vividly in the drama.
Phil Harrison, in his review, notes that while the series doesn’t lack jump-scares, it also generates a more subtle and genuinely unsettling atmosphere. The show’s title, Devil in Silver, hints at the malevolence that Peter Coffin must reckon with as he navigates the institution’s tatty and eerie environment.
Other Highlights: From Tornadoes to Mozart
Before the horror unfolds, Sky Nature presents Violent Earth at 6pm, a new series exploring the science behind natural disasters. The first episode focuses on terrifying tornadoes, with presenter Liev Schreiber and first-hand footage from across the world, along with eyewitness accounts. The episode opens with the dramatic line, “It was chewing up everything in its path!”
ITV1’s Force of Nature at 7pm tackles extreme heat, dramatising how the climate crisis affects animals. From a wombat in Australia to a leopard in Zambia and a kangaroo rat in Arizona, the episode portrays animals facing increased drought and wildfires, each starring in their own mini disaster movie.
For classical music enthusiasts, BBC Four airs Mozart at the Proms at 8pm. The programme features the Third Horn Concerto with soloist Felix Klieser, and Mozart’s Symphony No 35, the “Haffner,” which Amadeus advised should be “played with fire.” Additional pieces include works by Elgar, Britten, and Thea Musgrave’s Out of the Darkness concerto for bassoon, making its Proms debut.
Emotional Finale and Acclaimed Drama
Channel 4’s The Piano airs its emotional final at 9pm. The show sees Jamie asking Claudia to sing a few notes, which he then improvised from when he first played in the competition. The final features performances from Grace, who lost all her fingers after meningitis, Harri, with a song inspired by his grandad, wildcard teen Sophie, and “piano-breaker” Gabby.
Later, ITV1’s One Dollar at 11.20pm presents a tale set in a struggling rust belt town divided by culture and class. With the tagline “No guns, no body” and a cast of suspects, the drama features John Carroll Lynch, Leslie Odom Jr, and Nathaniel Martello-White. Secrets emerge as a dollar bill changes hands, aided by the ensemble cast.
Film Choice: H Is for Hawk on Netflix
For film viewers, H Is for Hawk is now available on Netflix. The adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s bestselling memoir stars Claire Foy as Macdonald and Brendan Gleeson as her father. After her father’s death, Macdonald decides to train a goshawk, described as “a perfectly evolved psychopath,” in memory of their shared love of the outdoors. The drama explores the tension between connecting with nature and avoiding the messier everyday of being human, resulting in an arresting and affecting portrayal of grief.
