Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Coralie Fargeat's bold commentary tackles the tyranny of women's appearance and the feared consequences of advancing years. Demi Moore delivers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, an aging actress forced into presenting a workout series on the small screen. Edged out thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out a secretive and horrifying treatment titled "The Substance". This generates a younger clone called Sue, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship among both women. October 17th, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This classic whodunit thriller includes Knightley in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who opts for a break from writing about world issues to board an opulent ship alongside a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her husband, and other filthy rich passengers. Yet once a mysterious woman falls into the sea one night and all passengers claims she was never there, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Available now, on Netflix
Presence
Soderbergh tests his directorial skills in this clever ghostly tale filmed completely from the viewpoint of the spirit. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their fresh home, the filming device – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. The teen shows signs of aware of the ghostly being, and the entity appears defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame through this autobiographical spoof. He plays an egotistical celebrity called Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to attend a festive event in Mallorca for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the potential kingpin, his unconventional method comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, Channel 4
The Black Phone
Derrickson's locked-room horror remains effective despite the lack of a continuation. Located in 1978 Denver, multiple kidnappings has rendered the children frightened. Once Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a cellar, he fears the worst. But the old telephone on the wall continues to ring, with eerie communicators giving advice, as the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister could save him. An effective horror. This Saturday, late evening, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for greed in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic of the disgraced TV preacher plus her lawbreaking partner. Garfield plays the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals set about capitalizing on the people's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of bad interior design, bad makeup and bad faith, yet Chastain achieves to show Tammy Faye as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, early morning, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
This week's second offering from the filmmaker presents a spy mystery as precise as the polo necks used by the actor's UK spy. He receives a mission with uncovering a traitor among the team out of five possibilities – one of whom is his own wife. The two stars excel of understated style, so a delicious mental battle of truth or lie takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, multiple time slots, the Sky channel
