Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's bold satire tackles the tyranny of women's appearance along with the perceived horrors of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a brilliant performance as Elisabeth, an aging actress reduced to hosting a workout series on TV. Pushed out thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, she seeks out a secretive and terrifying process known as the Substance. This creates a younger clone portrayed by Margaret Qualley, leading to a progressively parasitic dynamic between them. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This classic whodunit story features Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a hiatus from covering global conflict to board a high-end voyage with an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her partner, and other affluent passengers. But after an unknown lady disappears from the ship one night and all passengers claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
Presence
Soderbergh pushes his creative boundaries through this innovative supernatural story captured wholly through the eyes of the phantom. After a clan including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their recent residence, the lens – representing the ghost – follows them around. The daughter appears conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like guarding her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that may be unexpected. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
The iconic actor fully commits to his cult stardom through this autobiographical spoof. He plays an egotistical film star named Nicolas Cage who takes on a $1m payday to attend a celebration in Mallorca for the rich superfan Javi. Hired by government spies to investigate the suspected cartel boss, Cage's unique performing skills is put to the test. October 11th, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
The director's contained scarefest holds up well despite the lack of a follow-up. Located in 1970s Colorado, several child abductions has rendered the local kids on edge. Once Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a dungeon, he fears a terrible outcome. Yet the non-functional line mounted nearby keeps ringing, with eerie communicators giving advice, as the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. An effective horror. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between spirituality and money, the victory is clear for greed in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish film adaptation about the fallen televangelist plus her lawbreaking partner. Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who states initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple set about profiting from the nation's religious faith. It's a spectacle of poor styling, bad makeup and hypocrisy, however Chastain succeeds to depict the real-life figure with compassion. October 14th, early morning, on Film4
Black Bag
This week's another release from Steven Soderbergh delivers a spy mystery as tight like the turtlenecks worn by Michael Fassbender's British agent. He receives a mission to identify a traitor within their ranks out of five possibilities – one of whom is his spouse. Both actors are experts of deadpan cool, so a delicious mind game of truth or lie unfolds. Additional actors participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema
