Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's unflinching commentary tackles the demanding standards for women's appearance along with the feared consequences of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore delivers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, a mature celebrity demoted to starring in an aerobics show on TV. Forced aside thanks to her slimy boss Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and gruesome treatment called the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate named Sue, culminating in an increasingly vampiric relationship between them. October 17th, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery stars Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take a hiatus from writing about world issues to join a high-end voyage with a gravely sick Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her spouse, and other extremely wealthy passengers. Yet once an enigmatic female falls into the sea one night and all passengers claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity take over. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence Film
Soderbergh pushes his film-making abilities through this clever supernatural story shot entirely from the viewpoint of a ghost. As a family featuring mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their recent residence, the camera – as the unseen entity – follows them around. Chloe seems conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise that could catch you off guard. This Saturday, multiple showings, the Sky channel
This Self-Referential Film
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame via this autobiographical spoof. He plays a self-obsessed film star named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a $1m payday to appear at a festive event in Mallorca for the wealthy superfan Javi. Hired by the CIA to spy on the suspected cartel boss, his unconventional method comes in handy. This Saturday, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
The director's claustrophobic thriller stands strong without requiring a continuation. Set in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has left the children anxious. After Finney is kidnapped by the villain and imprisoned in a basement, he fears the worst. However, the disconnected phone in the room continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, and the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. An effective horror. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, on Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between God and Mammon, the victory is clear for greed in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky film adaptation about the fallen TV preacher plus her lawbreaking partner. The actor plays the venal Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple commence profiting from the nation's religious faith. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, overdone appearance and bad faith, though Jessica Chastain achieves to depict the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's second offering from the filmmaker is a espionage tale as tight like the turtlenecks sported by Michael Fassbender's British agent. His assignment is to discover a traitor inside the organization out of five possibilities – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars are experts of calm composure, so a delicious psychological game of deception or honesty takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
