Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring satire tackles the tyranny of female beauty as well as the dreaded aspects of advancing years. Demi Moore presents an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, a mature celebrity reduced to presenting an aerobics show on TV. Pushed out due to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out a secretive and terrifying procedure called the Substance. This produces a younger clone called Sue, leading to a progressively toxic connection between them. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery features the talented actress in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take a hiatus from covering global conflict to embark on an opulent ship alongside a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and philanthropist, her partner, plus additional affluent passengers. But after an unknown lady falls into the sea overnight and all passengers claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Available now, the Netflix platform
This Supernatural Story
Soderbergh tests his creative boundaries through this nifty ghostly tale shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their recent residence, the camera – AKA the Presence – follows them around. The daughter appears conscious of the poltergeist, and it seems guarding her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that remains concise, with a twist that could catch you off guard. This Saturday, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage fully commits to his unique fame via this meta comedy caper. He acts as a narcissistic film star named Nicolas Cage who takes on a million-dollar gig to attend a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the alleged criminal, the actor's unique performing skills proves useful. Saturday 11 October, evening, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone Horror
The director's contained scarefest remains effective even without a follow-up. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, several kidnappings has made the youth anxious. After Finney gets captured by “the Grabber” and held captive in a basement, he anticipates the worst. But the disconnected phone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with spooky callers offering help, and the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, nighttime, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the struggle between faith and wealth, the winner is obvious for Mammon in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish biopic regarding the shamed TV preacher and her felon spouse. The actor acts as the corrupt Bakker, who states early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye begin profiting from the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, though the lead actress succeeds to present the real-life figure with compassion. Next Tuesday, late night, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
The current week's second offering from Steven Soderbergh delivers a spy mystery as precise similar to the collars sported by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is with uncovering a mole among the team out of five possibilities – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors excel of understated style, so a delicious psychological game of truth or lie develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema
