Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's unflinching critique addresses the tyranny of female beauty as well as the dreaded aspects of ageing. Hollywood star Demi Moore delivers a masterful performance playing Elisabeth, a mature film star demoted to starring in a fitness program on television. Pushed out thanks to her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she turns to an enigmatic and gruesome procedure called this experimental method. This produces a youthful duplicate named Sue, leading to a steadily more parasitic dynamic between the two. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful story includes Keira Knightley in the role of Laura, a top-notch writer who takes a hiatus from writing about global conflict to embark on a luxury cruise with a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her partner, and other extremely wealthy guests. However when an enigmatic female goes overboard one night and the entire crew claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, on Netflix
Presence Film
Steven Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills through this clever paranormal narrative filmed completely from the perspective of a ghost. When a household including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their fresh home, the filming device – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. Chloe seems sensing the ghostly being, and the entity appears defensive toward her. But why? The premise is enjoyable that remains concise, including a revelation that may be unexpected. This Saturday, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage fully commits to his cult stardom via this autobiographical spoof. He acts as an egotistical Hollywood actor named Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to visit a festive event at a Mediterranean location for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the alleged criminal, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. October 11th, prime time, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller stands strong even without a sequel. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, a series of disappearances has rendered the youth anxious. After Finney is kidnapped by the villain and imprisoned in a dungeon, he dreads the worst. Yet the disconnected phone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with eerie communicators offering help, while the prophetic visions of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. Saturday 11 October, nighttime, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the battle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Showalter's wonderfully garish true story about the fallen religious broadcaster and her felon spouse. Andrew Garfield acts as the venal Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple begin capitalizing on the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, overdone appearance and bad faith, yet Chastain succeeds to show Tammy Faye in a likable light. October 14th, early morning, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
This week's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh is a spy mystery as tight like the turtlenecks sported by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to discover a mole among the team out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. The two stars are masters of understated style, resulting in an engaging psychological game of fact versus fiction develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the clever spy entertainment. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
