Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's bold critique tackles the tyranny of feminine aesthetics as well as the feared consequences of growing older. Demi Moore delivers a brilliant performance in the role of Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity forced into hosting a fitness program on TV. Pushed out thanks to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she undergoes an enigmatic and gruesome treatment titled the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate called Sue, resulting in a progressively toxic connection between the two. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque story features the talented actress playing Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for a break from reporting on world issues to board a luxury cruise accompanied by an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her spouse, and other filthy rich passengers. However when an enigmatic female disappears from the ship overnight and all passengers denies she ever existed, Laura's investigative instincts awaken. Available now, Netflix
Presence
Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills with this nifty supernatural story captured wholly from the viewpoint of a ghost. After a clan including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their fresh home, the camera – representing the ghost – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of sensing the poltergeist, and it looks like defensive toward her. But why? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that could catch you off guard. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
This Self-Referential Film
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image through this autobiographical spoof. He plays a self-obsessed celebrity playing himself who takes on a $1m payday to visit a festive event at a Mediterranean location for billionaire superfan Javi. Contacted by government spies to investigate the alleged criminal, the actor's unconventional method proves useful. This Saturday, prime time, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
The director's locked-room horror stands strong despite the lack of a sequel. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, multiple kidnappings has made the local kids on edge. After Finney is taken by the villain and imprisoned in a basement, he fears a fatal end. Yet the non-functional line on the wall keeps ringing, with ghostly voices providing assistance, and the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. October 11th, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for Mammon in Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top biopic of the disgraced TV preacher and her criminal husband. Garfield acts as the corrupt Bakker, who declares at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals set about monetising the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, however Chastain achieves to depict the character as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, early morning, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This period's additional entry from the filmmaker delivers a intelligence thriller as sharp like the turtlenecks worn by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to identify a traitor inside the organization out of five possibilities – including is his own wife. Each performer are masters of understated style, leading to a delightful psychological game of truth or lie unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the smart espionage amusement. Friday 17 October, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
