Pick of the Week
This Satirical Thriller
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching commentary addresses the tyranny of female beauty and the dreaded aspects of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers a brilliant acting turn in the role of Elisabeth, a 50-year-old film star forced into presenting a fitness program on television. Edged out thanks to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she turns to a mysterious and terrifying procedure titled the Substance. This produces a youthful duplicate called Sue, leading to a progressively toxic connection among both women. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This classic whodunit story includes Keira Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who takes a hiatus from covering international wars to board an opulent ship accompanied by a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her spouse, plus additional extremely wealthy individuals. Yet once a mysterious woman disappears from the ship one night and all passengers denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Streaming currently, on Netflix
Presence Film
Steven Soderbergh pushes his film-making abilities with this clever paranormal narrative captured wholly through the eyes of a ghost. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe occupies their recent residence, the filming device – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. Chloe seems conscious of the ghostly being, and it seems guarding her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The iconic actor wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this autobiographical spoof. He portrays a self-obsessed film star named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a million-dollar gig to attend a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by the intelligence agency to spy on the suspected cartel boss, the actor's unconventional method is put to the test. This Saturday, prime time, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Scott Derrickson's contained scarefest stands strong despite the lack of a follow-up. Set in the late 70s in Denver, several kidnappings has made the children anxious. Once Finney is kidnapped by the kidnapper and locked up in a basement, he dreads the worst. Yet the non-functional line on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, and the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. An effective horror. October 11th, nighttime, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. The actor portrays the greedy Jim, who states early on, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye set about profiting from the people's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of bad interior design, bad makeup and insincerity, though Jessica Chastain succeeds to show the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, on Film4
The Spy Mystery
This period's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh presents a spy mystery as tight similar to the collars used by Michael Fassbender's intelligence officer. He receives a mission to discover a double agent within their ranks from five suspects – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars are experts of deadpan cool, leading to a delightful mind game of fact versus fiction takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
