Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching critique examines the tyranny of female beauty and the dreaded aspects of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents an inspired portrayal playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity forced into hosting a fitness program on the small screen. Forced aside due to her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out an enigmatic and terrifying process called "The Substance". This generates a youthful duplicate named Sue, culminating in a steadily more vampiric relationship between the two. October 17th, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller stars the talented actress playing Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for some time off from covering international wars to join a luxury cruise alongside an ailing wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her spouse, plus additional filthy rich guests. But after an unknown lady falls into the sea during the evening and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Out now, Netflix
Presence
Soderbergh tests his film-making abilities in this innovative supernatural story shot entirely from the viewpoint of a ghost. When a household featuring mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the camera – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. Chloe seems sensing the supernatural presence, and it seems defensive toward her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame in this autobiographical spoof. He portrays an egotistical Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who agrees to a lucrative offer to attend a birthday party in Mallorca for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by the intelligence agency to spy on the suspected cartel boss, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, prime time, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
The director's claustrophobic thriller remains effective even without a sequel. Located in 1970s Colorado, multiple kidnappings has made the youth anxious. After Finney is taken by the villain and imprisoned in a dungeon, he anticipates a terrible outcome. However, the disconnected phone on the wall continues to ring, with spooky callers providing assistance, while the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen could save him. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the struggle between God and Mammon, the winner is obvious for greed in this director's brilliantly over-the-top true story of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her felon spouse. The actor acts as the greedy Jim, who declares initially, claiming divine approval for wealth. Both individuals set about capitalizing on the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, though Chastain achieves to show the real-life figure with compassion. October 14th, early morning, Film4
The Spy Mystery
The current week's second offering from the filmmaker presents a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks used by Fassbender's UK spy. He is tasked to discover a traitor among the team from five suspects – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Each performer are masters of calm composure, leading to a delightful psychological game of fact versus fiction takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the intelligent intelligence fun. Friday 17 October, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
