Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire addresses the oppressive nature of female beauty and the perceived horrors of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers a masterful performance as Elisabeth, a mature film star demoted to presenting a fitness program on the small screen. Edged out thanks to her slimy boss Harvey, she turns to an enigmatic and terrifying process called the Substance. This creates a new version of herself named Sue, leading to a progressively vampiric relationship among both women. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful thriller stars Knightley in the role of Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a break from writing about global conflict to join a high-end voyage accompanied by a gravely sick Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her partner, plus additional affluent guests. Yet once a mysterious woman falls into the sea one night and all passengers claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity take over. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence
Steven Soderbergh tests his film-making abilities in this clever ghostly tale captured wholly from the viewpoint of a ghost. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their fresh home, the lens – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. Chloe seems conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. But why? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, with a twist that could catch you off guard. October 11th, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this meta comedy caper. He acts as a self-obsessed film star named Nicolas Cage who takes on a $1m payday to appear at a festive event on the Spanish island for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by government spies to investigate the potential kingpin, Cage's unconventional method comes in handy. This Saturday, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
The director's locked-room horror remains effective even without a sequel. Located in the late 70s in Denver, a series of kidnappings has left the youth on edge. Once Finney is kidnapped by “the Grabber” and held captive in a basement, he fears the worst. But the non-functional line mounted nearby keeps ringing, with eerie communicators providing assistance, as the prophetic visions from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. An effective horror. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, 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 biopic about the fallen religious broadcaster plus her lawbreaking partner. The actor acts as the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals begin monetising the American public's Christian beliefs. It's an extravaganza of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, however the lead actress manages to depict Tammy Faye in a likable light. Tuesday 14 October, early morning, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
This week's another release by the same director delivers a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks used by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to identify a double agent within their ranks out of five possibilities – among them is his spouse. Both actors excel of calm composure, so a delicious mind game of truth or lie unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
