Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's bold critique addresses the tyranny of female beauty along with the perceived horrors of growing older. Demi Moore delivers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, an aging celebrity demoted to presenting a fitness program on the small screen. Pushed out by her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she turns to a mysterious and gruesome treatment titled this experimental method. This generates a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, culminating in a progressively vampiric relationship between them. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful story features Keira Knightley playing Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for some time off from reporting on world issues to embark on a luxury cruise with an ailing Norwegian shipping heiress and philanthropist, her spouse, plus additional filthy rich passengers. But after a mysterious woman falls into the sea one night and all passengers insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Streaming currently, on Netflix
Presence
The acclaimed director pushes his directorial skills with this clever ghostly tale shot entirely through the eyes of the phantom. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their fresh home, the filming device – representing the ghost – follows them around. The daughter appears conscious of the supernatural presence, and it seems guarding her. However, the motive remains? The premise is enjoyable that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation that could catch you off guard. October 11th, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema Premiere
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this meta comedy caper. He portrays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who accepts a lucrative offer to visit a birthday party on the Spanish island for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the CIA to gather intel on the suspected cartel boss, the actor's unconventional method comes in handy. This Saturday, evening, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's claustrophobic thriller stands strong even without a follow-up. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, multiple disappearances has made the children frightened. When Finney is taken by the kidnapper and locked up in a dungeon, he dreads a fatal end. Yet the non-functional line mounted nearby keeps ringing, with eerie communicators offering help, while the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister could save him. A genuinely scary movie. This Saturday, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for materialism in this director's wonderfully garish film adaptation about the fallen religious broadcaster and her felon spouse. The actor acts as the corrupt Bakker, who declares initially, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye set about monetising the nation's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of poor styling, bad makeup and hypocrisy, though Jessica Chastain manages to depict the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
This period's second offering from Steven Soderbergh is a espionage tale as tight as the polo necks worn by the actor's intelligence officer. He is tasked with uncovering a mole among the team from five suspects – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors are masters of calm composure, resulting in an engaging psychological game of deception or honesty develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
