Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire tackles the tyranny of women's appearance and the feared consequences of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers an inspired acting turn playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity demoted to presenting a fitness program on television. Edged out due to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and terrifying procedure called "The Substance". This creates a new version of herself called Sue, leading to an increasingly toxic connection between the two. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque story features Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a hiatus from covering world issues to join an opulent ship with an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her husband, and other filthy rich guests. Yet once an enigmatic female disappears from the ship during the evening and the entire crew claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Available now, on Netflix
Presence Film
Soderbergh pushes his creative boundaries through this nifty ghostly tale captured wholly through the eyes of the spirit. As a family including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their recent residence, the filming device – AKA the Presence – follows them around. The teen shows signs of conscious of the ghostly being, and it seems protective of her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, with a twist that could catch you off guard. This Saturday, afternoon and evening times, the Sky channel
This Self-Referential Film
Cage fully commits to his cult stardom in this meta comedy caper. He portrays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor playing himself who accepts a lucrative offer to appear at a festive event in Mallorca for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by government spies to investigate the alleged criminal, his unique performing skills comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, on Channel 4
This Creepy Thriller
Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller remains effective without requiring a sequel. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has left the local kids frightened. When Finney is taken by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a basement, he fears a fatal end. Yet the non-functional line on the wall keeps ringing, with spooky callers giving advice, while the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen might rescue him. A solid creepfest. This Saturday, nighttime, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for materialism in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish film adaptation of the disgraced TV preacher and her criminal husband. Garfield portrays the greedy Jim, who declares initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals begin capitalizing on the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of poor styling, overdone appearance and insincerity, yet Chastain succeeds to show Tammy Faye as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, early morning, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
This week's another release from Steven Soderbergh delivers a spy mystery as sharp similar to the collars worn by Fassbender's British agent. His assignment is to identify a double agent among the team from five suspects – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors excel of understated style, so a delicious mind game of truth or lie develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, various showings, Sky Cinema
