Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring commentary examines the oppressive nature of female beauty along with the perceived horrors of growing older. Demi Moore presents an inspired portrayal playing Elisabeth, a mature film star demoted to starring in a workout series on TV. Edged out thanks to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she undergoes a secretive and terrifying treatment known as "The Substance". This creates a new version of herself named Sue, culminating in a steadily more vampiric relationship between them. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller includes the talented actress as Laura, a top-notch writer who takes some time off from writing about global conflict to board a luxury cruise alongside a gravely sick Norwegian shipping heiress and philanthropist, her spouse, plus additional extremely wealthy guests. But after an unknown lady goes overboard one night and the entire crew claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Out now, Netflix
Presence Film
Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills with this clever ghostly tale captured wholly from the viewpoint of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their new suburban house, the lens – as the unseen entity – follows them around. Chloe seems conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like protective of her. Yet what is the reason? The premise is enjoyable that avoids overstaying, with a twist that may be unexpected. October 11th, afternoon and evening times, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this self-referential adventure. He portrays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who agrees to a million-dollar gig to attend a celebration at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Hired by the CIA to spy on the alleged criminal, his unconventional method proves useful. Saturday 11 October, prime time, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller remains effective even without a sequel. Set in the late 70s in Denver, several disappearances has made the local kids frightened. Once Finney gets captured by the villain and locked up in a dungeon, he dreads the worst. However, the non-functional line on the wall keeps ringing, with ghostly voices giving advice, while the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. This Saturday, 10.50pm, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for greed in this director's brilliantly over-the-top biopic of the disgraced TV preacher and her felon spouse. Garfield acts as the corrupt Bakker, who states initially, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye commence profiting from the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of poor styling, bad makeup and hypocrisy, though Jessica Chastain manages to present the character with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, late night, on Film4
The Spy Mystery
This week's second offering by the same director delivers a intelligence thriller as precise similar to the collars used by the actor's UK spy. He receives a mission to discover a mole among the team out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. Each performer are experts of understated style, resulting in an engaging mind game of deception or honesty develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the clever spy entertainment. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
