Pick of the Week
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's daring critique examines the tyranny of female beauty and the feared consequences of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore delivers a brilliant portrayal as Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity reduced to starring in a workout series on TV. Pushed out due to her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she turns to a mysterious and horrifying treatment known as this experimental method. This creates a new version of herself portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in a progressively toxic connection between the two. October 17th, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This classic whodunit story features Keira Knightley playing Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take some time off from covering world issues to embark on a high-end voyage with an ailing wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her spouse, as well as other extremely wealthy guests. Yet once an unknown lady disappears from the ship one night and all passengers insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence
The acclaimed director challenges his film-making abilities with this clever ghostly tale captured wholly from the perspective of a ghost. After a clan including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their fresh home, the camera – AKA the Presence – follows them around. The teen shows signs of sensing the poltergeist, and it looks like protective of her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image via this self-referential adventure. He plays a narcissistic Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who agrees to a $1m payday to attend a birthday party at a Mediterranean location for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Contacted by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the alleged criminal, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” is put to the test. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
Scott Derrickson's contained scarefest remains effective even without a continuation. Located in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has left the youth anxious. After Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and held captive in a dungeon, he fears the worst. But the non-functional line on the wall repeatedly calls, with eerie communicators providing assistance, as the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. An effective horror. Saturday 11 October, late evening, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the conflict between God and Mammon, the winner is obvious for Mammon in this director's delightfully tacky biopic about the fallen televangelist plus her lawbreaking partner. Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who declares at the beginning, asserting religious justification for riches. He and Tammy Faye commence capitalizing on the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, bad makeup and insincerity, 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 spy mystery as precise as the polo necks sported by Fassbender's intelligence officer. He is tasked to discover a double agent within their ranks from five suspects – including is his spouse. Both actors excel of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of fact versus fiction takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel
