Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring commentary tackles the tyranny of women's appearance and the dreaded aspects of growing older. Demi Moore presents a masterful performance in the role of Elisabeth, an aging film star demoted to starring in an aerobics show on television. Edged out thanks to her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she seeks out a secretive and gruesome procedure titled the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate called Sue, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship among both women. This Friday, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This classic whodunit story features the talented actress in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who opts for a hiatus from covering international wars to join a luxury cruise accompanied by a gravely sick wealthy inheritor and donor, her spouse, and other affluent passengers. But after a mysterious woman disappears from the ship overnight and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills kick in. Available now, on Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh challenges his creative boundaries through this innovative paranormal narrative captured wholly from the perspective of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the lens – representing the ghost – follows them around. Chloe seems conscious of the supernatural presence, and it looks like guarding her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, with a twist that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor fully commits to his cult stardom in this meta comedy caper. He plays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who accepts a $1m payday to attend a celebration at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the alleged criminal, his unique performing skills proves useful. Saturday 11 October, evening, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Derrickson's locked-room horror holds up well despite the lack of a follow-up. Located in the late 70s in Denver, several disappearances has rendered the youth anxious. When Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a cellar, he dreads the worst. Yet the non-functional line in the room keeps ringing, with spooky callers offering help, while the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, nighttime, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the conflict between faith and wealth, the winner is obvious for Mammon in Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top biopic of the disgraced televangelist and her felon spouse. Andrew Garfield portrays the venal Jim, who declares early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye set about capitalizing on the American public's religious faith. It's a riot of poor styling, bad makeup and insincerity, though the lead actress manages to present the character as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, late night, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
This period's another release from Steven Soderbergh delivers a espionage tale as precise similar to the collars sported by the actor's intelligence officer. His assignment is with uncovering a double agent among the team from a group of five – one of whom is his spouse. The two stars excel of deadpan cool, so a delicious mind game of truth or lie develops. Additional actors take part the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, various showings, the Sky channel
