Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring satire tackles the tyranny of female beauty along with the feared consequences of growing older. The veteran actress offers a masterful acting turn in the role of Elisabeth, a mature celebrity forced into hosting a workout series on television. Pushed out thanks to her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and terrifying treatment titled this experimental method. This produces a youthful duplicate named Sue, culminating in an increasingly parasitic dynamic among both women. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful thriller stars Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who takes a break from reporting on global conflict to join a high-end voyage accompanied by an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her husband, plus additional filthy rich guests. But after a mysterious woman falls into the sea overnight and everyone claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Streaming currently, Netflix
Presence Film
Steven Soderbergh tests his creative boundaries through this nifty paranormal narrative shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe occupies their recent residence, the camera – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. Chloe seems conscious of the poltergeist, and it looks like defensive toward her. But why? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation that may be unexpected. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Nicolas Cage embraces his unique fame via this meta comedy caper. He portrays an egotistical film star playing himself who agrees to a lucrative offer to appear at a birthday party in Mallorca for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by government spies to gather intel on the alleged criminal, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
The director's contained scarefest stands strong even without a sequel. Set in 1978 Denver, a series of disappearances has made the youth on edge. When Finney is taken by the kidnapper and locked up in a dungeon, he anticipates a fatal end. But the disconnected phone mounted nearby repeatedly calls, with spooky callers giving advice, as the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, nighttime, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between God and Mammon, the victory is clear for greed in Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top biopic of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield portrays the venal Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple begin profiting from the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, overdone appearance and bad faith, yet Chastain succeeds to show the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, late night, on Film4
Black Bag
The current week's additional entry by the same director is a espionage tale as tight like the turtlenecks sported by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a double agent among the team from five suspects – including is his spouse. Both actors excel of understated style, resulting in an engaging psychological game of fact versus fiction develops. The supporting cast participate the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
