Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
The filmmaker's unflinching satire addresses the tyranny of female beauty as well as the perceived horrors of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a brilliant performance in the role of Elisabeth, an aging celebrity demoted to starring in an aerobics show on television. Pushed out by her slimy boss Harvey, she undergoes a secretive and terrifying treatment titled the Substance. This produces a younger clone named Sue, resulting in a progressively parasitic dynamic between them. This Friday, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit story features Keira Knightley as Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take some time off from reporting on international wars to join a luxury cruise with an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her partner, plus additional filthy rich individuals. However when an enigmatic female falls into the sea during the evening and all passengers denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills kick in. Streaming currently, on Netflix
Presence
The acclaimed director challenges his directorial skills with this innovative supernatural story filmed completely from the perspective of a ghost. When a household including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe moves into their fresh home, the lens – as the unseen entity – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that could catch you off guard. This Saturday, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Cage fully commits to his cult stardom in this autobiographical spoof. He portrays an egotistical film star called Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to appear at a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy superfan Javi. Contacted by government spies to gather intel on the potential kingpin, the actor's unconventional method proves useful. This Saturday, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone Horror
The director's claustrophobic thriller holds up well without requiring a sequel. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, several kidnappings has made the youth anxious. After Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and held captive in a basement, he dreads a fatal end. But the disconnected phone mounted nearby continues to ring, with spooky callers providing assistance, as the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, nighttime, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the struggle between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for greed in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation about the fallen TV preacher and her felon spouse. The actor plays the greedy Jim, who states initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple begin profiting from the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, overdone appearance and bad faith, though the lead actress manages to show Tammy Faye as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
This week's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh delivers a spy mystery as tight like the turtlenecks used by Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a double agent within their ranks from a group of five – one of whom is his spouse. The two stars excel of deadpan cool, resulting in an engaging mental battle of fact versus fiction unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, various showings, the Sky channel
