Pick of the Week
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's bold critique tackles the tyranny of feminine aesthetics along with the perceived horrors of advancing years. Demi Moore presents a brilliant performance as Elisabeth, an aging celebrity reduced to hosting an aerobics show on TV. Pushed out thanks to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out a secretive and horrifying procedure called "The Substance". This creates a youthful duplicate named Sue, leading to a progressively vampiric relationship among both women. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful thriller includes Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who opts for some time off from reporting on international wars to embark on a high-end voyage with a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her husband, as well as other filthy rich guests. But after an enigmatic female goes overboard during the evening and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity take over. Available now, the Netflix platform
Presence
Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills in this nifty paranormal narrative captured wholly from the perspective of the spirit. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their fresh home, the lens – AKA the Presence – follows them around. The daughter appears sensing the ghostly being, and the entity appears protective of her. But why? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that could catch you off guard. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage fully commits to his cult stardom via this autobiographical spoof. He portrays a narcissistic film star called Nicolas Cage who takes on a million-dollar gig to appear at a celebration at a Mediterranean location for billionaire superfan Javi. Contacted by the CIA to spy on the potential kingpin, Cage's unconventional method is put to the test. This Saturday, evening, Channel 4
The Black Phone
Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller holds up well without requiring a continuation. Located in the late 70s in Denver, a series of child abductions has rendered the youth anxious. Once Finney is kidnapped by “the Grabber” and imprisoned in a basement, he anticipates a fatal end. But the old telephone on the wall keeps ringing, with ghostly voices giving advice, as the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for materialism in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation regarding the shamed religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who declares early on, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple commence capitalizing on the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and bad faith, however Jessica Chastain succeeds to present the real-life figure with compassion. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
This Espionage Thriller
This period's second offering from Steven Soderbergh is a intelligence thriller as tight as the polo necks worn by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. He is tasked with uncovering a double agent among the team out of five possibilities – including is his spouse. The two stars excel of deadpan cool, so a delicious mind game of truth or lie takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, various showings, the Sky channel
