Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's daring satire tackles the tyranny of feminine aesthetics along with the dreaded aspects of advancing years. The veteran actress delivers an inspired performance in the role of Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity demoted to hosting a workout series on television. Pushed out by her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she turns to a mysterious and horrifying treatment known as the Substance. This produces a younger clone called Sue, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship between them. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful mystery includes Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a break from covering international wars to embark on a high-end voyage with an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her husband, as well as other affluent passengers. But after an unknown lady disappears from the ship during the evening and everyone denies she ever existed, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
This Supernatural Story
Steven Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills with this innovative paranormal narrative captured wholly from the viewpoint of the spirit. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their fresh home, the lens – representing the ghost – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of aware of the poltergeist, and it looks like guarding her. However, the motive remains? This is an entertaining concept that remains concise, with a twist that could catch you off guard. This Saturday, multiple showings, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this autobiographical spoof. He portrays a narcissistic celebrity named Nicolas Cage who accepts a lucrative offer to visit a festive event at a Mediterranean location for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by government spies to gather intel on the suspected cartel boss, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. This Saturday, 9pm, Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's contained scarefest remains effective even without a continuation. Located in the late 70s in Denver, a series of child abductions has made the youth frightened. After Finney is kidnapped by the kidnapper and held captive in a cellar, he anticipates a fatal end. But the disconnected phone in the room keeps ringing, with spooky callers giving advice, as the prophetic visions from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. A solid creepfest. This Saturday, late evening, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for materialism in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish biopic of the disgraced religious broadcaster plus her lawbreaking partner. Garfield acts as the greedy Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, asserting religious justification for riches. He and Tammy Faye commence profiting from the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of poor styling, overdone appearance and insincerity, yet Jessica Chastain achieves to present Tammy Faye with compassion. Next Tuesday, early morning, Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This week's second offering by the same director delivers a intelligence thriller as tight like the turtlenecks used by Fassbender's intelligence officer. His assignment is to discover a mole among the team from a group of five – one of whom is his own wife. The two stars are masters of understated style, resulting in an engaging psychological game of deception or honesty takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
