Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire addresses the demanding standards for female beauty as well as the perceived horrors of ageing. The veteran actress presents a brilliant acting turn as Elisabeth, a 50-year-old actress demoted to presenting a fitness program on the small screen. Forced aside due to her slimy boss Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out a secretive and gruesome procedure titled the Substance. This creates a younger clone named Sue, resulting in an increasingly parasitic dynamic between the two. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit mystery includes the talented actress as Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a break from writing about world issues to embark on an opulent ship with an ailing wealthy inheritor and philanthropist, her partner, and other extremely wealthy guests. Yet once an enigmatic female disappears from the ship during the evening and the entire crew claims she was never there, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
Presence Film
Steven Soderbergh challenges his film-making abilities through this nifty supernatural story captured wholly from the viewpoint of the spirit. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe settles into their fresh home, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. The teen shows signs of sensing the poltergeist, and it seems guarding her. But why? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, including a revelation that may be unexpected. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this self-referential adventure. He plays a narcissistic celebrity called Nicolas Cage who takes on a $1m payday to attend a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the potential kingpin, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. October 11th, evening, Channel 4
This Creepy Thriller
The director's claustrophobic thriller holds up well without requiring a sequel. Set in 1970s Colorado, several disappearances has rendered the local kids anxious. After Finney is kidnapped by the villain and locked up in a basement, he dreads a fatal end. But the disconnected phone in the room repeatedly calls, with spooky callers giving advice, as the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. October 11th, late evening, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
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 religious broadcaster and her felon spouse. Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who declares initially, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple begin profiting from the people's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of poor styling, overdone appearance and hypocrisy, though Chastain achieves to depict the character with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's another release by the same director is a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks used by Fassbender's intelligence officer. He receives a mission with uncovering a mole within their ranks from a group of five – among them is his own wife. Each performer excel of deadpan cool, leading to a delightful mind game of truth or lie unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the smart espionage amusement. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
