Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Coralie Fargeat's daring commentary tackles the oppressive nature of female beauty as well as the dreaded aspects of growing older. The veteran actress delivers a brilliant acting turn playing Elisabeth, an aging film star reduced to presenting a fitness program on television. Forced aside by her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she turns to a secretive and horrifying treatment known as the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate called Sue, leading to a steadily more vampiric relationship between the two. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit mystery includes Knightley in the role of Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a hiatus from writing about world issues to join a luxury cruise accompanied by a gravely sick wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her husband, plus additional affluent guests. Yet once an enigmatic female disappears from the ship during the evening and all passengers insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Streaming currently, Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh pushes his creative boundaries in this innovative ghostly tale filmed completely from the viewpoint of a ghost. As a family featuring mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the lens – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. Chloe seems sensing the ghostly being, and it seems defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, with a twist that may be unexpected. This Saturday, multiple showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame via this autobiographical spoof. He acts as a narcissistic Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to appear at a celebration on the Spanish island for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the potential kingpin, his unconventional method is put to the test. This Saturday, evening, Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's claustrophobic thriller stands strong despite the lack of a sequel. Set in 1970s Colorado, several disappearances has left the youth on edge. When Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and held captive in a basement, he fears a terrible outcome. Yet the non-functional line on the wall repeatedly calls, with spooky callers offering help, as the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, late evening, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between spirituality and money, the victory is clear for materialism in Showalter's delightfully tacky film adaptation of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. The actor acts as the greedy Jim, who declares early on, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple commence monetising the people's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of poor styling, bad makeup and hypocrisy, however Chastain succeeds to depict the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, 1.15am, Film4
Black Bag
This week's second offering by the same director is a espionage tale as sharp similar to the collars sported by the actor's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a mole among the team out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. Both actors excel of calm composure, leading to a delightful mental battle of truth or lie unfolds. The supporting cast join in the smart espionage amusement. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, the Sky channel
