Pick of the Week
This Satirical Thriller
Coralie Fargeat's unflinching critique examines the tyranny of women's appearance along with the feared consequences of growing older. Demi Moore offers an inspired acting turn in the role of Elisabeth, a mature actress reduced to hosting a workout series on the small screen. Edged out by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she undergoes a mysterious and horrifying treatment known as the Substance. This creates a younger clone called Sue, leading to a progressively parasitic dynamic between the two. October 17th, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery features Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a hiatus from reporting on global conflict to join a high-end voyage alongside a gravely sick Norwegian shipping heiress and donor, her husband, plus additional affluent passengers. But after a mysterious woman disappears from the ship overnight and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, Netflix
Presence
The acclaimed director pushes his film-making abilities through this nifty ghostly tale shot entirely through the eyes of the phantom. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe moves into their fresh home, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. The teen shows signs of conscious of the ghostly being, and it seems guarding her. However, the motive remains? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise that could catch you off guard. October 11th, multiple showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
This Self-Referential Film
Cage embraces his eccentric image via this meta comedy caper. He plays a narcissistic celebrity called Nicolas Cage who accepts a lucrative offer to appear at a celebration on the Spanish island for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by government spies to spy on the alleged criminal, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. October 11th, evening, Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's contained scarefest remains effective despite the lack of a sequel. Located in 1978 Denver, multiple child abductions has left the local kids anxious. Once Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a cellar, he anticipates a fatal end. Yet the disconnected phone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with eerie communicators offering help, and the intuitive nightmares of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. This Saturday, late evening, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between faith and wealth, the winner is obvious for greed in this director's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation of the disgraced TV preacher plus her lawbreaking partner. Andrew Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple set about profiting from the people's Christian beliefs. It's an extravaganza of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, though Jessica Chastain succeeds to present Tammy Faye with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This period's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh presents a spy mystery as precise similar to the collars sported by Fassbender's British agent. He is tasked to identify a traitor among the team from five suspects – one of whom is his own wife. The two stars excel of deadpan cool, so a delicious psychological game of fact versus fiction develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel
