Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
The filmmaker's bold critique examines the tyranny of female beauty and the feared consequences of ageing. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers an inspired performance in the role of Elisabeth, an aging film star demoted to presenting a fitness program on TV. Forced aside by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she undergoes a mysterious and horrifying process known as this experimental method. This produces a new version of herself named Sue, culminating in an increasingly parasitic dynamic between them. This Friday, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit thriller features Keira Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a hiatus from reporting on global conflict to join an opulent ship accompanied by an ailing wealthy inheritor and philanthropist, her husband, and other filthy rich individuals. However when an enigmatic female disappears from the ship overnight and everyone claims she was never there, Laura's investigative instincts awaken. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
This Supernatural Story
The acclaimed director challenges his film-making abilities in this clever supernatural story captured wholly from the perspective of a ghost. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. The daughter appears sensing the supernatural presence, and it seems protective of her. But why? The premise is enjoyable that remains concise, including a revelation that may be unexpected. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The iconic actor fully commits to his unique fame via this self-referential adventure. He portrays a self-obsessed film star playing himself who agrees to a lucrative offer to visit a birthday party at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Hired by the CIA to gather intel on the alleged criminal, the actor's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, prime time, Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Derrickson's locked-room horror remains effective even without a sequel. Located in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has made the children on edge. When Finney gets captured by “the Grabber” and held captive in a cellar, he dreads a terrible outcome. Yet the old telephone on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices giving advice, while the prophetic visions from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. An effective horror. October 11th, late evening, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for materialism in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield portrays the venal Jim, who states initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals set about monetising the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, overdone appearance and bad faith, however the lead actress succeeds to show the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, late night, the Film4 channel
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh presents a intelligence thriller as sharp as the polo necks worn by Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is with uncovering a mole inside the organization from five suspects – among them is his own wife. Both actors excel of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of truth or lie develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
