Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring critique tackles the demanding standards for feminine aesthetics and the perceived horrors of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers a masterful acting turn as Elisabeth, an aging celebrity demoted to presenting a workout series on TV. Forced aside thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she undergoes a mysterious and gruesome process known as the Substance. This creates a new version of herself portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in a steadily more toxic connection between them. This Friday, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This classic whodunit thriller includes Keira Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take a break from writing about international wars to join a luxury cruise accompanied by an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her spouse, plus additional affluent guests. But after an unknown lady falls into the sea overnight and all passengers insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, on Netflix
Presence Film
The acclaimed director challenges his creative boundaries through this innovative paranormal narrative captured wholly through the eyes of a ghost. When a household including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the filming device – AKA the Presence – follows them around. Chloe seems sensing the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise that may be unexpected. This Saturday, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Nicolas Cage embraces his unique fame via this meta comedy caper. He acts as a self-obsessed film star named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a lucrative offer to visit a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by government spies to gather intel on the alleged criminal, the actor's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. This Saturday, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
The director's contained scarefest stands strong without requiring a sequel. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, multiple kidnappings has made the local kids frightened. When Finney is taken by the villain and locked up in a basement, he dreads the worst. But the disconnected phone on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, and the prophetic visions from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. This Saturday, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for greed in Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top biopic about the fallen religious broadcaster and her felon spouse. Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple commence capitalizing on the people's religious faith. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, bad makeup and hypocrisy, though Chastain succeeds to show the character with compassion. Next Tuesday, early morning, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
This week's additional entry by the same director delivers a intelligence thriller as sharp similar to the collars worn by Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a double agent within their ranks from a group of five – among them is his own wife. The two stars excel of deadpan cool, so a delicious mental battle of fact versus fiction develops. Additional actors join in the intelligent intelligence fun. Friday 17 October, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
