Pick of the Week
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's bold satire tackles the oppressive nature of female beauty as well as the dreaded aspects of ageing. The veteran actress presents a masterful performance playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity forced into presenting a fitness program on TV. Pushed out due to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to an enigmatic and horrifying procedure titled the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, culminating in a progressively vampiric relationship between the two. This Friday, Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This classic whodunit thriller includes Knightley in the role of Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a break from reporting on global conflict to board a luxury cruise with a gravely sick Norwegian shipping heiress and donor, her partner, plus additional affluent individuals. But after an enigmatic female goes overboard overnight and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity take over. Available now, Netflix
Presence
The acclaimed director tests his directorial skills through this innovative supernatural story shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. When a household featuring mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their fresh home, the filming device – representing the ghost – follows them around. Chloe seems sensing the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, with a twist you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage embraces his unique fame in this autobiographical spoof. He acts as an egotistical celebrity playing himself who accepts a $1m payday to attend a celebration on the Spanish island for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by the intelligence agency to investigate the alleged criminal, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller stands strong despite the lack of a follow-up. Located in the late 70s in Denver, a series of disappearances has rendered the youth anxious. After Finney is kidnapped by “the Grabber” and imprisoned in a basement, he anticipates a fatal end. Yet the disconnected phone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with ghostly voices giving advice, while the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. An effective horror. October 11th, nighttime, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between God and Mammon, the winner is obvious for Mammon in this director's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation regarding the shamed TV preacher and her felon spouse. Garfield acts as the venal Jim, who proclaims initially, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple commence profiting from the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of bad interior design, bad makeup and hypocrisy, yet the lead actress achieves to present Tammy Faye as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, early morning, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
This week's second offering by the same director presents a espionage tale as precise similar to the collars sported by Fassbender's British agent. He is tasked to discover a traitor among the team from a group of five – among them is his own wife. The two stars are experts of deadpan cool, so a delicious mind game of deception or honesty develops. Additional actors take part the clever spy entertainment. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
