Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring commentary addresses the tyranny of feminine aesthetics as well as the feared consequences of growing older. Demi Moore delivers a masterful acting turn as Elisabeth, a mature film star forced into presenting an aerobics show on the small screen. Edged out thanks to her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she seeks out a mysterious and horrifying procedure called "The Substance". This generates a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, culminating in a steadily more vampiric relationship between the two. This Friday, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller includes Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take a hiatus from reporting on world issues to board an opulent ship alongside a gravely sick wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her partner, plus additional affluent guests. But after an unknown lady falls into the sea during the evening and everyone insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills kick in. Available now, Netflix
Presence Film
The acclaimed director challenges his creative boundaries with this clever supernatural story shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their fresh home, the filming device – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. Chloe seems conscious of the poltergeist, and the entity appears protective of her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that remains concise, with a twist you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The iconic actor embraces his eccentric image in this meta comedy caper. He acts as a narcissistic celebrity named Nicolas Cage who takes on a $1m payday to appear at a birthday party at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy superfan Javi. Hired by government spies to spy on the suspected cartel boss, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. This Saturday, evening, Channel 4
This Creepy Thriller
Derrickson's contained scarefest remains effective even without a sequel. Set in 1970s Colorado, multiple kidnappings has rendered the children anxious. After Finney is kidnapped by the villain and held captive in a dungeon, he fears the worst. Yet the disconnected phone on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices providing assistance, and the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. A solid creepfest. October 11th, 10.50pm, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the battle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for materialism in this director's wonderfully garish film adaptation of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield portrays the venal Jim, who proclaims early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals begin capitalizing on the American public's spiritual convictions. It's an extravaganza of poor styling, overdone appearance and insincerity, however the lead actress succeeds to show the character as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, late night, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This week's second offering by the same director presents a spy mystery as sharp like the turtlenecks used by Michael Fassbender's British agent. He is tasked to discover a mole within their ranks from five suspects – one of whom is his own wife. Both actors are experts of calm composure, so a delicious mental battle of truth or lie develops. Additional actors take part the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
