Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire examines the oppressive nature of women's appearance along with the perceived horrors of growing older. The veteran actress delivers a brilliant acting turn in the role of Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity reduced to presenting a fitness program on television. Forced aside due to her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she undergoes an enigmatic and terrifying treatment known as this experimental method. This generates a youthful duplicate named Sue, leading to a progressively vampiric relationship among both women. Friday 17 October, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful thriller stars Keira Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a hiatus from writing about international wars to embark on an opulent ship accompanied by a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her spouse, and other affluent guests. Yet once an enigmatic female falls into the sea overnight and everyone claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, on Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Steven Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills in this innovative ghostly tale captured wholly from the perspective of the spirit. After a clan featuring mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their fresh home, the filming device – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. The daughter appears sensing the supernatural presence, and the entity appears guarding her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, including a revelation you might not see coming. This Saturday, multiple showings, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage embraces his unique fame through this meta comedy caper. He plays a narcissistic celebrity called Nicolas Cage who agrees to a $1m payday to attend a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the alleged criminal, the actor's unique performing skills comes in handy. October 11th, evening, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's contained scarefest stands strong even without a follow-up. Located in the late 70s in Denver, several kidnappings has rendered the children frightened. After Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and locked up in a dungeon, he dreads a fatal end. However, the non-functional line in the room keeps ringing, with eerie communicators giving advice, as the prophetic visions of his sister Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. Saturday 11 October, nighttime, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the battle between God and Mammon, the winner is obvious for materialism in this director's delightfully tacky biopic regarding the shamed religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Garfield plays the corrupt Bakker, who declares early on, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye set about capitalizing on the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of tacky decor, overdone appearance and insincerity, however the lead actress manages to present the real-life figure with compassion. Next Tuesday, late night, Film4
Black Bag
The current week's second offering from the filmmaker is a spy mystery as sharp as the polo necks sported by Michael Fassbender's British agent. He is tasked with uncovering a mole within their ranks out of five possibilities – one of whom is his own wife. Each performer are masters of calm composure, leading to a delightful mental battle of fact versus fiction unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel
