Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's unflinching satire examines the tyranny of female beauty and the dreaded aspects of ageing. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers an inspired performance as Elisabeth, a mature celebrity demoted to starring in a fitness program on television. Edged out thanks to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she seeks out a mysterious and gruesome process titled this experimental method. This produces a new version of herself portrayed by Margaret Qualley, culminating in a progressively toxic connection between them. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful mystery includes Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a hiatus from covering world issues to embark on a high-end voyage with a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and donor, her partner, and other filthy rich individuals. However when an unknown lady disappears from the ship one night and everyone claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence
Steven Soderbergh pushes his film-making abilities through this nifty supernatural story filmed completely through the eyes of the spirit. When a household including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their recent residence, the camera – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. Chloe seems aware of the supernatural presence, and it looks like defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that remains concise, with a twist that could catch you off guard. This Saturday, multiple showings, the Sky channel
This Self-Referential Film
Cage fully commits to his eccentric image in this autobiographical spoof. He acts as a self-obsessed celebrity called Nicolas Cage who takes on a $1m payday to attend a festive event in Mallorca for billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Hired by the CIA to spy on the alleged criminal, the actor's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” is put to the test. October 11th, prime time, Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's contained scarefest remains effective even without a sequel. Taking place in 1978 Denver, a series of child abductions has rendered the youth frightened. After Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and locked up in a basement, he fears a terrible outcome. But the disconnected phone on the wall repeatedly calls, with ghostly voices providing assistance, as the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. An effective horror. Saturday 11 October, nighttime, on Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the conflict between faith and wealth, the winner is obvious for Mammon in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish biopic about the fallen televangelist and her felon spouse. Garfield acts as the greedy Jim, who proclaims early on, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple set about profiting from the American public's spiritual convictions. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and bad faith, yet Chastain succeeds to present Tammy Faye with compassion. Next Tuesday, late night, Film4
The Spy Mystery
This period's additional entry from the filmmaker delivers a intelligence thriller as tight like the turtlenecks worn by Fassbender's British agent. His assignment is to discover a mole within their ranks from five suspects – among them is his own wife. Each performer excel of understated style, so a delicious mind game of fact versus fiction unfolds. The supporting cast join in the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema
