Pick of the Week
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's bold satire examines the tyranny of feminine aesthetics and the perceived horrors of growing older. Demi Moore offers a masterful acting turn playing Elisabeth, a mature celebrity forced into starring in an aerobics show on television. Pushed out thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, she seeks out a mysterious and terrifying procedure called the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate named Sue, culminating in an increasingly parasitic dynamic among both women. October 17th, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque story stars Keira Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who takes some time off from writing about world issues to join an opulent ship accompanied by a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her husband, as well as other extremely wealthy passengers. But after a mysterious woman falls into the sea overnight and everyone claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Available now, on Netflix
Presence Film
The acclaimed director tests his creative boundaries through this clever supernatural story shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their recent residence, the filming device – representing the ghost – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of sensing the ghostly being, and it looks like guarding her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that remains concise, including a revelation you might not see coming. October 11th, multiple showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame via this self-referential adventure. He plays a narcissistic Hollywood actor named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a $1m payday to appear at a birthday party at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by the CIA to spy on the potential kingpin, his unique performing skills proves useful. This Saturday, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's contained scarefest remains effective even without a sequel. Set in 1978 Denver, multiple child abductions has rendered the youth anxious. Once Finney is taken by the villain and locked up in a basement, he dreads a fatal end. Yet the non-functional line mounted nearby continues to ring, with eerie communicators giving advice, while the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. This Saturday, 10.50pm, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky film adaptation of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. The actor acts as the venal Jim, who declares at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals commence capitalizing on the nation's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, however Chastain succeeds to present the character with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
The current week's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh presents a spy mystery as precise as the polo necks worn by the actor's intelligence officer. He receives a mission to identify a traitor among the team out of five possibilities – including is his own wife. Both actors are masters of deadpan cool, resulting in an engaging psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the smart espionage amusement. This Friday, various showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
