Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's bold commentary addresses the demanding standards for female beauty and the feared consequences of advancing years. The veteran actress delivers a masterful performance playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old actress forced into hosting a fitness program on television. Pushed out by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to an enigmatic and horrifying treatment titled "The Substance". This generates a youthful duplicate named Sue, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship among both women. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit thriller features the talented actress playing Laura, a skilled journalist who opts for a hiatus from reporting on international wars to board an opulent ship alongside an ailing wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her partner, and other extremely wealthy passengers. However when an enigmatic female falls into the sea overnight and all passengers claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity take over. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
Presence Film
Steven Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills with this clever supernatural story shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. After a clan featuring mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their new suburban house, the lens – representing the ghost – follows them around. Chloe seems sensing the poltergeist, and it seems protective of her. However, the motive remains? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image in this self-referential adventure. He acts as a self-obsessed film star playing himself who accepts a million-dollar gig to appear at a birthday party on the Spanish island for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by government spies to investigate the potential kingpin, the actor's unconventional method proves useful. This Saturday, evening, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's contained scarefest holds up well even without a continuation. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has made the local kids anxious. When Finney is taken by the kidnapper and held captive in a cellar, he anticipates the worst. But the non-functional line in the room continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, as the intuitive nightmares of Gwen, his sister could save him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, nighttime, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish true story regarding the shamed TV preacher and her criminal husband. The actor acts as the corrupt Bakker, who states at the beginning, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple set about monetising the people's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, overdone appearance and insincerity, though Chastain succeeds to depict the real-life figure with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This week's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh delivers a intelligence thriller as tight similar to the collars used by Michael Fassbender's British agent. His assignment is to discover a traitor inside the organization from a group of five – one of whom is his spouse. The two stars are experts of understated style, resulting in an engaging psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. The supporting cast participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
