Pick of the Week
This Satirical Thriller
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire examines the tyranny of feminine aesthetics as well as the perceived horrors of advancing years. Demi Moore delivers an inspired portrayal playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity forced into hosting a fitness program on the small screen. Edged out by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she seeks out an enigmatic and terrifying procedure called "The Substance". This produces a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in a steadily more parasitic dynamic among both women. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful thriller includes Knightley playing Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take a hiatus from covering global conflict to embark on an opulent ship with an ailing Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her husband, plus additional extremely wealthy individuals. Yet once a mysterious woman goes overboard overnight and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Out now, on Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills through this clever paranormal narrative captured wholly through the eyes of the spirit. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their new suburban house, the lens – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. Chloe seems sensing the ghostly being, and the entity appears guarding her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, with a twist that may be unexpected. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
The iconic actor fully commits to his unique fame in this self-referential adventure. He plays an egotistical celebrity called Nicolas Cage who agrees to a lucrative offer to appear at a celebration in Mallorca for billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by government spies to investigate the potential kingpin, his unique performing skills proves useful. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's claustrophobic thriller remains effective without requiring a continuation. Set in 1978 Denver, several kidnappings has made the local kids on edge. Once Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a basement, he dreads the worst. However, the disconnected phone on the wall repeatedly calls, with eerie communicators offering help, and the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. An effective horror. October 11th, late evening, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for greed in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish film adaptation about the fallen televangelist plus her lawbreaking partner. Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who states at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye commence profiting from the nation's religious faith. It's a spectacle of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, yet Jessica Chastain manages to present the character with compassion. October 14th, late night, Film4
Black Bag
The current week's another release from Steven Soderbergh is a spy mystery as precise as the polo necks worn by Michael Fassbender's British agent. He receives a mission to identify a double agent among the team out of five possibilities – including is his spouse. The two stars are masters of calm composure, so a delicious psychological game of fact versus fiction unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the smart espionage amusement. Friday 17 October, various showings, Sky Cinema
