Pick of the Week
This Satirical Thriller
The filmmaker's daring commentary examines the oppressive nature of female beauty as well as the dreaded aspects of growing older. Demi Moore delivers a brilliant performance as Elisabeth, an aging celebrity demoted to starring in a fitness program on television. Pushed out due to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she undergoes an enigmatic and terrifying procedure known as the Substance. This generates a younger clone called Sue, culminating in an increasingly vampiric relationship between the two. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit mystery features the talented actress playing Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a hiatus from reporting on international wars to embark on a luxury cruise accompanied by a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her husband, plus additional affluent guests. But after a mysterious woman disappears from the ship during the evening and the entire crew claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
This Supernatural Story
The acclaimed director challenges his creative boundaries with this clever ghostly tale shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their fresh home, the camera – representing the ghost – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of sensing the ghostly being, and it seems defensive toward her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage embraces his unique fame in this meta comedy caper. He plays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who takes on a $1m payday to attend a celebration at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by government spies to gather intel on the alleged criminal, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” is put to the test. This Saturday, evening, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller remains effective despite the lack of a follow-up. Located in 1978 Denver, multiple child abductions has made the local kids frightened. Once Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and locked up in a cellar, he anticipates a terrible outcome. Yet the non-functional line in the room repeatedly calls, with ghostly voices providing assistance, while the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen could save him. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for Mammon in this director's delightfully tacky film adaptation of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Garfield plays the venal Jim, who declares at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple begin monetising the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, yet Chastain manages to depict Tammy Faye with compassion. Next Tuesday, late night, Film4
Black Bag
This week's second offering from Steven Soderbergh presents a espionage tale as precise as the polo necks used by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to discover a double agent inside the organization from five suspects – including is his spouse. Both actors are masters of understated style, so a delicious psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. The supporting cast take part the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, various showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
