Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring satire examines the tyranny of women's appearance and the dreaded aspects of growing older. The veteran actress delivers a brilliant acting turn playing Elisabeth, a mature celebrity forced into starring in a fitness program on television. Forced aside by her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to an enigmatic and terrifying process called "The Substance". This produces a youthful duplicate named Sue, leading to an increasingly vampiric relationship among both women. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller features Keira Knightley in the role of Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for some time off from reporting on global conflict to board a luxury cruise alongside a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and donor, her spouse, and other affluent individuals. But after an enigmatic female falls into the sea overnight and the entire crew denies she ever existed, her journalistic curiosity take over. Streaming currently, Netflix
Presence
Soderbergh challenges his creative boundaries through this clever paranormal narrative captured wholly from the perspective of the spirit. After a clan including mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their fresh home, the filming device – representing the ghost – follows them around. The teen shows signs of sensing the ghostly being, and it seems protective of her. But why? The premise is enjoyable that doesn't outstay its welcome, featuring a surprise that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image in this autobiographical spoof. He portrays an egotistical celebrity playing himself who takes on a $1m payday to attend a celebration at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy superfan Javi. Recruited by government spies to spy on the potential kingpin, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. Saturday 11 October, evening, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
Derrickson's locked-room horror holds up well without requiring a continuation. Located in 1978 Denver, a series of child abductions has made the children on edge. Once Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and locked up in a basement, he dreads a terrible outcome. Yet the old telephone on the wall repeatedly calls, with eerie communicators providing assistance, as the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. This Saturday, nighttime, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the struggle between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for materialism in this director's brilliantly over-the-top true story about the fallen religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Garfield acts as the greedy Jim, who states at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye set about monetising the American public's religious faith. It's a riot of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, though the lead actress manages to show the character in a likable light. Next Tuesday, early morning, on Film4
Black Bag
This week's another release from Steven Soderbergh presents a spy mystery as tight like the turtlenecks used by Michael Fassbender's intelligence officer. His assignment is to identify a double agent inside the organization from a group of five – including is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars are experts of understated style, so a delicious psychological game of fact versus fiction develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, multiple time slots, the Sky channel
