Pick of the Week
This Satirical Thriller
The filmmaker's daring critique addresses the tyranny of women's appearance along with the feared consequences of growing older. The veteran actress offers a brilliant acting turn in the role of Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity forced into starring in an aerobics show on the small screen. Forced aside by her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she seeks out a mysterious and gruesome process titled "The Substance". This generates a new version of herself portrayed by Margaret Qualley, leading to a progressively vampiric relationship between them. This Friday, Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This classic whodunit mystery features Keira Knightley as Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for some time off from reporting on international wars to embark on an opulent ship with an ailing wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her husband, and other extremely wealthy passengers. Yet once a mysterious woman disappears from the ship overnight and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, Laura's investigative instincts awaken. Out now, the Netflix platform
This Supernatural Story
Steven Soderbergh challenges his film-making abilities through this innovative supernatural story filmed completely through the eyes of a ghost. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their fresh home, the filming device – as the unseen entity – follows them around. The daughter appears sensing the poltergeist, and the entity appears protective of her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, with a twist that could catch you off guard. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame through this self-referential adventure. He acts as a narcissistic celebrity named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a million-dollar gig to visit a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by government spies to investigate the alleged criminal, his unconventional method proves useful. Saturday 11 October, prime time, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
The director's claustrophobic thriller stands strong despite the lack of a sequel. Located in the late 70s in Denver, a series of disappearances has left the local kids frightened. After Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a cellar, he dreads the worst. But the disconnected phone on the wall keeps ringing, with spooky callers giving advice, as the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister could save him. A genuinely scary movie. This Saturday, nighttime, on Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the battle between spirituality and money, the victory is clear for Mammon in Showalter's delightfully tacky true story of the disgraced televangelist and her felon spouse. Andrew Garfield acts as the venal Jim, who declares initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals set about monetising the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of bad interior design, overdone appearance and hypocrisy, yet Chastain achieves to show Tammy Faye in a likable light. October 14th, 1.15am, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This week's additional entry from the filmmaker is a spy mystery as precise as the polo necks sported by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission with uncovering a traitor inside the organization from five suspects – including is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors are experts of deadpan cool, leading to a delightful psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. The supporting cast take part the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, various showings, Sky Cinema
