Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Coralie Fargeat's unflinching critique examines the demanding standards for female beauty along with the dreaded aspects of ageing. The veteran actress delivers a brilliant performance playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity reduced to starring in an aerobics show on TV. Edged out thanks to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she seeks out a mysterious and terrifying treatment called the Substance. This produces a youthful duplicate called Sue, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship among both women. October 17th, Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque story features the talented actress playing Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a hiatus from writing about international wars to embark on a high-end voyage with a gravely sick wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her partner, plus additional extremely wealthy individuals. However when an unknown lady falls into the sea during the evening and everyone denies she ever existed, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, on Netflix
Presence Film
Soderbergh challenges his film-making abilities with this clever supernatural story shot entirely from the viewpoint of a ghost. As a family including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their new suburban house, the camera – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. The daughter appears conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? The premise is enjoyable that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that could catch you off guard. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame through this meta comedy caper. He portrays an egotistical Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who accepts a $1m payday to attend a birthday party at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the suspected cartel boss, Cage's unconventional method is put to the test. This Saturday, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
The director's claustrophobic thriller holds up well despite the lack of a sequel. Set in 1970s Colorado, multiple child abductions has left the youth on edge. When Finney is kidnapped by “the Grabber” and held captive in a cellar, he anticipates the worst. Yet the non-functional line on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices providing assistance, as the intuitive nightmares of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. A solid creepfest. This Saturday, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the conflict between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for greed in Showalter's wonderfully garish film adaptation of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor plays the venal Jim, who proclaims initially, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple commence capitalizing on the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, yet Chastain succeeds to depict the character as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, on Film4
Black Bag
This period's second offering by the same director delivers a spy mystery as precise like the turtlenecks sported by the actor's British agent. His assignment is to identify a traitor within their ranks from five suspects – among them is his spouse. Both actors are masters of understated style, resulting in an engaging psychological game of fact versus fiction develops. The supporting cast participate the clever spy entertainment. October 17th, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema