Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's daring satire addresses the demanding standards for women's appearance along with the perceived horrors of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a masterful acting turn playing Elisabeth, an aging film star demoted to presenting an aerobics show on the small screen. Edged out by her slimy boss Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to an enigmatic and horrifying procedure known as "The Substance". This produces a younger clone portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship between them. October 17th, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This classic whodunit mystery stars the talented actress as Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a hiatus from writing about global conflict to board a high-end voyage accompanied by a gravely sick wealthy inheritor and philanthropist, her partner, and other extremely wealthy passengers. But after a mysterious woman falls into the sea one night and the entire crew claims she was never there, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Available now, on Netflix
Presence Film
Steven Soderbergh tests his directorial skills with this clever supernatural story captured wholly from the viewpoint of the spirit. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their fresh home, the lens – as the unseen entity – tracks their movements. The daughter appears conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like guarding her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema Premiere
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
The iconic actor embraces his eccentric image in this self-referential adventure. He plays a narcissistic celebrity playing himself who accepts a lucrative offer to visit a birthday party in Mallorca for billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by the intelligence agency to investigate the potential kingpin, Cage's unconventional method is put to the test. October 11th, 9pm, Channel 4
The Black Phone
Derrickson's contained scarefest stands strong even without a continuation. Located in 1970s Colorado, a series of disappearances has left the local kids frightened. After Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and held captive in a dungeon, he fears a terrible outcome. However, the disconnected phone 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, nighttime, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for Mammon in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky film adaptation about the fallen TV preacher and her criminal husband. The actor portrays the venal Jim, who states at the beginning, asserting religious justification for riches. Both individuals begin profiting from the people's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of tacky decor, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, though Chastain succeeds to present the real-life figure with compassion. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, Film4
Black Bag
This period's another release by the same director delivers a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks sported by the actor's intelligence officer. His assignment is to discover a mole inside the organization from a group of five – among them is his own wife. The two stars are masters of understated style, so a delicious mind game of truth or lie develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
