Finest Small Screen Choices: Seven Must-Watch Movies This Week
Top Selection
The Substance Film
The filmmaker's unflinching critique examines the oppressive nature of female beauty as well as the dreaded aspects of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers a masterful portrayal playing Elisabeth, an aging celebrity demoted to starring in a workout series on TV. Edged out due to her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she turns to a secretive and horrifying process called this experimental method. This produces a youthful duplicate called Sue, leading to an increasingly toxic connection between the two. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful story features Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who takes a break from reporting on global conflict to board a high-end voyage alongside an ailing wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her spouse, as well as other affluent individuals. Yet once a mysterious woman disappears from the ship one night and everyone insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
Presence Film
Soderbergh challenges his film-making abilities through this nifty paranormal narrative shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the filming device – AKA the Presence – follows them around. The teen shows signs of sensing the poltergeist, and it seems protective of her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Nicolas Cage embraces his unique fame via this meta comedy caper. He plays a narcissistic film star playing himself who agrees to a $1m payday to appear at a festive event on the Spanish island for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by the intelligence agency to investigate the potential kingpin, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” is put to the test. October 11th, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Derrickson's contained scarefest remains effective without requiring a follow-up. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, a series of kidnappings has rendered the children anxious. Once Finney gets captured by the villain and imprisoned in a cellar, he fears the worst. Yet the disconnected phone in the room continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, as the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. Saturday 11 October, late evening, on Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the battle between God and Mammon, the winner is obvious for greed in this director's wonderfully garish biopic of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield acts as the corrupt Bakker, who declares initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals set about profiting from the American public's religious faith. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, overdone appearance and insincerity, yet Chastain succeeds to depict Tammy Faye as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, early morning, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
The current week's additional entry from Steven Soderbergh delivers a intelligence thriller as sharp as the polo necks sported by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a mole inside the organization from a group of five – among them is his spouse. The two stars are masters of calm composure, leading to a delightful mental battle of deception or honesty develops. The supporting cast join in the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, various showings, the Sky channel