Pick of the Week
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring satire examines the oppressive nature of female beauty as well as the dreaded aspects of advancing years. The veteran actress presents a brilliant acting turn playing Elisabeth, a mature actress demoted to hosting a workout series on television. Pushed out thanks to her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she turns to an enigmatic and gruesome treatment known as this experimental method. This creates a youthful duplicate called Sue, leading to a progressively vampiric relationship between them. October 17th, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery features Knightley playing Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a break from writing about global conflict to board a high-end voyage with a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and philanthropist, her partner, plus additional affluent guests. Yet once an enigmatic female disappears from the ship one night and the entire crew denies she ever existed, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence Film
The acclaimed director tests his creative boundaries with this nifty ghostly tale captured wholly from the viewpoint of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe occupies their fresh home, the camera – as the unseen entity – tracks their movements. Chloe seems conscious of the supernatural presence, and it seems protective of her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that remains concise, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The iconic actor fully commits to his cult stardom via this self-referential adventure. He acts as a narcissistic film star called Nicolas Cage who accepts a lucrative offer to attend a festive event on the Spanish island for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the CIA to gather intel on the alleged criminal, Cage's unconventional method proves useful. October 11th, evening, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Scott Derrickson's locked-room horror stands strong despite the lack of a sequel. Located in 1970s Colorado, a series of child abductions has made the youth frightened. When Finney is taken by the villain and imprisoned in a basement, he anticipates the worst. But the old telephone mounted nearby continues to ring, with eerie communicators providing assistance, and the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen could save him. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, nighttime, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between God and Mammon, the victory is clear for greed in this director's wonderfully garish film adaptation about the fallen televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor acts as the greedy Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, asserting religious justification for riches. He and Tammy Faye commence profiting from the people's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of bad interior design, overdone appearance and bad faith, however Chastain manages to present Tammy Faye with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, late night, Film4
Black Bag
The current week's second offering from the filmmaker presents a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks used by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to identify a double agent among the team from a group of five – one of whom is his spouse. Both actors are masters of understated style, so a delicious mind game of truth or lie takes place. The supporting cast join in the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, various showings, Sky Cinema
