Finest Small Screen Choices: Seven Can't-Miss Films In the Days Ahead
Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Coralie Fargeat's daring satire tackles the tyranny of feminine aesthetics along with the feared consequences of advancing years. Demi Moore offers a masterful performance playing Elisabeth, a mature film star reduced to hosting a fitness program on TV. Forced aside thanks to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and horrifying process called "The Substance". This creates a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in a progressively vampiric relationship between them. October 17th, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery includes Keira Knightley playing Laura, a skilled journalist who takes a hiatus from reporting on international wars to board an opulent ship alongside an ailing Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her spouse, as well as other extremely wealthy individuals. However when an enigmatic female disappears from the ship overnight and all passengers denies she ever existed, Laura's investigative instincts kick in. Streaming currently, on Netflix
Presence
The acclaimed director pushes 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 camera – AKA the Presence – follows them around. The teen shows signs of sensing the ghostly being, and the entity appears defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that remains concise, including a revelation that could catch you off guard. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
The iconic actor fully commits to his cult stardom via this autobiographical spoof. He acts as a self-obsessed celebrity named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a lucrative offer to attend a birthday party in Mallorca for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by government spies to investigate the suspected cartel boss, Cage's unique performing skills is put to the test. October 11th, prime time, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's locked-room horror stands strong despite the lack of a follow-up. Located in 1970s Colorado, a series of kidnappings has left the children on edge. After Finney gets captured by the villain and locked up in a basement, he anticipates a terrible outcome. Yet the old telephone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with spooky callers giving advice, and the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. This Saturday, 10.50pm, on Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the struggle between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for Mammon in this director's delightfully tacky biopic about the fallen TV preacher and her felon spouse. Andrew Garfield acts as the venal Jim, who declares early on, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye commence monetising the American public's religious faith. It's a riot of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and bad faith, though Jessica Chastain manages to show the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, late night, Film4
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's second offering from the filmmaker is a espionage tale as sharp like the turtlenecks worn by the actor's British agent. He is tasked with uncovering a double agent among the team out of five possibilities – including is his spouse. The two stars are experts of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of deception or honesty unfolds. Additional actors join in the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, various showings, Sky Cinema
