Finest Small Screen Selections: Seven Essential Motion Pictures This Week
Highlighted Choice
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire examines the demanding standards for women's appearance along with the dreaded aspects of advancing years. Demi Moore offers a brilliant performance playing Elisabeth, an aging celebrity reduced to starring in an aerobics show on TV. Pushed out thanks to her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she turns to a secretive and horrifying treatment titled "The Substance". This produces a youthful duplicate named Sue, leading to a steadily more parasitic dynamic among both women. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque story includes Keira Knightley in the role of Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for a hiatus from writing about world issues to board a high-end voyage alongside a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and donor, her partner, plus additional affluent individuals. But after a mysterious woman disappears from the ship during the evening and all passengers claims she was never there, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
This Supernatural Story
Steven Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills in this innovative supernatural story captured wholly from the viewpoint of the spirit. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their recent residence, the lens – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. Chloe seems aware of the poltergeist, and it looks like protective of her. But why? It's a fun idea that remains concise, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. This Saturday, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema Premiere
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage embraces his unique fame in this self-referential adventure. He plays a narcissistic celebrity playing himself who agrees to a million-dollar gig to appear at a birthday party in Mallorca for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Contacted by the CIA to investigate the suspected cartel boss, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” is put to the test. This Saturday, prime time, Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's locked-room horror remains effective despite the lack of a follow-up. Set in 1970s Colorado, a series of disappearances has made the children anxious. When Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a dungeon, he anticipates the worst. But the non-functional line mounted nearby continues to ring, with ghostly voices providing assistance, while the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. An effective horror. This Saturday, 10.50pm, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for greed in Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic about the fallen TV preacher and her felon spouse. Garfield acts as the greedy Jim, who proclaims early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple commence capitalizing on the nation's religious faith. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, yet Chastain manages to present the real-life figure in a likable light. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, on Film4
The Spy Mystery
This period's second offering from the filmmaker is a spy mystery as sharp as the polo necks used by the actor's intelligence officer. He is tasked to identify a double agent inside the organization from a group of five – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars are masters of calm composure, so a delicious mind game of fact versus fiction develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, various showings, Sky Cinema
