Prime Small Screen Picks: 7 Essential Films This Week
Top Selection
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching commentary tackles the oppressive nature of female beauty as well as the perceived horrors of ageing. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a masterful portrayal as Elisabeth, a mature celebrity forced into starring in an aerobics show on television. Edged out by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to a secretive and horrifying treatment known as the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate called Sue, leading to an increasingly parasitic dynamic between them. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit mystery features Knightley in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who opts for some time off from covering international wars to join a high-end voyage alongside an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her husband, and other extremely wealthy individuals. Yet once a mysterious woman falls into the sea one night and all passengers denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform
Presence
Soderbergh challenges his creative boundaries through this innovative supernatural story filmed completely from the perspective of the phantom. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the filming device – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. The daughter appears aware of the poltergeist, and it looks like guarding her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that remains concise, with a twist that may be unexpected. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The iconic actor embraces his unique fame in this meta comedy caper. He plays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who agrees to a $1m payday to attend a birthday party at a Mediterranean location for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the suspected cartel boss, the actor's unique performing skills comes in handy. October 11th, 9pm, Channel 4
This Creepy Thriller
Derrickson's locked-room horror remains effective despite the lack of a follow-up. Located in 1970s Colorado, multiple child abductions has made the children on edge. When Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and imprisoned in a basement, he anticipates a terrible outcome. But the old telephone on the wall keeps ringing, with spooky callers providing assistance, while the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. October 11th, 10.50pm, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for Mammon in this director's delightfully tacky true story about the fallen televangelist and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield acts as the greedy Jim, who states initially, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple commence profiting from the people's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, though the lead actress achieves to present the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
The current week's additional entry from the filmmaker delivers a intelligence thriller as precise similar to the collars used by the actor's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a mole inside the organization from five suspects – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Each performer are experts of deadpan cool, leading to a delightful psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. Additional actors participate the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, various showings, the Sky channel
