Prime Television Picks: Seven Must-Watch Movies This Week
Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching critique tackles the demanding standards for women's appearance along with the dreaded aspects of ageing. The veteran actress delivers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, an aging film star forced into presenting a fitness program on television. Pushed out by her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and horrifying process called "The Substance". This creates a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in an increasingly parasitic dynamic between them. October 17th, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery features Keira Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who opts for a hiatus from covering world issues to embark on an opulent ship accompanied by an ailing wealthy inheritor and donor, her husband, as well as other filthy rich individuals. But after an enigmatic female disappears from the ship during the evening and everyone denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills kick in. Out now, Netflix
Presence Film
Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills through this clever ghostly tale filmed completely through the eyes of a ghost. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe moves into their recent residence, the filming device – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. The daughter appears sensing the poltergeist, and the entity appears defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that remains concise, featuring a surprise that may be unexpected. October 11th, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame via this meta comedy caper. He portrays a narcissistic film star playing himself who accepts a lucrative offer to visit a festive event on the Spanish island for billionaire superfan Javi. Hired by the CIA to investigate the suspected cartel boss, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. Saturday 11 October, evening, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller remains effective despite the lack of a sequel. Located in the late 70s in Denver, a series of kidnappings has left the youth on edge. After Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a basement, he fears a terrible outcome. But the disconnected phone mounted nearby repeatedly calls, with ghostly voices giving advice, while the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. This Saturday, nighttime, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the struggle between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for materialism in this director's delightfully tacky film adaptation regarding the shamed TV preacher plus her lawbreaking partner. Andrew Garfield acts as the venal Jim, who declares initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye begin monetising the nation's religious faith. It's a riot of tacky decor, overdone appearance and bad faith, yet Chastain succeeds to show the real-life figure in a likable light. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This period's another release from Steven Soderbergh presents a intelligence thriller as tight like the turtlenecks worn by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to discover a traitor inside the organization from a group of five – one of whom is his own wife. The two stars excel of calm composure, resulting in an engaging mental battle of fact versus fiction develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere