Prime Small Screen Picks: Seven Can't-Miss Motion Pictures This Coming Week
Pick of the Week
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's bold satire examines the tyranny of women's appearance along with the dreaded aspects of ageing. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a masterful portrayal in the role of Elisabeth, an aging film star reduced to presenting a fitness program on TV. Pushed out due to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she seeks out a mysterious and horrifying procedure called the Substance. This creates a new version of herself named Sue, resulting in a steadily more parasitic dynamic between the two. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful mystery stars Keira Knightley as Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for some time off from reporting on global conflict to embark on a high-end voyage with a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her spouse, plus additional extremely wealthy passengers. But after a mysterious woman goes overboard during the evening and the entire crew denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Streaming currently, on Netflix
Presence
Soderbergh pushes his creative boundaries with this clever ghostly tale shot entirely through the eyes of a ghost. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the filming device – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. The daughter appears sensing the ghostly being, and the entity appears protective of her. However, the motive remains? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist you might not see coming. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
This Self-Referential Film
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image in this autobiographical spoof. He acts as a narcissistic film star playing himself who agrees to a $1m payday to appear at a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the rich superfan Javi. Hired by government spies to investigate the potential kingpin, the actor's unconventional method comes in handy. This Saturday, evening, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Scott Derrickson's contained scarefest remains effective even without a continuation. Located in 1970s Colorado, multiple kidnappings has made the youth anxious. Once Finney is kidnapped by the villain and imprisoned in a dungeon, he dreads the worst. Yet the disconnected phone on the wall keeps ringing, with spooky callers providing assistance, as the intuitive nightmares from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. This Saturday, nighttime, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for materialism in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky film adaptation regarding the shamed televangelist and her felon spouse. Garfield plays the greedy Jim, who declares initially, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple commence capitalizing on the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of tacky decor, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, though Chastain achieves to depict Tammy Faye in a likable light. October 14th, early morning, the Film4 channel
This Espionage Thriller
This period's second offering from Steven Soderbergh is a intelligence thriller as tight as the polo necks used by the actor's UK spy. His assignment is with uncovering a traitor among the team out of five possibilities – one of whom is his spouse. The two stars are experts of deadpan cool, so a delicious psychological game of truth or lie develops. Additional actors join in the clever spy entertainment. October 17th, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
