Top Small Screen Picks: 7 Can't-Miss Films This Week
Pick of the Week
The Substance
The filmmaker's daring satire addresses the tyranny of women's appearance along with the dreaded aspects of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore delivers an inspired portrayal playing Elisabeth, a mature film star reduced to starring in a workout series on TV. Forced aside by her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she turns to a secretive and gruesome process called "The Substance". This generates a youthful duplicate named Sue, leading to an increasingly vampiric relationship between the two. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller stars Keira Knightley in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who opts for a hiatus from writing about world issues to embark on an opulent ship with a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her partner, and other filthy rich individuals. However when an enigmatic female falls into the sea overnight and everyone denies she ever existed, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Available now, on Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh challenges his creative boundaries through this clever ghostly tale shot entirely through the eyes of a ghost. When a household including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the filming device – as the unseen entity – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of conscious of 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, featuring a surprise that could catch you off guard. This Saturday, multiple showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The iconic actor fully commits to his eccentric image through this meta comedy caper. He plays an egotistical celebrity named Nicolas Cage who accepts a $1m payday to visit a birthday party at a Mediterranean location for the wealthy Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by the intelligence agency to investigate the potential kingpin, Cage's unconventional method is put to the test. Saturday 11 October, evening, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
The director's claustrophobic thriller remains effective without requiring a sequel. Set in 1970s Colorado, several child abductions has left the youth on edge. After Finney is kidnapped by the villain and held captive in a cellar, he dreads a terrible outcome. But the disconnected phone in the room keeps ringing, with eerie communicators giving advice, while the intuitive nightmares of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. An effective horror. October 11th, late evening, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the struggle between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for Mammon in Showalter's wonderfully garish film adaptation of the disgraced TV preacher plus her lawbreaking partner. Andrew Garfield portrays the venal Jim, who states initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple set about monetising the American public's religious faith. It's a riot of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, yet the lead actress achieves to show the real-life figure with compassion. Next Tuesday, late night, on Film4
Black Bag
This period's second offering by the same director delivers a spy mystery as tight similar to the collars worn by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to discover a traitor within their ranks from a group of five – one of whom is his spouse. Each performer are experts of deadpan cool, so a delicious mental battle of truth or lie takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel
