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Pick of the Week

The Substance

Coralie Fargeat's bold commentary examines the demanding standards for female beauty as well as the feared consequences of ageing. The veteran actress delivers a masterful acting turn playing Elisabeth, a mature actress forced into presenting a fitness program on TV. Forced aside due to her slimy boss Harvey, she turns to a mysterious and horrifying process known as the Substance. This produces a new version of herself called Sue, culminating in a steadily more toxic connection among both women. October 17th, Paramount+

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This Mystery Thriller

This suspenseful story stars Knightley in the role of Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a hiatus from covering global conflict to embark on a high-end voyage accompanied by a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her spouse, plus additional extremely wealthy passengers. But after an enigmatic female disappears from the ship overnight and all passengers claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Streaming currently, the Netflix platform

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Presence

Steven Soderbergh tests his creative boundaries through this nifty paranormal narrative filmed completely from the viewpoint of the spirit. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their fresh home, the lens – AKA the Presence – follows them around. The teen shows signs of conscious of the poltergeist, and it seems defensive toward her. But why? The premise is enjoyable that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation that may be unexpected. October 11th, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema

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Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy

Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image via this self-referential adventure. He acts as a self-obsessed celebrity named Nicolas Cage who accepts a $1m payday to appear at a birthday party on the Spanish island for the wealthy Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by the CIA to gather intel on the potential kingpin, the actor's unconventional method is put to the test. October 11th, prime time, on Channel 4

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The Black Phone Horror

The director's locked-room horror holds up well even without a continuation. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, a series of kidnappings has made the children frightened. After Finney is taken by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a basement, he fears a fatal end. However, the disconnected phone mounted nearby continues to ring, with spooky callers giving advice, as the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, late evening, Film4

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This Dramatic Portrait

In the conflict between spirituality and money, the victory is clear for greed in this director's wonderfully garish true story regarding the shamed televangelist and her felon spouse. The actor plays the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims early on, claiming divine approval for wealth. Both individuals set about profiting from the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, bad makeup and bad faith, though Jessica Chastain achieves to show the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, late night, on Film4

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The Spy Mystery

This period's additional entry by the same director is a espionage tale as precise similar to the collars used by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission with uncovering a mole within their ranks out of five possibilities – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars are experts of calm composure, resulting in an engaging mental battle of fact versus fiction unfolds. The supporting cast take part the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel