Top Small Screen Picks: 7 Must-Watch Motion Pictures In the Days Ahead
Highlighted Choice
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's bold satire tackles the tyranny of women's appearance as well as the feared consequences of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers a brilliant acting turn playing Elisabeth, a mature film star reduced to starring in a fitness program on television. Pushed out thanks to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she seeks out a secretive and gruesome process called "The Substance". This produces a youthful duplicate named Sue, resulting in a steadily more toxic connection among both women. October 17th, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller features Knightley playing Laura, a top-notch writer who takes a hiatus from reporting on world issues to board a luxury cruise alongside a gravely sick wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her husband, and other filthy rich individuals. Yet once an enigmatic female goes overboard overnight and all passengers insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence
The acclaimed director pushes his creative boundaries in this nifty ghostly tale shot entirely through the eyes of a ghost. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the filming device – representing the ghost – follows them around. The teen shows signs of sensing the supernatural presence, and the entity appears guarding her. But why? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
The iconic actor wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this autobiographical spoof. He portrays a self-obsessed film star called Nicolas Cage who takes on a lucrative offer to appear at a festive event in Mallorca for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by the intelligence agency to spy on the suspected cartel boss, the actor's unconventional method comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, Channel 4
The Black Phone
Derrickson's contained scarefest stands strong without requiring a continuation. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, a series of kidnappings has left the local kids anxious. After Finney is kidnapped by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a dungeon, he dreads a fatal end. Yet the old telephone in the room continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, while the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister could save him. A solid creepfest. This Saturday, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between God and Mammon, the victory is clear for materialism in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation about the fallen televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor portrays the corrupt Bakker, who declares early on, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple commence capitalizing on the nation's religious faith. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, bad makeup and hypocrisy, yet the lead actress succeeds to depict the character as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, late night, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
The current week's second offering from Steven Soderbergh is a spy mystery as sharp like the turtlenecks worn by Fassbender's intelligence officer. His assignment is to discover a double agent among the team out of five possibilities – one of whom is his own wife. Both actors are experts of understated style, leading to a delightful mental battle of fact versus fiction develops. The supporting cast join in the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, multiple time slots, the Sky channel