Prime Small Screen Selections: Seven Essential Films This Coming Week
Top Selection
The Substance Film
Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire examines the tyranny of feminine aesthetics and the feared consequences of ageing. Demi Moore offers a brilliant acting turn playing Elisabeth, an aging celebrity reduced to starring in an aerobics show on the small screen. Forced aside due to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and gruesome procedure known as "The Substance". This creates a younger clone called Sue, leading to a progressively parasitic dynamic between the two. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller stars Keira Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who takes a break from writing about world issues to join a luxury cruise alongside a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and donor, her husband, and other extremely wealthy guests. However when a mysterious woman disappears from the ship during the evening and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills kick in. Available now, Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Soderbergh tests his creative boundaries in this clever ghostly tale shot entirely from the perspective of the spirit. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their new suburban house, the lens – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. The teen shows signs of sensing the supernatural presence, and the entity appears defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? The premise is enjoyable that avoids overstaying, with a twist that may be unexpected. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame through this meta comedy caper. He acts as an egotistical celebrity named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a lucrative offer to appear at a birthday party on the Spanish island for the wealthy superfan Javi. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the alleged criminal, his unconventional method is put to the test. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone Horror
The director's contained scarefest holds up well without requiring a follow-up. Located in the late 70s in Denver, multiple kidnappings has left the children on edge. After Finney gets captured by “the Grabber” and locked up in a dungeon, he dreads the worst. However, the non-functional line in the room keeps ringing, with eerie communicators offering help, while the prophetic visions of his sister Gwen could save him. A solid creepfest. October 11th, late evening, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for greed in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish true story about the fallen televangelist and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield plays the corrupt Bakker, who declares at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple commence capitalizing on the nation's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and bad faith, though the lead actress succeeds to present the character in a likable light. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, Film4
Black Bag
The current week's additional entry from the filmmaker is a spy mystery as precise similar to the collars worn by Michael Fassbender's intelligence officer. His assignment is to identify a mole within their ranks from a group of five – one of whom is his spouse. The two stars are experts of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of deception or honesty takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the intelligent intelligence fun. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
