Prime Small Screen Selections: 7 Must-Watch Films In the Days Ahead
Highlighted Choice
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's unflinching commentary tackles the demanding standards for female beauty and the feared consequences of advancing years. Demi Moore offers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity reduced to starring in a fitness program on the small screen. Edged out thanks to her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she turns to a mysterious and gruesome process called this experimental method. This creates a youthful duplicate named Sue, culminating in a progressively vampiric relationship between them. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful story features the talented actress as Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for some time off from reporting on international wars to join a luxury cruise accompanied by an ailing Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her partner, as well as other filthy rich guests. Yet once an unknown lady falls into the sea one night and everyone insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Available now, on Netflix
Presence
Soderbergh tests his directorial skills with this clever paranormal narrative shot entirely from the viewpoint of the phantom. When a household featuring mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their fresh home, the camera – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. Chloe seems sensing the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that remains concise, with a twist that may be unexpected. October 11th, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame in this meta comedy caper. He plays an egotistical film star playing himself who takes on a $1m payday to visit a celebration in Mallorca for the wealthy Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the alleged criminal, the actor's unconventional method proves useful. October 11th, evening, Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
The director's contained scarefest holds up well even without a continuation. Located in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has rendered the local kids on edge. Once Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and imprisoned in a dungeon, he fears the worst. Yet the old telephone on the wall repeatedly calls, with ghostly voices providing assistance, as the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. This Saturday, nighttime, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the struggle between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for materialism in this director's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation about the fallen religious broadcaster plus her lawbreaking partner. The actor plays the corrupt Bakker, who states at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. Both individuals commence monetising the people's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of poor styling, bad makeup and insincerity, however the lead actress succeeds to depict the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, late night, Film4
Black Bag
The current week's second offering from Steven Soderbergh presents a spy mystery as precise as the polo necks worn by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to identify a traitor among the team out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. The two stars are masters of calm composure, so a delicious psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. Additional actors participate the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel