Prime Television Choices: Seven Essential Films This Week
Pick of the Week
The Substance Film
The filmmaker's daring satire addresses the oppressive nature of female beauty and the perceived horrors of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers an inspired performance as Elisabeth, a mature actress demoted to hosting an aerobics show on the small screen. Pushed out due to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she undergoes a secretive and terrifying procedure titled this experimental method. This produces a younger clone named Sue, culminating in an increasingly parasitic dynamic among both women. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller includes Knightley as Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for a hiatus from writing about global conflict to embark on an opulent ship alongside a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her husband, and other affluent individuals. However when a mysterious woman goes overboard overnight and everyone denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Streaming currently, on Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills in this nifty paranormal narrative filmed completely from the viewpoint of the phantom. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their new suburban house, the lens – as the unseen entity – follows them around. The daughter appears conscious of the poltergeist, and it looks like guarding her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema Premiere
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame through this self-referential adventure. He acts as a narcissistic Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who takes on a $1m payday to visit a birthday party in Mallorca for the rich superfan Javi. Recruited by the intelligence agency to investigate the potential kingpin, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” is put to the test. Saturday 11 October, prime time, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone Horror
Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller stands strong even without a follow-up. Set in 1978 Denver, a series of child abductions has left the local kids anxious. When Finney is kidnapped by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a cellar, he dreads a fatal end. Yet the non-functional line on the wall keeps ringing, with eerie communicators giving advice, while the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, 10.50pm, on Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the struggle between God and Mammon, the victory is clear for greed in Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic regarding the shamed TV preacher and her criminal husband. Garfield plays the venal Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye set about capitalizing on the nation's spiritual convictions. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, bad makeup and hypocrisy, though Chastain succeeds to depict the character as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
The current week's additional entry by the same director delivers a spy mystery as sharp as the polo necks used by Fassbender's British agent. His assignment is to discover a mole among the team from five suspects – including is his spouse. Both actors are masters of deadpan cool, resulting in an engaging psychological game of deception or honesty takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
