Top Small Screen Choices: Seven Essential Films This Week
Highlighted Choice
This Satirical Thriller
Coralie Fargeat's bold satire addresses the oppressive nature of female beauty along with the feared consequences of ageing. Demi Moore presents an inspired performance as Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity demoted to starring in a workout series on television. Pushed out due to her slimy boss Harvey, she seeks out a secretive and gruesome treatment called the Substance. This creates a younger clone portrayed by Margaret Qualley, leading to a steadily more vampiric relationship between them. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller stars Keira Knightley in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take some time off from writing about international wars to board an opulent ship alongside a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her partner, and other affluent passengers. But after a mysterious woman disappears from the ship overnight and all passengers claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence
Soderbergh challenges his creative boundaries in this nifty supernatural story captured wholly from the perspective of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their fresh home, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. Chloe seems conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like protective of her. However, the motive remains? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage fully commits to his eccentric image via this meta comedy caper. He acts as a narcissistic celebrity called Nicolas Cage who takes on a lucrative offer to visit a birthday party in Mallorca for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by government spies to spy on the potential kingpin, his unconventional method proves useful. This Saturday, prime time, Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Derrickson's contained scarefest remains effective even without a continuation. Set in 1970s Colorado, a series of child abductions has made the local kids anxious. After Finney gets captured by “the Grabber” and imprisoned in a dungeon, he fears a fatal end. But the disconnected phone on the wall continues to ring, with eerie communicators providing assistance, as the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for Mammon in this director's brilliantly over-the-top true story about the fallen TV preacher plus her lawbreaking partner. Garfield plays the venal Jim, who declares at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye set about capitalizing on the American public's religious faith. It's a riot of poor styling, overdone appearance and bad faith, however Jessica Chastain succeeds to present Tammy Faye as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, on Film4
Black Bag
This week's second offering from the filmmaker presents a intelligence thriller as sharp similar to the collars sported by Michael Fassbender's British agent. His assignment is with uncovering a traitor within their ranks out of five possibilities – one of whom is his own wife. Each performer excel of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of fact versus fiction takes place. The supporting cast take part the smart espionage amusement. This Friday, various showings, the Sky channel
