Pick of the Week
This Satirical Thriller
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching commentary tackles the oppressive nature of feminine aesthetics along with the feared consequences of advancing years. The veteran actress presents a brilliant performance playing Elisabeth, an aging actress demoted to presenting a workout series on TV. Edged out due to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she undergoes a secretive and terrifying process called this experimental method. This generates a new version of herself portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship between them. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller includes Keira Knightley playing Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take some time off from covering global conflict to join a high-end voyage accompanied by a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and philanthropist, her partner, and other extremely wealthy individuals. But after an unknown lady falls into the sea overnight and everyone denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Available now, on Netflix
Presence Film
Steven Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills in this clever ghostly tale filmed completely from the perspective of the phantom. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their fresh home, the filming device – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. The daughter appears aware of the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. However, the motive remains? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom through this autobiographical spoof. He plays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor playing himself who accepts a million-dollar gig to attend a birthday party on the Spanish island for the wealthy superfan Javi. Recruited by the CIA to gather intel on the potential kingpin, the actor's unconventional method comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, prime time, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Derrickson's contained scarefest stands strong without requiring a follow-up. Set in the late 70s in Denver, a series of kidnappings has made the youth on edge. After Finney is taken by the kidnapper and held captive in a cellar, he dreads a fatal end. However, the non-functional line mounted nearby continues to ring, with ghostly voices giving advice, while the prophetic visions from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, late evening, Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the struggle between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for materialism in this director's delightfully tacky true story of the disgraced religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Garfield acts as the venal Jim, who proclaims early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple commence monetising the people's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of poor styling, overdone appearance and hypocrisy, however the lead actress manages to present the character as a sympathetic figure. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, on Film4
Black Bag
The current week's additional entry by the same director delivers a spy mystery as sharp like the turtlenecks used by Michael Fassbender's British agent. He is tasked to identify a mole inside the organization out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. Each performer are masters of calm composure, so a delicious mental battle of deception or honesty takes place. The supporting cast join in the smart espionage amusement. Friday 17 October, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
