Prime Small Screen Picks: 7 Can't-Miss Films This Coming Week

Pick of the Week

The Substance

Coralie Fargeat's daring commentary tackles the oppressive nature of feminine aesthetics and the perceived horrors of advancing years. The veteran actress presents a masterful portrayal playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old actress demoted to presenting a fitness program on the small screen. Pushed out by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, she seeks out a secretive and horrifying process called "The Substance". This generates a new version of herself portrayed by Margaret Qualley, culminating in a progressively vampiric relationship between them. This Friday, Paramount Plus

The Woman in Cabin 10 Film

This suspenseful story stars Knightley playing Laura, a skilled journalist who takes a break from covering international wars to join an opulent ship with a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her spouse, plus additional filthy rich guests. However when an enigmatic female disappears from the ship during the evening and all passengers insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Available now, the Netflix platform

Presence

Steven Soderbergh tests his creative boundaries with this innovative paranormal narrative filmed completely from the perspective of the spirit. As a family featuring mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the camera – as the unseen entity – follows them around. The daughter appears aware of the supernatural presence, and the entity appears protective of her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom in this meta comedy caper. He plays a self-obsessed celebrity called Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to attend a celebration in Mallorca for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the intelligence agency to spy on the alleged criminal, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. October 11th, 9pm, on Channel 4

The Black Phone Horror

The director's locked-room horror holds up well even without a sequel. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, a series of disappearances has made the local kids frightened. When Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a basement, he fears a fatal end. But the old telephone in the room continues to ring, with spooky callers giving advice, and the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. An effective horror. October 11th, nighttime, the Film4 channel

The Tammy Faye Biopic

In the battle between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for greed in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top film adaptation of the disgraced TV preacher and her felon spouse. Garfield plays the greedy Jim, who proclaims initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals commence monetising the people's religious faith. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, bad makeup and hypocrisy, yet Jessica Chastain achieves to show the character as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, early morning, Film4

Black Bag

The current week's additional entry from the filmmaker is a intelligence thriller as tight like the turtlenecks sported by the actor's intelligence officer. His assignment is to identify a double agent among the team from five suspects – one of whom is his spouse. Both actors excel of understated style, leading to a delightful psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. Additional actors take part the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema