Prime Television Picks: Seven Essential Movies This Week
Highlighted Choice
The Substance Film
The filmmaker's unflinching satire addresses the tyranny of female beauty and the feared consequences of advancing years. Demi Moore presents a masterful performance in the role of Elisabeth, an aging celebrity reduced to presenting a fitness program on television. Forced aside by her slimy boss Harvey, she turns to a secretive and horrifying treatment known as "The Substance". This produces a younger clone called Sue, leading to a progressively toxic connection between them. This Friday, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery includes the talented actress as Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a break from reporting on global conflict to join a high-end voyage alongside an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her partner, as well as other affluent individuals. Yet once an unknown lady disappears from the ship during the evening and everyone insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, on Netflix
Presence
The acclaimed director tests his film-making abilities through this nifty ghostly tale shot entirely from the viewpoint of a ghost. As a family including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their recent residence, the filming device – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. Chloe seems aware of the ghostly being, and it looks like protective of her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that remains concise, including a revelation that may be unexpected. This Saturday, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor embraces his unique fame in this autobiographical spoof. He plays an egotistical Hollywood actor playing himself who accepts a $1m payday to attend a celebration in Mallorca for billionaire superfan Javi. Hired by government spies to investigate the suspected cartel boss, the actor's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. This Saturday, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone Horror
The director's locked-room horror stands strong even without a sequel. Set in 1978 Denver, a series of disappearances has rendered the youth anxious. Once Finney gets captured by “the Grabber” and locked up in a basement, he fears a terrible outcome. However, the disconnected phone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with ghostly voices offering help, while the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. October 11th, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Showalter's wonderfully garish biopic of the disgraced TV preacher plus her lawbreaking partner. Garfield plays the venal Jim, who proclaims early on, asserting religious justification for riches. Both individuals begin capitalizing on the American public's religious faith. It's a riot of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, yet Jessica Chastain manages to present Tammy Faye in a likable light. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
This week's second offering from Steven Soderbergh is a intelligence thriller as sharp as the polo necks used by the actor's intelligence officer. His assignment is to discover a mole inside the organization from five suspects – one of whom is his spouse. Each performer are experts of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of truth or lie takes place. Additional actors take part the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, various showings, the Sky channel
