🔗 Share this article

Pick of the Week

This Satirical Thriller

Director Coralie Fargeat's bold commentary examines the oppressive nature of female beauty and the feared consequences of ageing. The veteran actress delivers an inspired performance in the role of Elisabeth, an aging film star forced into presenting a workout series on television. Pushed out thanks to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she seeks out a mysterious and gruesome procedure titled this experimental method. This produces a new version of herself called Sue, culminating in a progressively parasitic dynamic among both women. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+

---

The Woman in Cabin 10

This Agatha Christie-esque mystery includes Knightley in the role of Laura, an ace reporter who takes some time off from writing about world issues to embark on an opulent ship accompanied by a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her partner, and other extremely wealthy guests. However when an enigmatic female falls into the sea one night and the entire crew claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Available now, the Netflix platform

---

Presence

Soderbergh challenges his creative boundaries through this clever supernatural story shot entirely through the eyes of a ghost. When a household featuring mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the filming device – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. Chloe seems sensing the supernatural presence, and it seems defensive toward her. But why? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, with a twist that could catch you off guard. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, Sky Cinema

---

This Self-Referential Film

Nicolas Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom via this self-referential adventure. He portrays a narcissistic celebrity called Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to visit a festive event on the Spanish island for the rich superfan Javi. Contacted by government spies to investigate the potential kingpin, Cage's unconventional method proves useful. This Saturday, evening, Channel 4

---

The Black Phone

Scott Derrickson's locked-room horror holds up well without requiring a follow-up. Set in the late 70s in Denver, multiple kidnappings has rendered the youth frightened. Once Finney is kidnapped by “the Grabber” and locked up in a cellar, he fears a terrible outcome. But the non-functional line in the room keeps ringing, with eerie communicators providing assistance, while the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. Saturday 11 October, late evening, the Film4 channel

---

The Tammy Faye Biopic

In the struggle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic regarding the shamed televangelist and her felon spouse. The actor acts as the greedy Jim, who declares at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple commence monetising the nation's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of poor styling, bad makeup and bad faith, though Jessica Chastain manages to depict the character as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, early morning, Film4

---

Black Bag

This period's second offering from Steven Soderbergh is a intelligence thriller as sharp as the polo necks used by Michael Fassbender's intelligence officer. He receives a mission to identify a traitor among the team from five suspects – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors excel of understated style, leading to a delightful psychological game of fact versus fiction develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere