Top Small Screen Selections: Seven Essential Films This Coming Week

Pick of the Week

The Substance Film

Coralie Fargeat's bold satire tackles the oppressive nature of women's appearance along with the feared consequences of growing older. The veteran actress presents a masterful portrayal as Elisabeth, a mature actress demoted to hosting an aerobics show on the small screen. Forced aside by her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to a secretive and terrifying treatment titled the Substance. This creates a youthful duplicate named Sue, resulting in a progressively vampiric relationship among both women. October 17th, Paramount+

The Woman in Cabin 10

This suspenseful mystery stars the talented actress as Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a break from reporting on international wars to join a high-end voyage with a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her husband, and other filthy rich individuals. However when a mysterious woman goes overboard one night and all passengers insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, the Netflix platform

Presence Film

Steven Soderbergh pushes his creative boundaries in this nifty paranormal narrative captured wholly from the viewpoint of a ghost. After a clan including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their fresh home, the filming device – as the unseen entity – tracks their movements. Chloe seems conscious 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, featuring a surprise that may be unexpected. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

The iconic actor fully commits to his unique fame through this self-referential adventure. He portrays a narcissistic Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who accepts a $1m payday to attend a festive event at a Mediterranean location for billionaire superfan Javi. Contacted by the CIA to spy on the suspected cartel boss, his unique performing skills is put to the test. This Saturday, evening, on Channel 4

The Black Phone

Scott Derrickson's locked-room horror remains effective despite the lack of a follow-up. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, a series of child abductions has rendered the children anxious. After Finney gets captured by “the Grabber” and held captive in a basement, he fears a fatal end. However, the old telephone mounted nearby continues to ring, with ghostly voices giving advice, as the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. This Saturday, nighttime, on Film4

This Dramatic Portrait

In the conflict between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for materialism in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic regarding the shamed TV preacher and her felon spouse. The actor acts as the venal Jim, who proclaims at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. Both individuals set about monetising the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, though Chastain succeeds to show the real-life figure in a likable light. October 14th, late night, the Film4 channel

This Espionage Thriller

The current week's second offering by the same director is a intelligence thriller as precise like the turtlenecks used by Fassbender's intelligence officer. He receives a mission to identify a double agent among the team from five suspects – among them is his own wife. Each performer excel of understated style, so a delicious psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela take part the smart espionage amusement. This Friday, various showings, the Sky channel