Top Small Screen Picks: Seven Must-Watch Movies This Week
Top Selection
The Substance
The filmmaker's bold satire addresses the tyranny of women's appearance along with the dreaded aspects of advancing years. The veteran actress presents a brilliant performance playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old film star reduced to presenting a workout series on the small screen. Edged out due to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she turns to a mysterious and terrifying procedure titled this experimental method. This creates a younger clone called Sue, leading to an increasingly parasitic dynamic between them. October 17th, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful story stars the talented actress in the role of Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a break from writing about global conflict to join a high-end voyage alongside a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and donor, her husband, and other extremely wealthy passengers. But after an enigmatic female goes overboard overnight and everyone denies she ever existed, her journalistic curiosity take over. Available now, Netflix
Presence
The acclaimed director challenges his directorial skills through this innovative supernatural story captured wholly from the perspective of the phantom. When a household featuring mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe occupies their recent residence, the lens – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. Chloe seems sensing the poltergeist, and it looks like defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, multiple showings, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom through this meta comedy caper. He portrays an egotistical celebrity playing himself who agrees to a lucrative offer to attend a festive event in Mallorca for the rich superfan Javi. Recruited by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the alleged criminal, his “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. This Saturday, prime time, Channel 4
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller remains effective despite the lack of a follow-up. Set in the late 70s in Denver, a series of child abductions has rendered the youth on edge. When Finney is taken by the kidnapper and held captive in a dungeon, he fears a terrible outcome. But the non-functional line in the room keeps ringing, with ghostly voices providing assistance, while the prophetic visions from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. A solid creepfest. Saturday 11 October, late evening, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the battle between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for greed in Showalter's wonderfully garish film adaptation about the fallen religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye commence monetising the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of poor styling, overdone appearance and hypocrisy, though Jessica Chastain succeeds to show the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, early morning, on Film4
Black Bag
This week's additional entry by the same director is a espionage tale as sharp as the polo necks worn by the actor's intelligence officer. His assignment is with uncovering a double agent within their ranks from a group of five – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Each performer are experts of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of truth or lie develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, the Sky channel
