Highlighted Choice
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's unflinching critique addresses the tyranny of female beauty and the perceived horrors of advancing years. The veteran actress delivers a masterful acting turn as Elisabeth, a mature film star demoted to presenting an aerobics show on television. Edged out due to her slimy boss Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she undergoes a secretive and gruesome process called the Substance. This produces a younger clone called Sue, resulting in a progressively toxic connection between the two. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller features Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a hiatus from writing about world issues to embark on a high-end voyage accompanied by a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her partner, and other extremely wealthy guests. However when a mysterious woman goes overboard overnight and everyone denies she ever existed, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Out now, on Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh tests his creative boundaries through this clever ghostly tale filmed completely from the viewpoint of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the filming device – as the unseen entity – follows them around. The daughter appears conscious of the supernatural presence, and it seems protective of her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Nicolas Cage fully commits to his cult stardom through this self-referential adventure. He portrays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor named Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to appear at a celebration in Mallorca for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by the CIA to spy on the suspected cartel boss, the actor's unconventional method is put to the test. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller holds up well even without a follow-up. Set in 1978 Denver, multiple kidnappings has made the children anxious. After Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and locked up in a dungeon, he dreads a terrible outcome. But the old telephone on the wall keeps ringing, with eerie communicators giving advice, while the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. An effective horror. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between God and Mammon, the victory is clear for materialism in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top true story regarding the shamed televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor plays the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple commence capitalizing on the people's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of poor styling, bad makeup and bad faith, though Chastain manages to present the real-life figure with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, early morning, Film4
The Spy Mystery
This week's additional entry from the filmmaker presents a espionage tale as precise similar to the collars worn by the actor's UK spy. His assignment is to discover a traitor inside the organization from a group of five – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Each performer excel of deadpan cool, so a delicious mind game of fact versus fiction takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema
