Highlighted Choice
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring critique tackles the demanding standards for feminine aesthetics along with the perceived horrors of ageing. Demi Moore presents a masterful acting turn playing Elisabeth, an aging celebrity forced into hosting an aerobics show on television. Forced aside by her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she undergoes an enigmatic and gruesome procedure called this experimental method. This creates a younger clone named Sue, resulting in a progressively vampiric relationship between the two. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This classic whodunit thriller features Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who takes some time off from covering international wars to board an opulent ship alongside a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her partner, plus additional filthy rich guests. However when an enigmatic female disappears from the ship one night and all passengers insists she wasn't real, Laura's investigative instincts awaken. Available now, the Netflix platform
Presence
Steven Soderbergh tests his directorial skills through this clever supernatural story shot entirely from the viewpoint of a ghost. As a family including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the camera – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of conscious of the poltergeist, and it seems guarding her. However, the motive remains? The premise is enjoyable that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage embraces his cult stardom via this meta comedy caper. He plays a narcissistic Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who takes on a million-dollar gig to appear at a festive event in Mallorca for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by government spies to spy on the potential kingpin, his unconventional method comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, evening, Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's claustrophobic thriller stands strong despite the lack of a continuation. Set in 1978 Denver, several child abductions has rendered the children frightened. Once Finney is kidnapped by “the Grabber” and held captive in a cellar, he dreads a fatal end. But the old telephone on the wall keeps ringing, with eerie communicators providing assistance, and the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen might rescue him. A solid creepfest. October 11th, late evening, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between spirituality and money, the winner is obvious for greed in this director's brilliantly over-the-top biopic of the disgraced TV preacher and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who declares at the beginning, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple set about capitalizing on the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of bad interior design, bad makeup and hypocrisy, though Jessica Chastain achieves to present the real-life figure in a likable light. Next Tuesday, early morning, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's second offering by the same director presents a intelligence thriller as sharp as the polo necks worn by the actor's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a traitor among the team from a group of five – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors excel of understated style, so a delicious psychological game of deception or honesty develops. Additional actors join in the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
