Highlighted Choice
This Satirical Thriller
Director Coralie Fargeat's bold satire examines the tyranny of female beauty along with the dreaded aspects of advancing years. The veteran actress presents a masterful performance playing Elisabeth, an aging film star demoted to hosting a workout series on television. Forced aside due to her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out an enigmatic and terrifying process known as the Substance. This generates a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, leading to a progressively toxic connection between them. Friday 17 October, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque story includes Keira Knightley playing Laura, an ace reporter who takes a break from covering international wars to embark on an opulent ship alongside a gravely sick Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her husband, plus additional filthy rich guests. But after a mysterious woman goes overboard overnight and everyone denies she ever existed, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Streaming currently, on Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills in this nifty ghostly tale filmed completely from the viewpoint of the spirit. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe moves into their fresh home, the camera – representing the ghost – shadows their actions. Chloe seems sensing the ghostly being, and it seems protective of her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage embraces his unique fame in this autobiographical spoof. He acts as a self-obsessed film star called Nicolas Cage who takes on a million-dollar gig to attend a celebration at a Mediterranean location for billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by government spies to spy on the potential kingpin, the actor's unconventional method comes in handy. This Saturday, 9pm, Channel 4
The Black Phone
Derrickson's contained scarefest remains effective even without a sequel. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, several disappearances has made the youth on edge. When Finney is kidnapped by the villain and imprisoned in a basement, he fears a terrible outcome. Yet the old telephone in the room continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, as the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister could save him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, 10.50pm, Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the battle between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for materialism in Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic about the fallen TV preacher and her felon spouse. Garfield acts as the corrupt Bakker, who proclaims early on, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple begin monetising the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of tacky decor, overdone appearance and bad faith, yet the lead actress succeeds to present the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, 1.15am, Film4
Black Bag
This period's another release from the filmmaker delivers a intelligence thriller as precise like the turtlenecks used by the actor's British agent. His assignment is with uncovering a mole among the team from five suspects – one of whom is his own wife. The two stars are experts of understated style, so a delicious mind game of deception or honesty develops. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
