Top Selection
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's bold critique addresses the oppressive nature of female beauty as well as the feared consequences of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a brilliant portrayal playing Elisabeth, an aging actress reduced to hosting an aerobics show on the small screen. Pushed out thanks to her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she turns to an enigmatic and horrifying treatment called "The Substance". This generates a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, leading to a steadily more vampiric relationship among both women. October 17th, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This suspenseful story features the talented actress in the role of Laura, an ace reporter who opts for a break from covering international wars to board a luxury cruise alongside a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her husband, plus additional extremely wealthy guests. Yet once a mysterious woman goes overboard overnight and everyone denies she ever existed, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Available now, Netflix
Presence Film
Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills with this nifty ghostly tale shot entirely from the viewpoint of the spirit. When a household featuring mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their recent residence, the filming device – representing the ghost – tracks their movements. The daughter appears aware of the supernatural presence, and it seems defensive toward her. But why? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, with a twist you might not see coming. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame via this meta comedy caper. He portrays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor called Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to appear at a birthday party in Mallorca for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by the CIA to gather intel on the suspected cartel boss, the actor's unique performing skills comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Derrickson's locked-room horror holds up well despite the lack of a sequel. Located in 1978 Denver, a series of kidnappings has left the youth on edge. After Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a dungeon, he fears the worst. Yet the non-functional line mounted nearby repeatedly calls, with eerie communicators providing assistance, as the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. An effective horror. October 11th, 10.50pm, Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the struggle between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for greed in Showalter's delightfully tacky biopic about the fallen TV preacher and her felon spouse. Andrew Garfield acts as the corrupt Bakker, who declares at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple begin capitalizing on the people's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of bad interior design, bad makeup and insincerity, though the lead actress achieves to depict the character in a likable light. October 14th, 1.15am, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's second offering from Steven Soderbergh presents a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks worn by Fassbender's UK spy. He receives a mission to identify a traitor within their ranks from a group of five – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Each performer are experts of understated style, leading to a delightful mind game of fact versus fiction develops. Additional actors participate the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
