Highlighted Choice
The Substance Film
The filmmaker's daring critique tackles the demanding standards for female beauty and the perceived horrors of growing older. The veteran actress offers a brilliant performance in the role of Elisabeth, a mature celebrity forced into presenting a workout series on the small screen. Pushed out due to her unscrupulous employer Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she undergoes a secretive and terrifying treatment titled the Substance. This creates a new version of herself named Sue, resulting in a progressively vampiric relationship between the two. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This Agatha Christie-esque story features Knightley as Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take a hiatus from reporting on global conflict to board a luxury cruise accompanied by a terminally ill wealthy inheritor and charitable figure, her husband, as well as other affluent guests. Yet once an enigmatic female goes overboard during the evening and everyone claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Out now, Netflix
Presence Film
The acclaimed director challenges his film-making abilities with this nifty supernatural story filmed completely through the eyes of a ghost. After a clan featuring mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. Chloe seems sensing the poltergeist, and it looks like defensive toward her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, with a twist that may be unexpected. This Saturday, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema Premiere
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage fully commits to his cult stardom in this autobiographical spoof. He plays a narcissistic film star called Nicolas Cage who accepts a lucrative offer to appear at a festive event at a Mediterranean location for the rich Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by government spies to investigate the alleged criminal, Cage's unique performing skills proves useful. This Saturday, evening, Channel 4
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's locked-room horror holds up well without requiring a sequel. Taking place in 1978 Denver, a series of child abductions has left the youth on edge. When Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and held captive in a cellar, he dreads a terrible outcome. Yet the old telephone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with eerie communicators giving advice, as the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen could save him. A solid creepfest. Saturday 11 October, late evening, Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top true story regarding the shamed religious broadcaster and her criminal husband. Garfield acts as the corrupt Bakker, who declares early on, asserting religious justification for riches. He and Tammy Faye commence monetising the people's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and bad faith, yet Jessica Chastain manages to depict the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. October 14th, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
Black Bag
The current week's another release from Steven Soderbergh is a spy mystery as tight like the turtlenecks worn by Fassbender's intelligence officer. He is tasked to identify a mole inside the organization out of five possibilities – one of whom is his own wife. Each performer are masters of deadpan cool, so a delicious mental battle of fact versus fiction takes place. Additional actors join in the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
