Highlighted Choice
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's bold commentary tackles the tyranny of female beauty and the dreaded aspects of ageing. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity reduced to presenting an aerobics show on television. Edged out by her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out an enigmatic and gruesome procedure known as the Substance. This creates a younger clone portrayed by Margaret Qualley, resulting in an increasingly vampiric relationship among both women. This Friday, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller features the talented actress as Laura, a top-notch writer who takes a break from writing about international wars to board a luxury cruise accompanied by an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her partner, as well as other affluent passengers. But after a mysterious woman falls into the sea one night and all passengers insists she wasn't real, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Out now, Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Soderbergh challenges his film-making abilities in this clever supernatural story filmed completely from the perspective of the phantom. After a clan including mother Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their new suburban house, the camera – representing the ghost – follows them around. Chloe seems conscious of the poltergeist, and it looks like defensive toward her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that may be unexpected. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The iconic actor wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom via this meta comedy caper. He plays a self-obsessed Hollywood actor named Nicolas Cage who agrees to a lucrative offer to visit a festive event on the Spanish island for the rich superfan Javi. Contacted by the CIA to gather intel on the suspected cartel boss, Cage's unconventional method is put to the test. This Saturday, evening, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Derrickson's contained scarefest remains effective without requiring a follow-up. Set in 1970s Colorado, multiple kidnappings has left the youth frightened. After Finney is kidnapped by the villain and locked up in a basement, he dreads the worst. Yet the non-functional line on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices giving advice, while the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. This Saturday, 10.50pm, on Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between faith and wealth, the winner is obvious for Mammon in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky film adaptation of the disgraced TV preacher and her criminal husband. The actor plays the greedy Jim, who declares initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye begin monetising the people's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, yet Jessica Chastain succeeds to depict the real-life figure in a likable light. October 14th, 1.15am, Film4
The Spy Mystery
The current week's another release from Steven Soderbergh presents a spy mystery as sharp like the turtlenecks sported by the actor's British agent. His assignment is to discover a double agent among the team from five suspects – including is his own wife. Each performer are masters of calm composure, leading to a delightful mental battle of deception or honesty develops. The supporting cast participate the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, various showings, the Sky channel
