Highlighted Choice
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's bold commentary tackles the oppressive nature of female beauty and the perceived horrors of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore delivers a masterful performance playing Elisabeth, an aging film star reduced to presenting a workout series on TV. Pushed out thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out a mysterious and gruesome treatment called the Substance. This creates a younger clone called Sue, resulting in a steadily more parasitic dynamic between the two. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful story stars Keira Knightley in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who takes some time off from writing about world issues to board a high-end voyage with an ailing Norwegian shipping heiress and charitable figure, her spouse, and other affluent passengers. Yet once a mysterious woman falls into the sea one night and all passengers claims she was never there, the reporter's sleuthing skills kick in. Out now, on Netflix
Presence Film
Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills through this innovative supernatural story filmed completely from the perspective of a ghost. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their recent residence, the lens – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. Chloe seems conscious of the ghostly being, and it looks like defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise that could catch you off guard. October 11th, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
This Self-Referential Film
Cage embraces his cult stardom in this meta comedy caper. He acts as a narcissistic Hollywood actor named Nicolas Cage who accepts a lucrative offer to appear at a celebration on the Spanish island for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Contacted by the intelligence agency to gather intel on the potential kingpin, the actor's unconventional method proves useful. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
The director's claustrophobic thriller holds up well even without a follow-up. Set in 1970s Colorado, multiple kidnappings has made the children anxious. After Finney gets captured by the villain and locked up in a basement, he anticipates a fatal end. Yet the old telephone in the room continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, while the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen might rescue him. An effective horror. October 11th, nighttime, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the struggle between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for materialism in this director's delightfully tacky true story about the fallen TV preacher and her felon spouse. Garfield portrays the greedy Jim, who proclaims early on, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye set about profiting from the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and insincerity, though the lead actress succeeds to depict Tammy Faye with compassion. Next Tuesday, early morning, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
The current week's second offering from the filmmaker delivers a spy mystery as tight as the polo necks used by Fassbender's UK spy. He is tasked with uncovering a traitor among the team out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. Both actors are experts of deadpan cool, leading to a delightful mind game of truth or lie takes place. Additional actors take part the intelligent intelligence fun. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema
