Highlighted Choice
This Satirical Thriller
Coralie Fargeat's bold critique addresses the tyranny of female beauty along with the dreaded aspects of advancing years. Hollywood star Demi Moore offers a brilliant performance as Elisabeth, a mature celebrity forced into starring in a fitness program on television. Pushed out thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, played by Dennis Quaid, she seeks out an enigmatic and gruesome process called "The Substance". This creates a younger clone portrayed by Margaret Qualley, leading to a steadily more vampiric relationship between them. Friday 17 October, the streaming service Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10
This suspenseful thriller includes Keira Knightley in the role of Laura, an ace reporter who takes a break from reporting on world issues to embark on a luxury cruise alongside an ailing wealthy inheritor and donor, her spouse, as well as other extremely wealthy passengers. Yet once a mysterious woman disappears from the ship one night and the entire crew denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills take over. Out now, Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills with this innovative ghostly tale captured wholly through the eyes of the phantom. When a household with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their fresh home, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. The daughter appears sensing the supernatural presence, and the entity appears guarding her. But why? It's a fun idea that avoids overstaying, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor wholeheartedly adopts his eccentric image through this self-referential adventure. He portrays a self-obsessed celebrity playing himself who agrees to a lucrative offer to attend a celebration on the Spanish island for the wealthy superfan Javi. Recruited by the intelligence agency to investigate the potential kingpin, Cage's unconventional method proves useful. Saturday 11 October, evening, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's locked-room horror stands strong even without a follow-up. Taking place in 1970s Colorado, several kidnappings has made the children anxious. Once Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a basement, he dreads a fatal end. Yet the old telephone on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices giving advice, and the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. A solid creepfest. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, on Film4
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Michael Showalter's delightfully tacky true story of the disgraced TV preacher and her criminal husband. Garfield acts as the venal Jim, who states initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple set about profiting from the nation's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of bad interior design, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, yet Jessica Chastain manages to present the character in a likable light. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This week's additional entry from the filmmaker is a espionage tale as precise as the polo necks worn by the actor's intelligence officer. He is tasked to discover a double agent among the team from five suspects – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Each performer are masters of understated style, leading to a delightful mental battle of fact versus fiction takes place. Additional actors join in the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel
