Highlighted Choice
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire tackles the demanding standards for female beauty and the feared consequences of ageing. The veteran actress delivers a brilliant performance in the role of Elisabeth, a mature celebrity forced into presenting an aerobics show on television. Edged out by her deceitful superior her manager Harvey, she undergoes an enigmatic and gruesome process called "The Substance". This produces a new version of herself named Sue, resulting in a progressively parasitic dynamic between them. This Friday, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful mystery features Keira Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a break from covering global conflict to embark on an opulent ship alongside a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her spouse, as well as other extremely wealthy individuals. Yet once an enigmatic female goes overboard overnight and all passengers denies she ever existed, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Out now, on Netflix
Presence Film
Soderbergh challenges his directorial skills through this nifty supernatural story filmed completely through the eyes of a ghost. As a family including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their fresh home, the filming device – AKA the Presence – shadows their actions. The teen shows signs of aware of the poltergeist, and it looks like guarding her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that avoids overstaying, including a revelation that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage fully commits to his unique fame via this self-referential adventure. He plays a self-obsessed celebrity called Nicolas Cage who takes on a lucrative offer to attend a celebration in Mallorca for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Hired by government spies to investigate the alleged criminal, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” proves useful. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone Horror
Derrickson's locked-room horror holds up well even without a sequel. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has left the youth anxious. Once Finney is kidnapped by the villain and held captive in a dungeon, he fears a terrible outcome. Yet the old telephone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with eerie communicators offering help, while the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, nighttime, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between faith and wealth, the victory is clear for Mammon in Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top biopic of the disgraced televangelist and her felon spouse. Garfield portrays the greedy Jim, who declares initially, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye set about profiting from the American public's spiritual convictions. It's a riot of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and hypocrisy, however Chastain manages to present the character with compassion. October 14th, 1.15am, on Film4
Black Bag
This period's another release from the filmmaker is a spy mystery as tight as the polo necks used by Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is with uncovering a mole within their ranks from a group of five – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors excel of understated style, leading to a delightful mind game of truth or lie takes place. Additional actors join in the smart espionage amusement. Friday 17 October, multiple time slots, Sky Cinema Premiere
