Highlighted Choice
This Satirical Thriller
Coralie Fargeat's daring critique tackles the tyranny of female beauty as well as the feared consequences of growing older. The veteran actress delivers an inspired performance in the role of Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity reduced to hosting a fitness program on the small screen. Forced aside by her slimy boss Harvey, she undergoes an enigmatic and terrifying treatment known as "The Substance". This creates a youthful duplicate named Sue, resulting in a steadily more vampiric relationship among both women. October 17th, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque mystery features Knightley in the role of Laura, a skilled journalist who takes a break from writing about global conflict to embark on a high-end voyage with a gravely sick Norwegian shipping heiress and philanthropist, her partner, as well as other extremely wealthy passengers. But after an enigmatic female falls into the sea overnight and all passengers insists she wasn't real, her journalistic curiosity kick in. Out now, on Netflix
Presence
Soderbergh pushes his creative boundaries with this nifty ghostly tale captured wholly from the perspective of the spirit. After a clan including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their recent residence, the lens – as the unseen entity – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of aware of the ghostly being, and it looks like protective of her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist you might not see coming. This Saturday, afternoon and evening times, the Sky channel
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Cage embraces his cult stardom via this autobiographical spoof. He plays a narcissistic celebrity named Nicolas Cage who takes on a million-dollar gig to appear at a birthday party on the Spanish island for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by government spies to investigate the potential kingpin, the actor's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. October 11th, 9pm, on Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's locked-room horror holds up well even without a follow-up. Located in 1970s Colorado, a series of disappearances has rendered the local kids anxious. When Finney is kidnapped by “the Grabber” and locked up in a cellar, he dreads the worst. Yet the non-functional line on the wall continues to ring, with ghostly voices giving advice, as the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister may be his salvation. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the struggle between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for materialism in Showalter's wonderfully garish true story of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor portrays the greedy Jim, who proclaims initially, claiming divine approval for wealth. He and Tammy Faye commence profiting from the American public's religious faith. It's a riot of poor styling, bad makeup and hypocrisy, though Jessica Chastain succeeds to show the character with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, late night, on Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This week's another release from Steven Soderbergh is a intelligence thriller as precise like the turtlenecks used by Fassbender's UK spy. He is tasked to identify a traitor inside the organization from a group of five – one of whom is his spouse. The two stars are masters of understated style, resulting in an engaging mental battle of fact versus fiction takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, various showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
