Top Selection
The Substance
The filmmaker's daring satire examines the tyranny of female beauty as well as the perceived horrors of growing older. Hollywood star Demi Moore presents a masterful performance as Elisabeth, a mature actress forced into hosting a workout series on TV. Edged out thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, she seeks out an enigmatic and gruesome procedure known as "The Substance". This creates a younger clone named Sue, culminating in a steadily more toxic connection between the two. This Friday, Paramount+
The Woman in Cabin 10 Film
This classic whodunit mystery includes Keira Knightley as Laura, a top-notch writer who opts for a hiatus from reporting on global conflict to embark on a high-end voyage alongside a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and philanthropist, her husband, plus additional affluent passengers. But after an unknown lady disappears from the ship overnight and the entire crew denies she ever existed, Laura's investigative instincts kick in. Available now, the Netflix platform
Presence
Steven Soderbergh challenges his film-making abilities in this clever supernatural story shot entirely through the eyes of the spirit. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their fresh home, the lens – AKA the Presence – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of conscious of the supernatural presence, and the entity appears guarding her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist you might not see coming. This Saturday, afternoon and evening times, the Sky channel
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor fully commits to his eccentric image via this self-referential adventure. He acts as a self-obsessed film star called Nicolas Cage who accepts a lucrative offer to appear at a festive event on the Spanish island for billionaire Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by government spies to gather intel on the alleged criminal, Cage's unconventional method comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, 9pm, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Derrickson's contained scarefest holds up well despite the lack of a sequel. Located in 1970s Colorado, multiple disappearances has rendered the children on edge. When Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and locked up in a basement, he fears a terrible outcome. However, the old telephone mounted nearby keeps ringing, with ghostly voices giving advice, and the prophetic visions of Gwen, his sister might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, late evening, Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the struggle between spirituality and money, it's a knockout win for Mammon in Michael Showalter's wonderfully garish biopic about the fallen televangelist plus her lawbreaking partner. The actor plays the corrupt Bakker, who declares early on, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye set about profiting from the nation's spiritual convictions. It's a spectacle of poor styling, excessive cosmetics and bad faith, though Jessica Chastain manages to show the real-life figure with compassion. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, Film4
The Spy Mystery
This period's additional entry by the same director presents a spy mystery as precise as the polo necks used by Michael Fassbender's British agent. He receives a mission to identify a mole within their ranks out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. The two stars are experts of deadpan cool, resulting in an engaging psychological game of truth or lie develops. Additional actors join in the intelligent intelligence fun. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
