Top Selection
The Substance Film
Director Coralie Fargeat's daring satire addresses the demanding standards for feminine aesthetics and the feared consequences of growing older. The veteran actress delivers a brilliant acting turn playing Elisabeth, a mature actress demoted to presenting a fitness program on TV. Pushed out thanks to her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and gruesome procedure titled "The Substance". This produces a youthful duplicate called Sue, leading to an increasingly vampiric relationship among both women. Friday 17 October, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This classic whodunit mystery stars Knightley playing Laura, a skilled journalist who decides to take some time off from writing about international wars to board a luxury cruise with an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her partner, plus additional filthy rich guests. But after an unknown lady falls into the sea during the evening and the entire crew claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity awaken. Streaming currently, Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills in this innovative supernatural story filmed completely from the viewpoint of the phantom. After a clan with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe settles into their recent residence, the camera – as the unseen entity – tracks their movements. Chloe seems aware of the poltergeist, and it looks like defensive toward her. Yet what is the reason? This is an entertaining concept that remains concise, including a revelation that may be unexpected. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor wholeheartedly adopts his unique fame via this autobiographical spoof. He portrays a self-obsessed celebrity playing himself who accepts a $1m payday to appear at a birthday party on the Spanish island for the wealthy Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the CIA to gather intel on the suspected cartel boss, his unconventional method is put to the test. Saturday 11 October, evening, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone Horror
The director's contained scarefest stands strong despite the lack of a continuation. Taking place in the late 70s in Denver, multiple kidnappings has rendered the children anxious. Once Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a cellar, he fears a fatal end. Yet the disconnected phone in the room continues to ring, with ghostly voices offering help, as the intuitive nightmares of his sister Gwen could save him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, 10.50pm, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the conflict between God and Mammon, the winner is obvious for Mammon in this director's delightfully tacky biopic about the fallen televangelist and her criminal husband. Garfield acts as the greedy Jim, who states at the beginning, claiming divine approval for wealth. The couple begin monetising the nation's religious faith. It's a riot of poor styling, bad makeup and hypocrisy, yet Jessica Chastain succeeds to show the character as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, late night, on Film4
The Spy Mystery
The current week's second offering by the same director delivers a intelligence thriller as precise similar to the collars worn by Michael Fassbender's British agent. He is tasked to identify a mole inside the organization out of five possibilities – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. The two stars are experts of understated style, leading to a delightful psychological game of fact versus fiction unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, various showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
