Top Selection
The Substance Film
The filmmaker's unflinching commentary examines the tyranny of female beauty and the perceived horrors of growing older. Demi Moore offers a masterful acting turn playing Elisabeth, a mature actress reduced to presenting a workout series on TV. Pushed out by her slimy boss Harvey, she undergoes a mysterious and gruesome procedure known as "The Substance". This generates a youthful duplicate named Sue, culminating in a progressively vampiric relationship between the two. Friday 17 October, Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful mystery includes Knightley playing Laura, a top-notch writer who takes some time off from covering global conflict to board a high-end voyage accompanied by a gravely sick Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her husband, as well as other affluent passengers. But after an enigmatic female disappears from the ship one night and everyone claims she was never there, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Out now, on Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh challenges his creative boundaries with this nifty paranormal narrative shot entirely from the perspective of the phantom. After a clan featuring mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe occupies their new suburban house, the lens – as the unseen entity – follows them around. The teen shows signs of aware of the ghostly being, and it looks like protective of her. But why? This is an entertaining concept that remains concise, featuring a surprise you might not see coming. This Saturday, multiple showings, the Sky channel
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Cage fully commits to his unique fame in this autobiographical spoof. He plays a self-obsessed celebrity playing himself who accepts a $1m payday to visit a festive event at a Mediterranean location for billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by government spies to investigate the potential kingpin, his unconventional method comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, prime time, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller remains effective without requiring a continuation. Located in the late 70s in Denver, multiple child abductions has made the local kids on edge. After Finney is taken by the kidnapper and imprisoned in a dungeon, he anticipates a fatal end. But the disconnected phone on the wall keeps ringing, with ghostly voices providing assistance, while the prophetic visions of his sister Gwen could save him. An effective horror. This Saturday, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
The Tammy Faye Biopic
In the conflict between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for materialism in this director's brilliantly over-the-top biopic of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor plays the greedy Jim, who declares at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple begin profiting from the American public's Christian beliefs. It's a riot of poor styling, bad makeup and insincerity, however Chastain succeeds to show Tammy Faye in a likable light. Tuesday 14 October, 1.15am, on Film4
Black Bag
This week's second offering from the filmmaker is a espionage tale as precise similar to the collars sported by the actor's British agent. He receives a mission to discover a double agent within their ranks from five suspects – one of whom is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors are experts of deadpan cool, leading to a delightful mind game of deception or honesty unfolds. Additional actors participate the clever spy entertainment. Friday 17 October, various showings, Sky Cinema Premiere
