Highlighted Choice
The Substance Film
Coralie Fargeat's bold critique tackles the demanding standards for women's appearance and the feared consequences of advancing years. The veteran actress offers an inspired portrayal playing Elisabeth, an aging actress demoted to starring in an aerobics show on the small screen. Pushed out by her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she seeks out an enigmatic and gruesome procedure called this experimental method. This creates a youthful duplicate called Sue, culminating in an increasingly parasitic dynamic between the two. October 17th, Paramount+
This Mystery Thriller
This classic whodunit thriller stars Keira Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a break from reporting on international wars to join a luxury cruise with an ailing Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her partner, as well as other affluent individuals. Yet once an unknown lady falls into the sea during the evening and the entire crew insists she wasn't real, Laura's investigative instincts kick in. Available now, Netflix
Presence
Steven Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills with this innovative supernatural story filmed completely from the viewpoint of a ghost. As a family with Lucy Liu as Rebekah plus Callina Liang as Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the filming device – as the unseen entity – shadows their actions. The teen shows signs of conscious of the supernatural presence, and the entity appears protective of her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, with a twist that may be unexpected. This Saturday, multiple showings, the Sky channel
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor fully commits to his cult stardom in this self-referential adventure. He plays a narcissistic film star called Nicolas Cage who takes on a lucrative offer to attend a birthday party on the Spanish island for the rich Javi, played by Pedro Pascal. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the alleged criminal, his unconventional method is put to the test. Saturday 11 October, evening, the Channel 4 network
This Creepy Thriller
The director's claustrophobic thriller remains effective despite the lack of a continuation. Set in 1978 Denver, multiple disappearances has rendered the local kids frightened. Once Finney gets captured by the villain and held captive in a dungeon, he anticipates a terrible outcome. Yet the disconnected phone on the wall keeps ringing, with ghostly voices providing assistance, as the prescient dreams of Gwen, his sister could save him. An effective horror. This Saturday, late evening, Film4
This Dramatic Portrait
In the battle between God and Mammon, the victory is clear for materialism in Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top true story of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield portrays the corrupt Bakker, who declares initially, “God does not want us to be poor,”. He and Tammy Faye set about capitalizing on the American public's spiritual convictions. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, bad makeup and hypocrisy, yet Chastain achieves to show the character with compassion. October 14th, early morning, Film4
The Spy Mystery
The current week's additional entry by the same director delivers a spy mystery as sharp as the polo necks sported by the actor's intelligence officer. He receives a mission to discover a double agent inside the organization from five suspects – one of whom is his own wife. Both actors excel of understated style, leading to a delightful psychological game of deception or honesty unfolds. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela join in the smart espionage amusement. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
