Highlighted Choice
The Substance
Director Coralie Fargeat's bold commentary examines the oppressive nature of female beauty and the feared consequences of ageing. The veteran actress offers an inspired performance playing Elisabeth, an aging celebrity demoted to hosting a workout series on the small screen. Forced aside thanks to her deceitful superior Harvey, she turns to a mysterious and gruesome treatment known as the Substance. This produces a younger clone named Sue, leading to a progressively vampiric relationship between them. October 17th, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This suspenseful mystery stars Keira Knightley as Laura, an ace reporter who decides to take a hiatus from covering international wars to board a luxury cruise accompanied by a terminally ill Norwegian shipping heiress and donor, her spouse, as well as other affluent passengers. Yet once an enigmatic female goes overboard overnight and all passengers denies she ever existed, Laura's investigative instincts take over. Out now, the Netflix platform
Presence Film
Soderbergh pushes his directorial skills with this clever ghostly tale filmed completely through the eyes of a ghost. When a household including mother Rebekah and troubled teenage daughter Chloe moves into their recent residence, the lens – representing the ghost – tracks their movements. The teen shows signs of sensing the poltergeist, and the entity appears defensive toward 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. October 11th, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema Premiere
This Self-Referential Film
The iconic actor embraces his unique fame through this meta comedy caper. He acts as a self-obsessed celebrity called Nicolas Cage who accepts a million-dollar gig to appear at a festive event in Mallorca for billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Hired by the intelligence agency to investigate the alleged criminal, Cage's unconventional method is put to the test. October 11th, evening, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's claustrophobic thriller holds up well even without a follow-up. Set in the late 70s in Denver, several disappearances has rendered the children on edge. When Finney gets captured by the kidnapper and held captive in a dungeon, he dreads a terrible outcome. Yet the non-functional line on the wall keeps ringing, with ghostly voices giving advice, as the prophetic visions of his sister Gwen could save him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, nighttime, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for Mammon in this director's wonderfully garish film adaptation of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor plays the greedy Jim, who proclaims initially, asserting religious justification for riches. He and Tammy Faye begin monetising the nation's Christian beliefs. It's a spectacle of poor styling, overdone appearance and bad faith, yet Jessica Chastain succeeds to present the real-life figure with compassion. October 14th, late night, on Film4
Black Bag
This period's another release by the same director presents a intelligence thriller as precise as the polo necks worn by Michael Fassbender's British agent. His assignment is to discover a double agent among the team from five suspects – among them is Kathryn, played by Cate Blanchett. Both actors are masters of understated style, so a delicious psychological game of truth or lie unfolds. The supporting cast take part the clever spy entertainment. October 17th, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, the Sky channel
