Top Selection
The Substance
Coralie Fargeat's unflinching satire tackles the oppressive nature of women's appearance along with the feared consequences of ageing. The veteran actress delivers a brilliant performance in the role of Elisabeth, a 50-year-old film star reduced to presenting an aerobics show on the small screen. Pushed out due to her slimy boss her manager Harvey, she seeks out an enigmatic and gruesome treatment titled the Substance. This produces a youthful duplicate portrayed by Margaret Qualley, leading to a progressively parasitic dynamic among both women. This Friday, Paramount Plus
This Mystery Thriller
This Agatha Christie-esque story features the talented actress as Laura, a top-notch writer who decides to take a hiatus from writing about global conflict to board an opulent ship accompanied by a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and donor, her husband, plus additional affluent guests. Yet once an unknown lady disappears from the ship overnight and the entire crew claims she was never there, her journalistic curiosity take over. Out now, on Netflix
This Supernatural Story
Steven Soderbergh pushes his creative boundaries through this nifty supernatural story shot entirely from the perspective of a ghost. As a family including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe settles into their fresh home, the filming device – representing the ghost – follows them around. Chloe seems sensing the poltergeist, and it seems defensive toward her. But why? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, including a revelation you might not see coming. This Saturday, 4.35pm, 10.10pm, Sky Cinema Premiere
Nicolas Cage's Meta Comedy
Cage fully commits to his unique fame via this self-referential adventure. He plays a narcissistic film star named Nicolas Cage who takes on a million-dollar gig to attend a festive event at a Mediterranean location for billionaire Javi Gutierrez. Recruited by the CIA to spy on the alleged criminal, the actor's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” is put to the test. October 11th, 9pm, Channel 4
The Black Phone
The director's contained scarefest holds up well without requiring a sequel. Located in the late 70s in Denver, a series of kidnappings has left the children anxious. After Finney gets captured by “the Grabber” and held captive in a basement, he fears a fatal end. Yet the old telephone in the room repeatedly calls, with eerie communicators providing assistance, as the prescient dreams from his sibling Gwen might rescue him. A genuinely scary movie. October 11th, 10.50pm, Film4
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
In the conflict between God and Mammon, it's a knockout win for greed in Michael Showalter's brilliantly over-the-top true story of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. The actor portrays the venal Jim, who states at the beginning, “God does not want us to be poor,”. The couple commence profiting from the people's Christian beliefs. It's an extravaganza of bad interior design, overdone appearance and hypocrisy, yet Jessica Chastain manages to show Tammy Faye as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, 1.15am, the Film4 channel
The Spy Mystery
The current week's another release from Steven Soderbergh is a spy mystery as sharp similar to the collars sported by Fassbender's UK spy. His assignment is to identify a mole inside the organization from five suspects – one of whom is his own wife. The two stars excel of deadpan cool, resulting in an engaging mind game of deception or honesty takes place. Tom Burke, Regé-Jean Page, Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela participate the intelligent intelligence fun. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
