Top Selection
This Satirical Thriller
Director Coralie Fargeat's unflinching commentary tackles the demanding standards for women's appearance and the feared consequences of advancing years. Demi Moore presents an inspired acting turn playing Elisabeth, a 50-year-old celebrity reduced to starring in an aerobics show on the small screen. Pushed out thanks to her unscrupulous employer her manager Harvey, she turns to an enigmatic and terrifying treatment known as the Substance. This produces a youthful duplicate named Sue, culminating in an increasingly vampiric relationship between the two. This Friday, Paramount Plus
The Woman in Cabin 10
This Agatha Christie-esque thriller stars the talented actress as Laura, an ace reporter who takes a hiatus from reporting on global conflict to join a luxury cruise accompanied by a terminally ill Scandinavian billionaire and charitable figure, her husband, and other extremely wealthy passengers. Yet once an unknown lady goes overboard during the evening and all passengers insists she wasn't real, the reporter's sleuthing skills awaken. Available now, Netflix
Presence Film
The acclaimed director tests his film-making abilities through this innovative paranormal narrative filmed completely through the eyes of the phantom. As a family including mother Rebekah and her distressed teen Chloe moves into their new suburban house, the filming device – representing the ghost – follows them around. The daughter appears aware of the poltergeist, and the entity appears guarding her. Yet what is the reason? It's a fun idea that doesn't outstay its welcome, featuring a surprise that may be unexpected. Saturday 11 October, afternoon and evening times, Sky Cinema
This Self-Referential Film
Cage wholeheartedly adopts his cult stardom through this meta comedy caper. He plays a self-obsessed celebrity called Nicolas Cage who agrees to a lucrative offer to visit a birthday party on the Spanish island for the wealthy superfan Javi. Hired by government spies to investigate the alleged criminal, Cage's “nouveau shamanic acting ability” comes in handy. Saturday 11 October, prime time, the Channel 4 network
The Black Phone
Scott Derrickson's locked-room horror stands strong even without a continuation. Set in 1970s Colorado, a series of disappearances has made the children frightened. Once Finney is taken by “the Grabber” and locked up in a basement, he dreads the worst. Yet the disconnected phone on the wall keeps ringing, with spooky callers offering help, while the prescient dreams of his sister Gwen could save him. A genuinely scary movie. Saturday 11 October, 10.50pm, the Film4 channel
This Dramatic Portrait
In the conflict between faith and wealth, it's a knockout win for greed in Showalter's delightfully tacky film adaptation of the disgraced televangelist and her criminal husband. Andrew Garfield plays the venal Jim, who proclaims initially, asserting religious justification for riches. The couple set about monetising the American public's religious faith. It's an extravaganza of poor styling, overdone appearance and bad faith, though the lead actress succeeds to depict the real-life figure as a sympathetic figure. Next Tuesday, early morning, Film4
This Espionage Thriller
This period's another release by the same director delivers a espionage tale as precise similar to the collars used by Michael Fassbender's UK spy. He is tasked to identify a double agent inside the organization out of five possibilities – among them is his own wife. Both actors are experts of understated style, leading to a delightful mind game of fact versus fiction unfolds. Additional actors participate the clever spy entertainment. This Friday, 8.05am, 12.55pm, 8pm, Sky Cinema
