5 movies and TV shows to watch in Hong Kong this weekend, October 11-13

Catch a sci-fi satire featuring body horror at the cinema this weekend or catch up on Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated film and more at home

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Margaret Qualley in a still from The Substance, one of five films and shows worth watching in Hong Kong this weekend, at home and at the cinema. Photo: Universal Studios

Published: 3:22pm, 10 Oct 2024

For cinema-goers, our pick of the weekend is a recent Cannes Film Festival winner with shades of Canadian director David Cronenberg’s work, and starring US actress Demi Moore.

If you prefer to stream your entertainment, you are in for a feast: pick from animation master Hayao Miyazaki’s latest masterpiece, an Oscar-winning movie director’s first series for Apple TV+, a lavish Korean period epic and an emotional roller coaster of a film that reminds viewers of Hongkonger Eric Tsang Chi-wai’s acting chops.

1. The Substance

French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat follows up her bloodthirsty festival favourite Revenge with some ghoulish body horror reminiscent of David Cronenberg.

In what has been heralded as a career-reviving turn, Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, an ageing actress who embarks on an experimental black-market cloning procedure.

This gives birth to a fresh-faced doppelgänger, in the form of rising star Margaret Qualley, who proceeds to take Hollywood by storm in this scathing sci-fi satire about the disposability of women in a patriarchal world.

The film won the best screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival when it premiered there in May.

The Substance opens in cinemas today.