THE SUBSTANCE – “A body horror masterpiece with a mass helping of biting commentary”

substance

RATING

DIRECTOR

Directed by: Coralie Fargeat

MAIN CAST

Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle
Margaret Qualley as Sue
Dennis Quaid as Harvey
Gore Abrams as Oliver

SYNOPSIS

Elisabeth Sparkle, renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.

REVIEW SUMMARY

A body horror masterpiece with a mass helping of biting commentary, Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance is guaranteed to be the most bat sh*t crazy viewing experience you’ll have all year. And, yes, that’s a good thing. Scratch that – that’s a great thing. You see, at 2 hours and 20 minutes, the film ramps up the delightful (and sexy) craziness with each passing scene, culminating in a grotesquely gruesome “final bow.” And if you think the high concept premise seems over the top and campy to the max, you’re not wrong. Thankfully, it’s played as such, with the filmmakers embracing the camp insanity and not trying to make it some earnest horror outing. That’s not to say there isn’t (ahem) substance to the proceedings. The movie is essentially one big takedown of anti-aging culture. That old Dove advertising line, “love the skin you’re in,” would be mighty appropriate here. And while it starts as a wholly original take on “body swapping,” things turn into more of a monster film by the end (think Frankenstein). What makes this all work as well as it does, however, are the performers at the helm. For one, Demi Moore proves that she’s definitely still “got it,” going all in with a performance that’s nothing short of fearless. The same can be said for Margaret Qualley who nails her turn as the “younger Demi.” It’s another daring output that needs to be seen to be believed. You’ll also find Dennis Quaid chewing his fair share of scenery here. It’s Dennis Quaid like you’ve never seen him before. But, perhaps the film’s biggest MVPs are those who comprise the makeup team. Trust me, there’s some truly jaw dropping practical transformations that surely deserve award recognition. And, as such, this movie deserves your eyeballs, as you won’t be able to take them off the screen.

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