Dir. Coralie Fargeat (2024)
An aging actress tries a new product intended to make the best version of herself a reality.
Body horror is a genre with a lot of practitioners but very few experts. For every Cronenberg, there are a thousand imitators, directors who want to be seen in the same light but are hampered by either budget, lack of imagination, or inability to convey what they see in their heads onto the screen in a believable way. Not so with today's film, director Coralie Fargeat's attempt to discuss our culture's obsession with beauty and youth in... well, pretty much the most disgusting way imaginable.
Aging superstar Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is on her way out in an industry where youth is the primary appeal. Her producer Harvey (Dennis Quaid in a role that I'm sure is intentionally named) is looking for a younger replacement, interviewing dancers to take Elisabeth's place at the top of the network. After a car accident, she discovers a new product that promises to transform her into the best version of herself, a mysterious drug called The Substance. When she takes the drug, her body splits in two, leaving a dazed Elisabeth on the floor of her bathroom as a new being, Sue (Margaret Qualley) takes her place in the world. However, the new version of herself desires more and more time out in the world, stealing bit by bit from her host in order to maintain her spot atop the entertainment industry in Hollywood.
The Substance is, without a doubt, the bloodiest and goriest movie I've seen so far this year. I've been greatly looking forward to Terrifier 3, anticipating that it would easily take that throne, but it's got a lot of ground to make up for. Fargeat holds absolutely nothing back in this one, delivering a metric fuckton of nudity, visceral gore, and disturbing imagery in a balls-to-the-wall body horror that does things I've only seen in nightmares. There is some truly stellar effects work on display in the film, especially during the batshit crazy third act that comes completely out of nowhere. Fargeat does an excellent job of keeping it all together, even when things threaten to go completely off the rails at any moment.
Moore takes on an incredibly brave role in the film, giving an honest look inside the life of an aging star that doesn't want to see the industry pass her by. She's excellent in the film, delivering a layered performance that makes you remember that she's a fantastically talented actress. Qualley is the up-and-comer, and she fills that role in the film to perfection. She's dangerous, sexy, and vicious, exactly what young actresses are alleged to be in Hollywood. Quaid is disgusting and lecherous, a terrifyingly apt portrayal of exactly what we believe the industry to be. I would not have expected to see three mainstream actors in this film, and yet here they are in all of their gritty glory. The themes of bodily autonomy are incredibly relevant to today, as is the timeless story of people aging out of Hollywood far before they should. It's an intriguing plot that you've seen before, but I promise you that you've never seen it quite like this.
This is a movie that will live rent-free in your head. I literally have not been able to stop thinking about it since I watched, and that's exactly what good body horror should be. It should make you roll your eyes just as much as it disgusts you, and The Substance does both pretty consistently. Good body horror is transgressive, and it is most certainly that as well. I've always felt like these types of films should build up until a crescendo of revulsion comes crashing down on the audience, and I don't know that I've seen a film do that quite as well as this one does. To call the finale sick would be an understatement, and it works phenomenally well in The Substance.
I do think the film was a little bit too long, running just under two and a half hours in length. I think they probably could've tightened it up a little bit, as some of the differences between Sue and Elisabeth do get a bit redundant. That said, I also loved every second of it, so what the hell do I know. I would go as far as to say that The Substance is very much staking its claim as one of the best films of the year so far, and I've seen some damn fine films this year already. It's one of the best body horrors in recent memory, and it's a movie that will absolutely knock your socks off. Just make sure you're not eating while you watch (or at least don't be eating rotisserie chicken).
Who this movie is for: Body horror fans, Extreme horror appreciators, Home chefs
Bottom line: The Substance is absolutely fucking nuts. Moore and Qualley are outstanding, the effects are right up there with the best of Cronenberg, and that finale will leave you breathless. I'm not quite sure where it ranks on my list of best films of the year as I haven't finished completely processing it yet, but I promise you that it's on there. You definitely need to check this out if you're not too queasy. It's in theaters tomorrow, and you definitely need to get your tickets ready.
