"The Substance" was one of my most anticipated films coming into the fall festival season and had received rave reviews from critics when screening at multiple film festivals, including the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and, most recently, the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film even won the Best Screenplay award at Cannes for Coralie Fargeat's satirical screenplay. Even with all the hype and anticipation surrounding the film, it met and even exceeded my high expectations. I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend a press screening of the film, and I was absolutely blown away!
This body horror film is not your typical horror film and is wildly ambitious, taking very bold swings. The film follows a fading Hollywood celebrity, played by Demi Moore, who decides to use a black-market drug called The Substance, a cell-replicating substance that creates a younger and better version of herself. There is only one rule: you share time. One week for yourself and one week for the new version of yourself, with each taking turns in a seven-day cycle, creating a perfect balance.
Coralie Fargeat is a director many people are not yet super familiar with. "Revenge" was her 2017 feature film and tackled many different themes and topics, such as rape and revenge. However, in this film, she tackles a very different set of themes, all still very important, revolving around the ideas of aging and beauty standards, particularly among women. As a director, Fargeat tackles societal standards, particularly those imposed on women, in a profound way. Some people may be turned off by some of the heavy-handed storytelling to a certain extent. But for me, it struck the right balance with its messaging about beauty standards and youth among women, in a blood-soaked body horror film.
The visual style of this film is unique in a way that many films this year have failed to capture, and it is exquisitely well-shot. Cinematographer Benjamin Kračun and director
Coralie Fargeat use camera positions and movements, such as close-ups, to grab the audience's attention, and it works in a very effective way. These camera positions and dynamic movements, combined with fast-paced editing and the use of a techno musical score, are executed in a way that draws the audience in. There is no denying that this is an excellent work of art purely based on the technical aspects of the film. We haven't even gotten to the main technical part of a body horror film—the makeup and hairstyling. The makeup and hairstyling are really effective here, and the use of practical makeup and gore stands out from many other horror films out there. The use of makeup and hairstyling is very unique and is even on the level of the famed director of "The Fly," David Cronenberg, possibly even surpassing it in many ways.
Finally, the performances are absolutely superb in the film from Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid, but specifically, a career-best performance, in my opinion, from Demi Moore. Demi Moore goes all out in this role and is the heart and soul of the film, as her character grapples with the effects of aging and the beauty standards placed on her throughout her career as an actress. Margaret Qualley is at the top of her game in this performance and brings an energetic and committed performance to the film. Both performances feel genuine and authentic, helping the audience feel connected to the characters and the story at large.
"The Substance" is truly one of the highlights of the year, from both a story and technical perspective. There are bold swings in this film that had me on the edge of my theater seat and my jaw on the floor. Coralie Fargeat has crafted a film that is extremely relevant and wildly ambitious. While there is a lot of gore and some violence within the film, if that does not disturb you, I would highly recommend trying "The Substance"! It is unlike any film you will see this year and will leave you stunned once the credits begin rolling.
Review: 4.5/5 Stars
"The Substance" will be released courtesy of MUBI in theaters on September 20th.
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