The Substance review by Bobby Blakey
I love films that are kind of out there and even more so when they seemingly come out of nowhere with something special. The latest film from Revenge director Coralie Fargeat, The Substance stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid has been getting some strong word of mouth praise, but does it bring that something fresh to the screen or will it get lost in its own treatment?
The Substance follows a fading celebrity who decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
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Seeing the trailers instantly reminded me of the 1988 film The Rejuvenator in its story, but no idea if it was any sort of remake or reference to it or just coincidence. Either way, the trailer does not do this movie justice to the insane ride you are going to be on once you chose to experience it and that is just what this is, an experience.
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From the first frame you know this is going to be a film that plays by its own rules and does its own thing. It dives headfirst into the horrific world of body horror in not just the monstrous ways you may think, but in the ridiculous standards put on people and on themselves every day. I love that it is seemingly a time warp of the future and the 80s all at once while being neither. Behind the insanity, disturbing visuals and over the top bizarre antics there is a message here if you will just let it come through the grotesque.
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I loved every frame of this film that is filled with so many moments meant to make the viewer uncomfortable in the simplest things as someone eating or cooking. They are powerful visuals that feed the narrative, but also create more to this world for you to delve into with your own personal journey as it gets more and more out there. The film dives deep into those narratives of body
standards in so many ways that are insanely impactful. Simple moments of characters talking about “pretty girls should smile” or missing your own beauty plays in heavily without feeling like its preaching or forcing it in your face while doing exactly that.
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The performances across the board are fantastic with Demi Moore easily offering up one of the best of her career. She goes all in bringing powerful emotions and presence to the role while making herself physically vulnerable on every level. It feeds the brilliance of her full performance in every way, and I applaud her for bringing everything she is and has to make this role hers and this film what it is.
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On the flip side Qualley goes all in as well bringing a fresher and more vibrant vibe to Sue while also still being physically vulnerable on every level. She is the light of the film for most of it, but there is that darkness floating around. She is so great as well and serves as the perfect other side of the coin. In the middle of them both is Dennis Quaid whose character is the only one not in on the insanity of the treatments but is still the vilest of the whole film. Every time he is on screen you feel dirty and makes your skin crawl as he chews up the scenery with his depravity, sexism and overall jerk mentality.
This film is brilliant all around, but I think may lose some in the last act where it full on shifts into a heavier body horror film. I fully appreciated its direction and brought some of the most ridiculously awesome and memorable moments to the film and I would have had it no other way. It knows what it is doing and saying and is not afraid to punch you in the face with it. All of this strange and gory chaos leads into the perfect final shot that brings this entire unique and often times uncomfortable journey to a close.
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This film isn’t for everyone, but hope it has the legs it deserves because it is a film that should be experienced by as many people as possible. I loved it and cannot wait to dive back in again to see what else I can uncover in the beautiful horrors of it all.
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Decide for yourself and check out The Substance in theaters now.