Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?
The Substance is a gripping horror film directed by Coralie Fargeat. It is a wild ride that demands viewers surrender to the horror on screen. The film’s special effects are mind-blowing, reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s The Fly and David Lynch’s The Elephant Man, making it a visual feast for fans of the body horror genre. Demi Moore is terrific in her role as Elizabeth Sparkle, proving that she’s still got it as an actress. Her fearless portrayal of a once-glamorous star now grappling with the grotesque consequences of a mysterious substance is compelling and brave. At one point, she gets to play the Wicked Witch in this twisted fairytale and does it brilliantly.
The film’s R rating is used to its fullest extent, pushing boundaries with its graphic violence and full-frontal nudity. In fact, it teeters on the edge of an X rating, so be warned: the film is not for the faint-hearted. Dennis Quaid shines as the chain-smoking and obnoxious producer of the TV show Pump It Up, perfectly embodying the character’s ugliness inside and out. His portrayal adds a layer of dark humour to the film, balancing the horror with moments of satire.
Margaret Qualley, who plays Demi Moore’s young doppelgänger Sue, is suitably wide-eyed, attractive and innocent. But it’s in the second half of the film when her inner bitch is let loose, and she attacks Elizabeth Sparkle in a fight to the finish that she really takes flight. Both her performance and costumes add to the twisted fairytale narrative, and she holds her own alongside veterans Moore and Quaid. Ultimately, The Substance, set in Hollywood, is about ageism and accepting who we are for our inner beauty. It warns that for every action, there are consequences…and that the future should not be left solely in the hands of the young because they often do reckless and regretful things.
The Substance is directed with a keen eye for gore. It features buckets of blood, stellar performances, and jaw-dropping special effects. It’s a standalone horror film that pays homage to classics like Carrie and The Thing and 1970s B-grade thrillers like Lipstick. Remember to look for the carpet design featured inside the Overlook Hotel from Kubrick’s The Shining and the Hitchcock and De Palma film references littered throughout, and surrender to the gruesome images playing on the screen. The Substance is an injection of film horror that will leave you shaken, stirred, and breathless.
Harlequin ink 
Leave a comment