If this Blog has indicated anything, 2024 seems to be a year for horror. There have been more than a few horror releases this year, of varying types, qualities, and from various parts of Hollywood and beyond. Some have disappointed, others have delighted, but if you’re a fan of the genre, surely one of them appeals to you.
Yet only one of these has been truly audacious. One has pushed the boundaries of cinema and taken its place as a new gross-out classic. And that is Coralie Fargeat‘s The Substance.
The film is perhaps an exemplar of the idiom that the qualities of films is not “what they are about, but how they are about it.” The premise shouldn’t feel unfamiliar. Demi Moore stars as a past-her-prime actress, being unceremoniously chucked out the door by the production studio that has long made her the star of an aerobics show. Feeling down about herself, she finds temptation in the form of the titular substance, which reportedly can make a younger “better” version of herself that she can transfer her conscious into for seven days at a time. It is simply imperative that she make the switch every seven days. Or else.
As this set-up suggests, rules are set up and will obviously be broken. But despite the familiar plot devices and thematic ideas about beauty in society and the cruelty of the Hollywood machine, director Fargeat shines in delivering a unique take on the material. The film showcases many of her obvious influences with touches of David Cronenberg, David Lynch, and Stanley Kubrick. The cinematic language of the film will impress for anyone who enjoys any of those directors.
That is to say, the film is a delight to view. The contrasting use of hyper close-up shots, placed at disorienting angles to give you disgusting looks at Dennis Quaid munching on shrimp or the cracked wrinkled skin of an elderly person, with far away shots akin to the Lynchian use of liminal space to make you uneasy, is fantastic. The film is a relentless force of sound and music as well, using foley with a crispness and inserting pop and EDM into the edit to make the cuts pound along in time.
The Substance uses all of these tools to hammer its central ideas: the hypocrisy of beauty standards, especially as directed towards women; the allure of being young and having a firm body. This is a film that is highly sexual, while also making fun of the hypersexuality that women are yoked to by the Hollywood machine. Cameras recording the barely-clothed bodies of women are rendered as inhuman rumbling machines, coolly objectifying as a man looks through the lens.
The movie shines, though, because as unsubtle as its messaging is, it never comes across as overly preachy. Fargeat walks a tightrope of tone that is simply immaculate. The film blends together humor and horror in such a wonderful way, leaving you snickering even as you feel a pit of unease or disgust in your stomach. It is beyond impressive at how well these tones are balanced against each other, and it is a credit to the writing, direction and editing.
But lest you think think is all directorial technique, the cast is also simply superb. Demi Moore shines in one of the greatest roles in her career. She is called to show a true vulnerability in her performance, and captivates with her carousel of grief and anger. The film does not shy away from the enormous pressure and sadness that comes with aging in an industry that tells you that you have no worth after you’re 30. Likewise, Margaret Qualley delights as the younger model, played up as an amazing sex object, though getting to let loose primal rage in a few scenes with an effortless sarcasm that helps belie the central conflict. David Quaid is also hilarious, in a comedic villain role that’s also right in line with the off-kilter villains of David Lynch.
The film isn’t without flaw. As strong as much of it is, the obviousness of its messaging and choices do create something of a drag as the film goes on and on. Though the ending is a delightfully over-the-top turn into full-on Cronenberg schlock, mixed with Lynchian sentiment, the last 45 minutes don’t really introduce much more to say. Although audacious plot turns keep you invested, the movie does wear you down. The film is also best enjoyed as a fable, as some aspects of it don’t make much literal sense. It’s best to take the film on its own terms in that regard, but this may be off-putting to some.
The Substance is must-see cinema, all the same. While certainly not for everyone, the film is a bold, proud film that never fails to entertain. Its sense of visual style and assuredness in all the choices it makes render it a tour de force experience. It is unequivocally one of the best films of the year and a feather in the cap for all involved. If you love horror, if you love Demi Moore, and if you love unique artistic statements, The Substance will be one you can’t get enough of.
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