A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Substance” (2024).
In the late 1990’s, British comedian Paul Kaye adopted the persona of outrageous celebrity interviewer Dennis Pennis, generally upsetting A-list celebrities around the world. Collaring an unsuspecting Demi Moore at a film premiere he asked her “Under any circumstances, if it wasn’t gratuitous and it was tastefully done, would you consider keeping your clothes on in a movie?”. (The video is here: it never fails to amuse!) I was reminded of this again when viewing “The Substance”. Since, even at 61, she bares all and still looks mighty fine!
“The Substance” is a real surpise: a body-horror shocker that is absolutely gripping from its beginning to its superbly gory Carrie-esque ending.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) is a mega-star of the past whose star is (literally!) fading in Hollywood where only young and lithe is “beautiful”. Dropped from her weekly fitness show on TV, Sparkle takes drastic measures by injecting a black-market drug called “The Substance”, supplied by a shadowy organisation. Through this approach she “hatches” ‘Sue’ (Margaret Qualley) – a young, lithe and sexy alto-ego to live her best life all over again. But the treatment has important rules that must be followed to the letter.
Certification:
UK: 18; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong bloody violence, gory images”.)
Talent:
Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid.
Directed by: Coralie Fargeat.
Written by: Coralie Fargeat.
Running Time: 2h 21m.
“The Substance” Summary:
Positives:
- A brilliant satirical stab at celebrity and the obsession with beauty perfection.
- Moore and Qualley bare all in brilliant, brave performances that are astounding.
- Dennis Quaid delivers a superbly over-the-top performance that is hysterical in its awfulness.
- The most ‘out-there’ degrees of gore and practical effects that I’ve seen in a long while!
- Quite brilliant choice of shots.
Negatives:
- I have nothing – for what it is trying to deliver, it’s practically perfect.
Review of “The Substance”:
The next step beyond botox.
You have to hand it to Demi Moore for taking the role, since this is a vicious satire of older ‘fading’ stars desperate to regain their former beauty. How many times do we see stars over 60 who have injected so much crap into their faces that you think “oh my God, what have you done to yourself”.
The irony of course is that Demi Moore, at 61, still looks absolutely fabulous. Director Coralie Fargeat has to make the most of extreme close-ups to highlight what few wrinkles she does have on her body!
Representing sleazy TV executives at their most disgusting is Dennis Quaid, notably playing a character called “Harvey”, LOL! A scene where Harvey introduces “the board” – a leering, nodding set of lap-dogs – to Sue is pricelessly cringeworthy.
A complete gross-out body-horror.
I see a lot of so-called horror films. But I don’t think I’ve winced and cringed in my seat watching any film for a very long time! The movie brilliantly teases you by setting your expectations that you are ABOUT to see something grim…. and then shows you. We are very much in the Cronenberg style of body-horror here combined with lashings and lashings of gore (there is a funny “thanks” in the end-titles to the extras involved in one of these scenes). The film invokes memories of “The Fly”, “The Thing”, “The Elephant Man” and “Carrie”. I can quite see how the movie sent some viewers running for the exits in Cannes. Indeed, I understand there have been walk-outs in cinema screenings here, despite the pre-warning you should have taken with the ’18’ certificate. The ending in totally bat-shit crazy: if any older women are worried about their breasts dropping, then they should take heart from a scene here! Gross as the ending may be, it is also hilariously funny.
Moore, Qualley and Quaid deliver the goods.
Demi Moore is no stranger to stripping on screen and she spends a good proportion of this movie totally naked. Adopting her crown for the next generation is the wonderful Margaret Qualley who also spends the same proportion of the film naked (as she was for her last role in “Kinds of Kindness“). But over and above the general skin-fest are two absolutely stunning performances. In particular, this is Moore’s best role in many, many years. A scene where she is preparing for a date – an act which could be her salvation – is utterly heartbreaking and brilliantly done.
Ray Liotta was actually hired for the role of Harvey, but sadly he passed away before he could engage in the filming. But it’s difficult to see how Dennis Quaid could have been bettered, as he dials his acting to 12 and blasts the screen with prawn-juice! It’s a superbly over-the-top and utterly entertaining performance.
Superb shots.
Overall, I can’t get over how brilliant the movie is filmed. (Cinematography is by Benjamin Kracun.) I was reminded of Lanthimos and “Poor Things” in terms of the innovation shown in the shot choices. There are brilliant subliminal shots taken from remarkable angles. In one shot, we pan up from a showering Demi Moore in a shower that goes up and up forever. This is the sort of film that will be a dream to analyse, shot-by-shot, for a Film Studies degree.
Hats off as well to the production design teams for creating the brilliant world in which the acts play out. Sparkle’s appartment is simple but uniquely stylish. (Thankfully, it has well padded carpets. I still went “oof” as Qualley’s head bounces down the steps!)
And finally, like “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice“, the film glories in wonderful practical prosthetic make-up effects that might put this in line for an Oscar nomination for “Best Makeup and Hairstyling”.
Summary Thoughts on “The Substance”
I don’t often go “Wow” for a horror film, but I do for this one. It’s totally gripping from beginning to end and 140 minutes haven’t flown by so fast in a long time. I can’t remember the last time I gave 5 stars for a horror film, but this gets it, no problem. It’s a brilliant piece of work.
Highly recommended…. provided you have a strong stomach for this type of body-horror movie. This one is bound to be high up in my ‘Films of the Year’ list.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “The Substance”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLuoWbztzFk .
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!
