Starring - Demi Moore (Ghost, Tales from the Crypt), Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Poor Things), and Dennis Quaid (Jaws 3-D, Great Balls of Fire!)
Release Date - 2024
Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "It'll change your life"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)
Rating (out of 5):
I've seen a lot of pop horror in recent years that has truly impressed me. I've been a champion of no-to-low budget indie cinema for decades now but the recent surge in big budget horror that isn't shitty has created a bit of excitement from genre fans who are now returning to theaters to see their beloved genre. I've been more open to big budget horror after films like X, Last Night with the Devil, Longlegs, The Black Phone, and Nosferatu. Another bigger budgeted horror film that I heard a lot about was The Substance starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. This is one that came out of nowhere but some horror friends that I highly respect suggested it. I quickly added it to my watch list after ordering a copy from Amazon.
The film follows aging actress Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) who finds herself removed as host of her long standing fitness show. The television exec cut her due to her age and is looking to hire someone much younger. Afraid of falling into obscurity, she finds herself with a once in a lifetime opportunity to try The Substance. The glowing, green serum states it will bring out the better version of yourself but you have to "switch" every seven days. She reluctantly tries it and finds her inner beauty manifesting into a much younger woman. Her younger self, Sue (Qualley), auditions for her show and gets the job. Soon she is skyrocketing into popularity and quickly making a name for herself as an up and coming celebrity. The more popular she becomes, the less likely she is to switch out with Elisabeth resulting in the original body aging even more rapidly. Once the body is beyond repair, she is forced to try The Substance for herself in hopes of creating another younger version of herself. This fails and something far more sinister crawls out of her.
The Substance is one of the few big budget films that left me thinking about it for days after my initial viewing. As of the time I'm writing this, I've watched it three complete times and certain scenes about 4 or 5 times. It may be my favorite film of the last 10 which is not something I would say lightly. It's an amazing body horror film that not only holds the viewer's attention the entire time but it has a powerful message about Hollywood and what it demands from women looking to make a living. The acting in this one is amazing. Demi Moore is one hell of an actress and this is easily my favorite role of hers. She bares it all for the camera and holds nothing back. This is a career defining film and one that will make her a genre name for decades to come. The Substance is my introduction to Margaret Qualley and she is most definitely a name I will be looking for in future genre titles. Her performance rivals Moore's but in a good way. Just like their characters are cut from the same clothe, so is their performances. Also, Dennis Quaid delivers another fantastic performance. His political opinions may have caused controversy in recent years but god damn was he fantastic in this one. This is another performance from the film that will be remembered for decades to come. The story for this one is so fucking brilliant. The medical treatment that spawns a younger and better version of you to rip itself from your spine forcing you to share your life with them every 7 days or the body ages rapidly. You then mix in the beauty standards of Hollywood and how easy it is to throw away women because they have been fortunate enough to age another year. It's a fantastic story that will age as gracefully as Moore herself. Finally, the effects in this are absolutely mesmerizing. We have some of the best practical effects I've seen with some great bloody moments. We also have a monster costume that I was not expecting and was so impressed by it. Overall, The Substance is one of the best body horror flicks since Cronenberg's Videodrome. It's a must see and I can't recommend this movie enough. Please do yourself a favor and watch it!
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