The Substance 2024 (Written Review)

 

The Substance

Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

Writer and Director: Coralie Fargeat

 

Before the movie even began, we got a quick thank you message from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley thanking us for watching this movie at AMC Theaters.  It set the tone that we are in for something different and unique.  But I don’t think mainstream audiences will ever be ready for an expierence like this but god damn am I ever happy it is here.

Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) was once a major celebrity.  In a great opening shot, we are looking over head as we see her get her star on the Hollywood walk of fame.  We see her star get photographed by her fans,but as the years go by.  That same once glamorous spot begins to crack and people soon forget all about her.  Now hosting workout videos for several years, Elizabeth gets the news on her birthday that she is being let go because of her age.  The show’s producer Harvey(Dennis Quaid) wants someone younger and hotter.  Which is insane because Moore looks absolutely hot in this film despite how old she is.  After a car accident one of the doctors gives her information about a new treatment called The Substance.  How it works is that it clones your DNA to make a younger, fitter, better looking version of yourself. The only catch is that your orginal body is still there and you have to switch with your main self every seven days.  One important rule to remember is that you are one. Both halfs are of the same person

Elizabeth’s doppelganger is Sue(Margaret Qualley) and she crushes the audition to take over the workout show that Sparkle hosted for many years before.  Loving the acclaim that she hasn’t gotten in years.  Sue begins to not follow the rules which results in some odd things when she switches back to being Elizabeth. 

Im not going to describe any more of the plot because it is something you really should see for yourself.  The cast is incredible with Moore giving her best performance ever.  If she is not nominated for many awards this year.  I’m going to be very pissed off.  Like angry that Toni Collette got snubbed for Hereditary upset.  Margaret Qualley has been excellent in movies like Sanctuary and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and she does a damn fine job in this. Being both very sexy and almost scary in some moments.  Dennis Quaid is absolutely pitch perfect as the sleazy, slimeball producer that it makes me want to check out his role as Ronald Regan in that biopic which was released only last week before this one.

I have seen Coralie Fargeat’s first feature Revenge and really dug her style.  Many elements including the use of colors, the extreme close-ups of people chewing and insects drowning in liquid are relevant in The Substance.  Things also do get weird and crazy in that debut film but nothing would ever prepare me for this. I have seen my share of strange films and even my jaw dropped several times while watching it.  

 This type of insane creative wild film you expect to be released by A24 or Neon but it wasn’t.  was released by Mubi.  An online streaming platform that specializes in cult and independent films.  They don’t have the big clout like many of the other studios and for this to be their first big feature is kind of a huge deal.  Especially to see that it has been released wide on so many screens.  There are many who are going to dismiss this as being just pretentious art house nonsense and let them.  I don't care.  Coralie Fargeat has a very important message about beauty and how we over value it in our society.  There is a great moment when Elizabeth wants to go out on a date but can't because each time she wants to leave the house.  She catches a glimpse and hates what she sees that it stops her from leaving.  That fear of not being seen as beautiful as we like is a fear that many of us have and it's not just women.

The Substance is for fans of David Cronenberg, Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, Frank Henenlotter, Brian Yuzna and you can defiantly see the homages to the great films they made in this movie. The special effects and makeup artists deserve many praise and every award imagineable.   For many regular movie goers.  This may be too weird for them to enjoy.  I went and saw this with my friend and co host Ashley and she had fun but was horrified as it went on but I was laughing and having an absolute blast watching this film.   Take your friends, take your dates to watch this fully unique.  fully orginal, Joygasm blast of a movie.I cant waint to watch it again.

Please check out more great reviews  over on The MNFCA (The Minnesota Film Critcs Assocation)

https://mnfilmcriticsassociation.com/