French filmmaker Coraline Fargegat follows up her debut feature film Revenge with a new Oscar-nominated body horror movie called The Substance.
It follows fading actress Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who uses a mysterious substance to become a younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley). This film is one of the best horror movies of the year and it has the ability to make viewers feel incredibly uncomfortable watching it.
While the summary of the movie sounds like a Disney Channel movie plot, the movie actually delves into very heavy themes throughout and the tension in the film is built up greatly until the crazy finale. Fargegat says “Art, films, books, everything around us can have a role to show how the world still is,”.
The movie also feels very much like a modern retelling of a fable telling a cautionary tale. Due to the story writing, the movie can successfully keep you guessing about what will happen next and deliver truly shocking surprises, making it a very memorable movie.
One thing that helps elevate the movie’s uneasiness is the sound design. Almost every sound in the movie, ranging from making food or injecting the substance, is squishy and repulsing. The soundtrack of the movie, especially the main theme, works to build a sense of dread and unease.
The acting in this movie is excellent and both of the lead actresses put a lot of energy into their roles. Demi Moore can capture her character’s growing insanity throughout the movie and Margaret Qualley’s performance allows viewers to feel the perfect amount of sympathy and dislike. Qualley comments on how much this movie has stuck with her “Certain parts of that movie, like the action of doing them, will stay with me forever in a way that feels horrific. But I mean that in a good way.”
One of the best aspects of this movie is the practical effects utilized throughout the movie. The design of the body horror shown looks realistic, which adds to its unsettling feeling. Towards the end of the movie, an insane amount of practical effects is used, making the scenes look amazing and allowing it to work as a satisfying conclusion.
Something that can make or break the movie for some viewers is the many downright disgusting parts of the movie. Scenes like the first time the substance is used or the TV-watching scene will make many people’s stomachs churn. However, this does help to elevate the tension that is building up.
The Substance is a film that will be able to keep the watcher interested throughout the entire run time. However, for anyone that’s easily squeamish or are not looking for intense horror, this movie might not be the best choice. The Substance is a great film that is worth watching for fans of the body-horror genre.
