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| Source: MUBI (Twitter/X) I didn't think we could get more polarizing this year after the productive indie horror releases this summer (I SAW THE TV GLOW, LONGLEGS), but it seems like there are always creatives willing to go the extra mile. In what is sure to be the most shocking and diverse horror film released this year, The Substance delivers a greatly abashed look at female beauty standards, Hollywood egos, and the lengths that people will go to get stardom, all to such a twisted extremity that it is practically guaranteed to leave audiences speechless by the end of it. Crazily unhinged, Demi Moore delivers the most in-tune performance I’ve seen this year. In playing someone past her prime (according to Hollywood anyway), she’s able to feel realistic, heartbroken, and fierce, embodying the struggles of an older individual while confronting the sudden demise of her career. It feels immensely topical considering the rise of fashion-focused social media platforms like TikTok, and the ever-increasing societal pressure to look perfect. On the other side, Margaret Qualley shines when her character goes immensely rabid towards the end, as it showcases a more aggressive side of young female talent working in today’s industry. For a film with so much to cover, the editing is strangely repetitive. While it works for a majority of the film, there are only so many close-up shots, thought bubbles, and frenetic movements that are truly effective, and while it is saved by other stylistic elements in the parts where it is lacking, a tighter focus might’ve helped push the direction to greater heights. As for the grossoutness itself, it’s provocative and unforgiving in its nature. Every frame of this is injected with a vengeful nature, and it smashes dysphoria and human anatomy together to enliven itself. It’s extremely gory, nauseating, and wild to witness as it keeps one-upping itself in unimaginable ways. The most daring horror film this year, The Substance’s immenseness makes for a monster of an experience, as strong body horror, committed performances, and hectic editing push the genre to its limits. My Rating: 8/10 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 Now playing in theaters! A MUBI RELEASE |
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