By Cody Englander, Copy Editor

[Working Title Films; 2024]

Rating: 9/10

Despite continually gaining critical acclaim, The Substance has managed to maintain its ominous aura. Horror seems to be one of the freshest genres within recent years, due in part to the audacity of the filmmakers. The Substance is a personification of how far a filmmaker is willing to take it.

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Demi Moore stars as a performer past her time, lost in the chase of a career that has died long ago. To feel young again, she is introduced to The Substance. I feel as if anything beyond this would reveal too much. It’s ominous, and yet by the end it couldn’t have been more in your face. Moore is a perfect casting as she was also someone who came to stardom at a young age. Her character changes dramatically throughout, and she maintains the personable and fearful demeanor throughout. 

Margaret Qualley is also a standout as she perfects the horror of youthfulness. Qualley has had an incredible year, starring in Kinds of Kindness, Drive-Away Dolls and The Substance. Much like Moore, her character, Sue, changes a lot throughout the movie. Sue continues to dive deeper into the titular substance, depending on it. Her character is youthful and yet that is what diminishes her. Sue being beautiful is a detractor to her character, it sorrows her.

While the two leading women are incredible, it’s what’s behind the camera that stands out. This is Coralie Fargeat’s second feature, and it’s absurdly well directed. The camera only moves to sicken you. Every single sound is used to make the audience queasy. Every cut is meant to be as jarring as possible. If the movie has gotten a visceral reaction, it has achieved its goal, especially with the last 30 minutes. The characters are tired, you’ve seen what has been thought to be all there is, and yet the last 30 minutes hold nothing back. Every rotten, unhinged idea is put to screen without restraint. The imagery is disturbing, the quick flashes don’t seem to leave the head after watching. Blinking is a sickening excuse to haunt the brain with the bloody imagery Fargeat wants the audience to remember. 

The Substance is a horror movie that takes a David Cronenberg approach to effects and blends it with modern horror filmmaking. Its repetitiveness, while at times seems like it can talk down to the audience to drill the theme in, is just a part of the blatant filmmaking and horror style. It’s similar to Zach Cregger’s Barbarian in how disgusting characters can sound and how effective the social metaphors are, despite Barbarian being more subtle. 

It’s fun, gory and should certainly not be anyone’s first horror movie. It’s exciting to show just how far it’s willing to go, and how much the audience can shrink back into their seats with their eyes covered. It’s reminiscent of 80’s body horror, while having some of the best commentary of the year.