My formative horror years were spent watching a lot of body horror movies, particularly the films of DAVID CRONENBERG and 1980’s gems like SOCIETY. Cronenberg’s THE FLY remains on of my favourite films ever, not least because of the way the cast, script, and direction combine to make the audience eventually feel such intense sympathy for something as repulsive as Brundlefly.
THE SUBSTANCE stands (mutated) head and (deformed, blood and slime covered) shoulders alongside some of the greatest films in the gross and sticky body horror genre. In fact, I’d go as far to say it’s one of the very best.
A fading celebrity decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
There’s more than enough being said in the press at the moment about THE SUBSTANCE, so I don’t have anything much to add other than if, like me, you have a penchant for grotesque films with a point to make, I recommend you go and see it. The script and direction from CORALIE FARGEAT are bang on, and it’s so well paced that the 140 minute running time feels half that length. It’s inventive, extreme, and surreal, and yet its messaging isn’t lost or diluted among all the gore and gallons of blood. MARGARET QUALLEY is excellent, but DEMI MOORE will just blow you away with what has to be the performance of her career.
THE SUBSTANCE is a startlingly original film with a completely uncompromised vision. I loved it.
