My quick rating - 7.8/10. This flick, directed by Coralie Fargeat, presents a chilling, grotesque, and satirical take on vanity, celebrity culture, and the obsession with youth. The story follows a fading celebrity, portrayed by the ever-stunning Demi Moore, who turns to a black-market drug—a bizarre cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, seemingly better version of herself. The truly horrifying aspect of this narrative isn't the twisted side effects, but the terrifying reality that many would still embrace this drug to maintain their vanity and cling to their youth. One of the film’s most unsettling moments comes when the younger version of herself, Sue, played by Margaret Qualley, literally crawls out of her back in a scene that is both visually nauseating and deeply symbolic. The practical effects and makeup work are outstanding, selling the grotesque transformation with convincing realism. Watching both Moore and Qualley interact as mirror images of vanity and insecurity makes for a fascinating dynamic. Demi Moore's performance is raw and brave, showing her willingness to expose her own vulnerability while embodying the pressures of maintaining youth in a world obsessed with appearance. Qualley is equally exceptional, portraying the body-obsessed Sue with chilling precision. Both actors are magnetic on screen, parading through beautifully shot scenes that showcase both the glamour and horrors of their world. It is a highlight when the two finally get to occupy the same space later in the film. Coralie Fargeat's direction shines, combining stunning cinematography with moments of extreme body horror that echo Cronenberg’s style. Every grotesque sound and visual detail is meticulously crafted to unsettle and disturb, and Fargeat expertly uses this sensory assault to explore themes of misogyny, the fleeting nature of celebrity, and society's insatiable hunger for youth. The film’s satirical edge bites deeply into our cultural obsession with preserving youth and the price people will pay for it. The ending, in true #Shocktober fashion, is absolutely over-the-top and fittingly insane—bold, shocking, and leaving you reeling. Fargeat's vision brings a sharp critique of how society feeds off the young, yet also exploits the aging. Overall, The Substance is a daring and unsettling body-horror film that refuses to hold back. It’s a must-watch for fans of Cronenberg and his style of horror, offering not only gruesome imagery but also a deep commentary on vanity and the human cost of chasing eternal youth. I would easily place this one in top ten of the year if I were making a list and potentially the rare Oscar nomination for a horror actor, Demi Moore.
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