The Substance: The BRWC Review

22nd September 2024

The Substance: The BRWC Review. By Simon Lalji.

Gross, gory and downright grotesque!

When washed up star Elisabeth Sparkle feels the weight of the world, age and self hatred on her shoulders, she comes face to face with a substance that may just offer a newer, fresher and potentially stunning face to offer the world, no matter the bodily cost. Though it’s certainly wise to go into ‘The Substance’ with no spoilers in mind, it should be warned that this flick was certainly not designed for those who are pure of heart… and for those who aren’t, it’s a bloody good body horror time!

From the horrifically twisted mind of director Coralie Fargeat (Revenge) comes what will undoubtedly become a gem in the realm of cult classic horror films, but the question is, will this innovative horror flick be a hit? Though it’s far too early to guess numbers, it seems safe to say that ‘The Substance’ is arguably one of, if not the best horror films 2024 has to offer! Fargeat effortlessly infuses ‘The Substance’ with an unseen stylistic yet eerie sense throughout the film’s runtime. Whether through the sensational score by Raffertie or the potentially Oscar-contending bloody and brutal practical makeup and effects that’s sure to make a few viewers gag.

Suffice to say, such makeup meticulously manifests and transfers Fargeat’s vision of carnage onto the silver screen. To the grace of film fans, ‘The Substance’ possess an originality, which albeit has it’s clear inspirations from Kubrick’s ‘The shining’, De Palma’s ‘Carrie’ and even a surprising nod to ‘The Wizard of Oz’, the film blesses screens with a fresh, fun and chaotic time which sadly seems to be becoming a rarer and rarer thing in today’s day and age of cinema. Though Fargeat’s chaotic carnage may sometimes rightfully overshadow the drama at hand and provide an invigorating moviegoing experience, ‘The Substance’ comes with powerful metaphors of memory, age and society’s so called beauty, which though certainly is a hefty task it seems all those involved showed up for the challenge.

Though Fargeat injects ‘The substance’ with a shot of horrific imagery, slick stylistic edits and grotesque body horror gore, pleasing die hard horror fans, the clear standout and caped crusader of this horror flick is obviously the critically acclaimed, acting chameleon and beloved cinema veteran Demi Moore (A Few Good Men) as the character of Elisabeth Sparkle. Moore carries what is already a virtually impeccable script by Fargeat and raises it to A-list stardom with a performance of pain, horror and wicked witch levels of fun that Demi Moore has been known for decades. Many will call ‘The Substance’ the very film that Moore needed for her epic, cinematic comeback thus once again proving why she is one of the greatest actors of her generation and cementing herself as a true Hollywood movie star. With this being said, Moore can’t take all of the credit as Margaret Qualley (Kinds of Kindness) once again proves why she’s a new name to watch with her impeccable performance as the somewhat villainous character of Sue. From the works of Yorgos Lantimos’s Poor things, Kinds of Kindness and now her pitch perfect performance in ‘The Substance’, it’s certainly not hard to see a future Oscar winner in Margaret Qualley.

While it’s hard to deny that ‘The Substance’ presents a thrilling, innovative and refreshing time at the movies, the obvious make or break point of the film will be its absolutely hilarious, bonkers and yet strangely somewhat touching third act, Fargeat truly goes all out for the films final, world class thirty minutes. Though it’s difficult to discuss without spoilers, just know that this third act, for better or worse, hits every beat from your favourite misunderstood cheesy monster movie.

Overall, Coralie Fargeat’s ‘The Substance’ is a damn good time at the movies! While Fargeat shoots the film up with an uncanny quality of style, humour and horror, once again proving why she’s a name to watch in Hollywood, it’s undoubtedly Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley’s extraordinary performances alone that make ‘The Substance’ a must watch for horror and film fans. In UK cinemas 20th September.

4.5/5

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