Substance
“You got to pump it up, don’t chu know, pump it up!”
My short review is this. This is a movie that was exactly what I expected it to be, but in a much more real sense was nothing that I expected! When looking at promos and trailers, the general path flows where I expected it, but that path was not paved! A really unique film that is absolutely not for anyone. If you are put off from body horror in any way, then avoid. This film has a cast, but really focuses on 3; Demi Moore, Margret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid. All three are phenomenal and I giggle at the fact Dennis is in this and the film Regan right now and Margret was just officially casted in Happy Gilmore 2. It just shows their range; but back to the movie.
Like I said, it's a film that isn’t for everyone which is a tough pill to swallow, as it has so many elite aspects to it in a film sense. The thing it struggles with the most is its length. I found that it dragged a little and caused a slump a few times within the movie. Aside from that, some over the top body horror, and almost comedic level gore I think you have a fresh new look at a ‘horror’ film. The Substance is a bold and unconventional film that offers a unique blend of horror, drama, and sci-fi. While its body horror aspect may not be for everyone, the film's strong performances, thought provoking themes, and unique world makes it an experience for those willing to embrace its weird approach.
-J
E and I went in completely blind to this movie, knowing only that it was in the horror genre, and wow, what a ride it was. Certainly the most visceral movie of the year, edging out Love Lies Bleeding in this regard, as I was completely tense almost the entire runtime. That tenseness is largely due to the extreme body horror that is displayed, but also the general mood of the film, which is just anxiety-inducing. As Jordan said, the nature of this movie makes it unpalatable for a wider audience, which is hard, because the movie overall was this close to being a 10/10 masterpiece. The concept, acting, style, and effects are all masterfully done, but holding it back are some poor pacing and lack of in-universe logic. The movie is heavily metaphoric, critiquing society’s beauty standards for women, but to a point that actually prevents the movie from maintaining in-universe logic, which a true masterpiece would maintain. I Saw the TV Glow struggled with this to nth degree. It’s a difficult movie to recommend, as you’ll likely only be able to even get through the whole runtime if you’re a fan of horror or are sick-o cinephiles like the ZEJ team, but if that’s you, then you are going to love this movie.
-Z
