The Substance

There’s a big difference between being funny and being laughable, yet the latest from writer-director Coralie Fargeat has somehow found a way to be both. After amassing a considerable amount of largely well-earned cinematic goodwill in the film’s opening segments, the picture mercilessly squanders that support in the final act with an overlong, meandering, disgustingly gratuitous and grotesque exh...

CinemaSerf

7/10

This takes a logical step on from Coralie Fargeat's earlier "Reality+" (2014) drama, only this time it takes a much more substantial swipe at all things vain. "Elisabeth" (Demi Moore) has been at the top of her fitness game for many a year when her boss "Harvey" (Dennis Quaid) decides that she's now too old and that a younger model is needed to present those programmes we all saw on the television...

r96sk

9/10

Certainly an experience! <em>'The Substance'</em> is <b>a lot</b>. It's one of those sorta movies that I needed to let settle in my mind before I even started to think about reviewing it. I'm not even sure where to start. It's insane from pretty much the beginning to the very end of its 140 minute run time, some scenes are particularly rough to watch unfold! I think the only body horror flic...

I love French comedic films, and this one is no different. Coralie Fargeat crafted a seemingly simple story on the subject of Hollywood's obsession with youth and beauty, and then directed it right into the status of cult, horror, midnight, grade B (the good kind) movie genre. Brilliant! While on the face, this movie is about aging out of Hollywood's graces, the script is also laced with intere...

VicSur

9/10

**The Substance (2024)** A Visceral Exploration of Youth Obsession and the Fear of Time "The Substance" is a bold cinematic experience that masterfully resurrects the practical effects of 1980s horror, delivering a visual and auditory feast that is both nostalgic and groundbreaking. Directed with a keen eye for detail, the film delves deep into society's obsession with youth and the inevitable...

"The Substance" is something of a cinematic mash up. First off, this story is somewhat reminiscent of "Death Becomes Her". The 1992 film starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn and Bruce Willis. The notion of the fatal conceit in the search for eternal youth amongst the ageing Hollywood set is very much central to the story in both films. That said, the handling is distinctly different. Thi...

A disaster. It's an insult to the illustrious careers of Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid, who both deserve far better. The film focuses too heavily on the body of Margaret Qualley's character, Sue, at the expense of delivering a meaningful story or message. The gratuitous gore towards the end seems to be an attempt to align with current trends, but it falls flat. Ultimately, Coralie Fargeat fail...

I’m into strange films, psychological elements, dramas, and gore, but this movie is complete garbage.

Grotesque, diving into the pitfalls of progress and the human obsession with perfection. Visually, it’s remarkable — its uncanny imagery often leaves you questioning whether you’re thrilled or disturbed. However, while it’s bold and at times deeply unsettling, it doesn’t quite achieve that elusive "perfectly balanced (as all things should be, cit.)" quality. The narrative occasionally stumbles...

_The Substance_ swings hard for shock value but lands in a muddled heap. The film’s body‑horror excess quickly turns repetitive, and the social commentary feels so surface-level that it smothers any nuance the story might have had. Despite a committed lead performance, the pacing is sluggish, the tone wobbles between satire and chaos, and the final act spirals into noise rather than meaning. It’s ...