The Substance is chock-full of body horror, but is it actually scary?

As a seasoned horror aficionado with a penchant for the bizarre and grotesque, I must say that “The Substance” has certainly left an indelible mark on my psyche. Having dabbled in the works of Cronenberg in the past, I can confidently assert that Fargeat’s latest offering is a worthy successor to the body horror throne.

The Movie titled ‘The Substance’ is generating a lot of buzz in 2024, showcasing exceptional body horror reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s work. This latest cinematic offering hails from talented French director Coralie Fargeat, who has previously captivated audiences with her film ‘Revenge’. With the movie now streaming on Mubi, a growing number of viewers are enjoying its gripping plot and standout performances by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.

50-year-old Elisabeth Sparkles, once a well-known actress and now an aerobics instructor, is fired from her job. Her boss, Dennis Quaid, thinks she’s too old and plans to hire someone younger and more attractive as her replacement. Feeling dejected, Elizabeth decides to try an experimental drug that claims to create the “ideal” version of herself, but the outcome proves disastrous.

Considering the graphic nature of gore in this movie, you may wonder if it’s suitable for your taste. Here are some key points to help you decide (keeping spoilers minimal).

The Substance is not a traditional scary movie but it’s super gross

This film, titled “The Substance“, deviates from typical horror tropes such as jump scares, demons, and ghosts. Instead, it offers a satirical exploration of body horror, seasoned with copious amounts of dark humor to alleviate its most unsettling scenes. Although you may not find yourself needing to sleep with the lights on after watching, be warned that the movie contains numerous graphic, disturbing moments which some viewers might find too intense or hard to digest.

In this film, Fargeat’s style is reminiscent of Cronenberg’s, particularly if you’re familiar with movies like “The Fly” or “Scanners”. However, Fargeat pushes the boundaries even beyond what you might expect from “The Substance”.

In the film, a pivotal moment occurs early on, following Elizabeth’s self-injection of the activator. This triggers the appearance of another version of herself, portrayed by Margaret Qualley, who emerges from Elizabeth’s back. The movie provides a detailed and graphic depiction of Elizabeth’s back splitting open.

In the film “The Substance, you can expect an abundance of grisly scenes involving gore, mutilation, and graphic depictions of blood and bodily fluids. Characters undergo self-inflicted injuries such as tooth loss and stitching their skin back together. There are also instances of intense violence leading to a lot of bloodshed. The overall tone of the movie is less about fear, but rather a blend of dark humor, occasionally bordering on campiness.

If you’re a person who can handle graphic content without being disturbed, then the movie titled “The Substance” might suit you well, as it’s known for testing limits in terms of body horror and is one of the most gruesome films in this genre recently produced. Additionally, keep in mind that it includes numerous nudity scenes and lives up to its R rating.

2024-11-21 23:26