It must be noted that paying homage to other films is very acceptable and appropriate. There are so many films out there to borrow from as homage is simply paying your respects to that particular film. Coralie Fargeat’s second feature film has without a doubt done that and then some in her new film The Substance.
Most notably the body horror works of her biggest influence, David Cronenberg. If Cronenberg directed The Substance, let’s just state that this would have been publicised as his big comeback and it would be highly praised. As The Substance has not been directed by Cronenberg, let’s just stipulate that a new director has catapulted to queen like horror status. Her second feature should be praised like Quentin Tarantino’s second feature was.
Let Demi Moore now be mentioned and praised. From a personal anecdote, she was the first celebrity crush. Anyone would be a fool to not class her as a celebrity crush. Now at the age of sixty, she is still more stunning than ever and has used her age to correlate with the film. In other words, Moore has taken advantage of her ageing process and uses it with bold audacity and risk. The plot is where a fading celebrity who decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself. When you’re considered a has-been, how can Moore’s character, Elizabeth Sparkle keep working in Tinseltown?
Once the drug known as Activator is graphically injected, a homage to the chest-bursting scene from Alien takes place, but instead of the chest, it’s out of the back, which we can call a graphic spinal birth scene. Out bursts Margaret Qualley who knows her purpose and calls herself Sue. Demi Moore is the matrix/mother and Qualley is the younger cell/clone. The objective is for Sue to embark on a prosperous Hollywood career, replacing Elizabeth Sparkle from her workout exercise TV show. The rise evolves as the TV ratings grow, and Moore’s character is now yesterday’s news. Has Moore’s Elizabeth Sparkle got what she’s wanted by having a younger version of herself? Will Moore and Qualley’s characters clash with one another when they break the rules of the drug intake. The rules are outrageous! One week, Elizabeth Sparkle comes back, and the next week (a strict seven days) Sue must come out. Alternating bodies is essential and as one is laid to rest behind a hidden bathroom wall, the other can indulge in the fast life and glamour.
Once the seven-day rules are broken and taken advantage of by the other, this is where the true fun kicks in. Bodies start to deteriorate and deform, and the art of body horror comes into fruition. Qualley’s performance is just as outstanding as Moore’s. She has taken advantage of her youthful beauty and made a sad point that being young is a true upper hand. However, the moral of the film can be that we should embrace our ageing process and not have to do what real-life ageing celebrities do, E.G. Plastic surgery, facelifts and under-the-table experimental treatment. That is easier said than done and when vanity consumes you, that is when the shit hits the fan.
The Substance is gory, grotesque and gruesomely good. It’s not for the squeamish. As one can be desensitised to gore from viewing many films in this genre, you will be in for a great treat. Regarding the amazing film homage; expect Stanley Kubrick’s narrow hallways from The Shining to create visual beauty. Throw in the head-bashing scene in Gasper Noe’s Irreversible but Coralie Fargeat making it her own. Then there is Brian De Palma’s Carrie with blood spewing over everyone in a climactic scene. penultimately watch out for Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream homage of graphic depiction of needle injecting creating big lacerations along with Aronofsky’s Black Swan where the self-mutilation will make you heave. Finally, any David Cronenberg body horror film is the overall homage from The Fly to Videodrome etc. In years to come, The Substance will be a horror cult classic but realistically an Oscar nomination or a win for Best Makeup and Hairstyling is well deserved.
Gory, Grotesque and Gruesomely Good
Movie title: The Substance (2024)
Movie description: A fading celebrity decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
Date published: September 21, 2024
Country: UK
Duration: 2h 21m
Director(s): Coralie Fargeat
Actor(s): Margaret Qualley, Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid
Genre: Body Horror, Dark Comedy, Horror, Drama
Summary
The Substance is gory, grotesque and gruesomely good. It’s not for the squeamish.
Aly has a strong passion for film as he enjoys reviewing and analysing them. He has written for Hey U Guys, The Hollywood News and The People’s Movies. He is an aspiring screenwriter and has had much interest by professionals in the industry. For the bread and butter, he teaches English Language and Literature in secondary school which he truly enjoys, but has dreams to enter the film industry professionally. He loves networking as making good contacts is key to moving forward.
