The Substance (2024)

The Substance is an intriguing combination of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Re-Animator, the Basket Case series, and Meet the Feebles. It also serves as a darkly comedic meditation on the treatment of Hollywood actresses over 30 and the concept of "aging." The film will polarize its audience, with some turned off by the subject matter and its crude revelations, while others will embrace it, engaging with the characters' journey through the story's arc. Demi Moore, as Elizabeth Sparkles, stands out as you sympathize with her character, even though little is revealed about her beyond her desire to reclaim the glory and status of decades past. Margaret Qualley, as "Sue," is also excellent, playing the beautiful but emotionally unbalanced "counterpart" to Elizabeth. The film is less profound than it believes itself to be, but it boasts an excellent setup and a satisfying resolution. There are stylish nods throughout, tipping its hat to 1980s Euro-pulp and giallo films, which give it an almost EC Comics appeal. It's clear that many influences are at play in this project. The film had me hooked for most of its runtime, right up until the "three months later" body suit for Elizabeth. While most of the practical effects were effective, this one fell flat, making her look like a potato that had been microwaved for too long. Still, the resolution drew me back in, with echoes of Carrie swirling in my mind. I would have preferred a primarily revenge-driven plot rather than a "here are the side effects" narrative, but the project maintains enough buoyancy to succeed. Demi Moore is deserving of an award here, but certain genres rarely get a nod.