Fear and joy can be just as effective in the world of cinema as they are in our daily lives. For the most talented filmmakers, horror and comedy are a powerful combination that can be utilised in unison to deliver powerful stories. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance is a truly exceptional movie. Grotesque, hilarious and poignant, this may be the best film of 2024.
An ageing celebrity uses a black market drug to transform into a younger version of herself. The picture is led by Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid, with a variety of supporting performers in minor roles.
The Substance is not a film burdened by reality nor is it one that cares for plot holes or grounded explanations. To enjoy the movie, one must experience its events at face value and accept that this is a narrative with many elements that follow little logic. But its surreal nature is an immense strength, allowing us to be positioned in a bizarre environment containing many layers of moving emotional storytelling.
With sets dipped in glaring colour and visuals ripped from a fever dream, The Substance is a gorgeous trip that conveys an abundance of meaning for modern society. Dealing with subjects like ageing and addiction, the core of the film is a sad topic that gives life to every scene on display. While many moments are exceedingly gross in ways both funny and horrific, the movie remains centred on its message of acceptance. It is here, in the script itself, that the film flourishes to a high level of quality.
Building on the aforementioned elements of horror, lovers of the genre have much to adore. This is a body horror picture through and through, delivering some of the most shocking imagery you will ever witness. But with strong horror comes effective humour, ensuring that audiences go on a wild ride with many memorable pitstops on the way to an explosive destination.
Demi Moore is utterly excellent as our primary lead, dispatching a career-best performance containing a melancholic throughline of despair. Although her character is simpler, Margaret Qualley is, in a word, perfect. Finally, Dennis Quaid can only be described as relentlessly disgusting. But for a film like this, you would hope for nothing less with the individual he is playing.
In an alternate reality, The Substance would be a strong contender for Best Picture at the Oscars. Unfortunately, this is not a realm we live in. With this in mind, the film is still one that can be recommended across the board. Even if you aren’t attracted to its ‘weird’ premise, the movie’s heart beats with the viscous blood of a story that everyone can relate to.