The Substance (2024)★ 7.6/10

Cool body horror film. Great performances from the 2 leads. It lost points just because I was trying to figure out the logistics of the swap the entire movie and didn't think it would be practical

The ultimate feminine experience. Definitely a must!
If you’re a gore lover…

Una película increíble, con una exelente fotografía y homenaje a las pelis de terror icónicas!

good movie

the ending dragged on, and honestly it wasn't as deep as it thinks it is

Cosmetic look and feel to frame actual monstrosity

The film tackles a subject I enjoy, with a bold and captivating execution and straightforward expression. It’s a thrilling experience in the cinema. Despite hearing how revolting it was, I found it less shocking than expected. The most ironic part, for me, was hearing the laughter of several men in the back row during the screening.

The film presents a grotesque display of male fantasies, with extravagant makeup and imaginative visuals. But its core logic is confusing; the senses and thoughts of the "original self" and the "other self" seem completely unaligned. This leads to the "other self's" reckless drug use and its frustration with the original's time-wasting, while the original becomes increasingly jealous of its younger self. The product appears to have significant side effects, with little positive gain—splitting off a youthful version of oneself to enjoy life while carrying all the burdens alone by the original self.

The film employs exaggerated sound design, from the grotesque chewing and tearing of flesh to agonized moans, amplifying both color and noise in a deliberately crass display. These choices mock the aesthetic standards of the entertainment industry, and moments like the monstrous character’s grotesque grooming scene create a distorted sense of dark humor.

The movie tackles a familiar theme—the male gaze and female beauty anxiety—wrapped in a new and gory package of body horror. However, it doesn’t offer any fresh perspective or visually groundbreaking moments, leaving me underwhelmed by the execution.

The objectification of women’s bodies, the relentless gaze, and the spectacle of the flesh—coupled with close-up shots and vibrant, high-saturation visuals—make the film’s exploitative nature clear. The discomfort that permeates the first half of the film morphs into something else by the end, serving as a bold, controversial statement on female empowerment within the horror genre.