This week, the new horror thriller Substance, starring Demi Moore, is released in Russian cinemas.
The film was praised by critics, who noted its provocativeness and relevance. As a result, the film took the Palme d’Or for best screenplay. For the horror genre, the victory seems somewhat surprising.
We’ve already watched the new product and are very impressed. As always, we’ll tell you about it without spoilers.
Briefly
The script is shocking in its audacity
What is the film about?: The story follows Elizabeth Sparkle, a once successful fitness show star who is replaced by a younger presenter by a producer.
While searching for a way to regain her former glory, Elizabeth comes across a drug called “Substance” that allows her to create a younger, idealized version of herself.
The entire film is literally saturated with monstrous irony. A drug with a few “innocent” rules that cannot be broken (who said “Gremlins”?) turns Elizabeth’s life into something so terrible and outrageous that the boundaries between “funny” and “horrible” are erased.
At the same time, the film cannot help but be compared to The Picture of Dorian Gray: it also explores the horror that comes with an obsession with youth. But while Dorian Gray ages gracefully in a portrait, Substance creates a physical and monstrous version of this fear – a body that is destroyed by failure to follow the rules. And it is shown in an extremely bold and disgusting way. Some scenes will be hard to forget.
The director masterfully uses the grotesque, bloody scenes and exaggerated images, creating not just a body horror, but a real manifesto against beauty standards.
Substance literally laughs at how the entertainment and media industries force women to chase unattainable beauty standards.
There is a lot of “meat” here, not everyone will like it
The plot is captivating in its directness and boldness. The young version quickly captures the audience’s attention and Elizabeth’s work, but a battle for existence begins between them. No one wants to share their time in this world, and this is where the real nightmare begins.
The film boldly ventures into body horror territory, and does so with panache, creating scenes that are simultaneously terrifying, disgusting, and fascinating. This isn’t just horror for the sake of shock value; each gruesome scene has symbolic meaning, demonstrating how the characters’ physical transformations reflect their inner fears and conflicts.
Director Coralie Farget is clearly inspired by the work of genre masters like David Cronenberg, but her approach to body horror is more stylish and emotional.
There is a scene in the film that is the most painful spectacle, filled with blood and gore, but at the same time it is deeply metaphorical. Not for the faint of heart.
The final part of the film is the most terrifying, immersing the audience in a real nightmare of bodily transformations. Farget takes as his basis the idea of a classic horror: a body that changes and gets out of control.
The horror in Substance isn’t limited to just visual shocks and gore. The film’s horror is also deeply psychological. Elizabeth, going through a midlife crisis and feeling useless, is forced to look at a younger, more idealized version of herself. Emotional pain becomes literal, and the fight for youth becomes a fight with her own body.
The film is full of shocking scenes involving mutilated bodies, decaying flesh and violent metamorphoses. These scenes may cause physical discomfort or even nausea in viewers.
The acting is commendable.
Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley impress with their performances, bringing not only physical transformation but also emotional depth to their characters. Moore brilliantly conveys her character’s internal conflict – the struggle to stay young and not accept herself. Qualley, on the other hand, embodies youth and the desire to succeed, but behind her glossy image there is loneliness and emptiness.
Dennis Quaid, who plays Harvey, adds a satirical element to the film, his caricatured portrayal of the producer highlighting the absurdity of the industry’s demands on age and appearance.
Horror with a relevant social subtext
The film boldly raises questions about beauty standards, the pressure on women to stay young and successful, and how society and the media create impossible ideals. It does so through shocking visuals where the grotesque and excess play a major role.
The scenes where Elizabeth looks at her reflection and can’t accept her appearance are permeated with a deep sense of insecurity and despair. This is something that many people can relate to, and it is here that the emotional core of the film lies. These are gorgeous, if scary, moments.
The final part of the film is the culmination of all the emotional and visual elements, reaching its peak in a bloody, grotesque spectacle. The ending will not only shock you, but will definitely make you talk about the film after watching it.
It’s worth watching, but not for everyone.
Substance is a film that leaves no one indifferent. It is both a brutal satire and a tragic story about losing yourself in an attempt to live up to unattainable standards.
Visually stunning and filled with deep metaphors, the new release is a shining example of a modern body horror film that questions the ideals promoted by the media and entertainment industry.
But this bold and provocative work will certainly not appeal to all viewers. Substance is not for those who shy away from scenes of physical transformation and psychologically difficult stories about aging. The film may also alienate viewers sensitive to violence and sexualization.
We recommend everyone else to watch it. Such bold, authorial, and at the same time very relevant cinema is rarely made. This film is about fears that we are not always ready to admit: the fear of losing our youth and the fear of being forgotten. Gorgeous and instructive.
Source: www.iphones.ru
