The Substance Review

How far would you go to be youthful again?

"The Substance" is a profoundly layered body horror starring Demi Moore as the aging "Elisabeth Sparkle" - the once great Starlet, now struggling to keep relevance in the Hollywood eye. When hit with the news that Elisabeth is going to be let go from her prime position in front of the camera, she happens upon "The Substance" - a particular green liquid that once injected, promises the fountain of youth.

But it doesn’t go well... we're talking "The Fly" meets "Carrie" in a film that will be ultimately polarizing - with audiences that may or may not enjoy the extreme body horror at times, and the incredibly impactful themes that this film tackles.

Shot beautifully… the film is a slow burn to begin with, before raising the stakes consistently as the story progresses - with amazing visuals produced to make the viewer uncomfortable(think super close-ups and loud visceral chewing noises), the attention to detail is fantastic from a photography standpoint.

Dennis Quaid and Margaret Qualley also give absolutely striking performances, as rather despicable characters that are clearly only out for themselves.

But the strongest point of the film is the messaging, and without spoiling the film, or especially its over-the-top unpredictable ending - it's a film that needs to be seen to be believed.

While this film won't be for everyone - but those that persevere to appreciate the interesting mix of body gore, and a strong message around beauty standards… will be in for an absolute treat.

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Stream is the goriest film of 2024 so far.