CAUTION: Spoilers Ahead!
The Winchester Brothers sat down to indulge in one of the most talked-about horror movies of this year.
The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat and including the talent of Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, Margaret Qualley as Sue, and Dennis Quaid as Harvey — was a thrilling ride that kept our eyes glued to the television screen.
The Substance caught our attention with a few familiar odes, Divinity (Eddie Alcazar) Black Mirror, Carrie, and Infinity Pool. Everything– to the production design, visuals, color palette, and performances sold this film for us.
In fact, it really opened our eyes to what can truly be achieved in cinema in this day and age. Horror is stretching, bending, and, splitting into something exciting. Nobody is ready for it.
The Substance is a body-horror film. The story explores themes of transformation, beauty standards, and identity, focusing on two women, as they confront a mysterious and unsettling force within the green vile of The Substance. The movie uses minimal dialogue, relying heavily on visual storytelling and sensory experiences to delve into societal pressures and personal metamorphosis. It blends psychological depth with visceral horror.
We, together, always thought that Fargeat had a bit of an Ari Aster undertone, which proves to be true following this thrill ride of a project. We’ll talk about Beau is Afraid another day, and why it was so impactful to where we are now.
What stood out the most to us was the mutations that developed from the drug itself. They were f*cking disgusting. Genuinely. We loved the use of probe lenses to get that unique, up-close-and-personal feel, while exploring the ways this liquid worked throughout the body. The screenplay was obviously written to an extensive period, making sure the film capitalized on all of those details down to the wire.
The contrast of different lives (even though they are one) was riviting. On the one hand, you have Sue (Margaret Qualley) battling her older, less attractive host, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), to try and stay young forever. Time catches up, on the other hand, and she inevitably doesn’t listen to the rules of The Substance.
If you haven’t watched The Substance, run to Mubi and find out why it’s important to f*ck the mind up. It delivers new experiences, pierces through your psyche, and opens you up to a brand new view of not only yourself, but others — and the lengths that people will go to achieve a certain standard.
Keep watch for our 2024 horror movies tier list video on YouTube at the end of the year. We’ll explain why “The Face” will make the list for 2026. What were your thoughts about The Substance? Comment below!
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