The Substance (2024)

The Very Best

The Substance 2024

8.3/10
Demi Moore swaps bodies in this standout chaotic body dysmorphia horror

There is nothing quite like The Substance right now. It’s unsubtle, it’s provocative, and its satirical humor can be a hit or miss for some viewers, but it strikes at the one thing that’s fundamental to everyone, that can make or break their lives, yet that is rarely given grace and consideration– that is the body. Legions of people have yearned for youth and beauty, but The Substance systematically outlines how much these have been intertwined with our livelihoods, opportunities, and identities, and how other entities would capitalize on this yearning and push many of us to take that out, suck that out, literally, from ourselves. The Substance does this all with insane, frenetic energy.

Synopsis

A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Storyline

On her 50th birthday, fading Hollywood movie star Elisabeth Sparkle is let go from the aerobics show she hosts, leading her to take a black-market serum injection that promises a younger, better version of herself.

TLDR

If you can’t handle me at my Monstra ElisaSue, you don’t deserve me at my young Elisabeth!!!

What stands out

As much as the prosthetic work was incredible, honestly, what stood out to me the most was Demi Moore in a lead role again. She killed it with her performance.