It’s no secret I love horror. I even write it. Never, however, thought I’d love this kind of body horror in The Substance not for the sake of a few jump scares and the campy feel. Demi Moore’s return to form will stun you beyond what you’re used to in this genre. I’ll just say that.
How so? What makes this body horror extravaganza so remarkable? I mean, this is the horror genre we’re talking about. It can’t be that phenomenal. It’s only about manipulating fear receptors and going for cheap thrills, stuff that makes it impossible to suspend disbelief — Oh, why is that hot chick going into the basement, just call the damn police! or You know, there’s no way Jason Voorhees can catch up to someone sprinting like that!
Can the horror genre truly be…. awards worthy? Is there masterpiece value in getting the goosebumps? Is it even possible to write horror masterpieces?
Demi Moore’s The Substance Says YES!
Recently the upcoming body horror film The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat, debuted at the 77th Cannes Film Festival in France to high acclaim. I repeat: body horror is apparently turning heads in one of the biggest film festivals in the industry. You don’t expect to read all those words together.
And why is this huge? Because not only did it debut in said festival, the event’s jury selected it to compete for the Palme d’Or.
The Cannes Film Festival’s highest award for best film.
So, it’s fair to say it’s an understatement that such a movie is proof of great cinema!
That being said, there are a couple other factors in play as to why critics are eating up this surprisingly stark and disturbing study on body horror.
The Substance Hasn’t Hit Theaters, Yet, and It’s Already Hitting Rotten Tomatoes Hard
As hard as a certified fresh 92% rating. That’s impressive for any horror film to achieve. And that’s right out of the gate even before debuting in theaters. Aside from the other recent arthouse horror films we’ve seen, like Get Out with the current 98% rating and Us with a 93% rating, it’s clear The Substance is in great company to proceed onward in a movement of horror films that transcend the macabre into the thought-provoking.
So, what is The Substance all about? Glad you asked:
Demi Moore Portrays the Character of Elisabeth Sparkle
A woman shunned in society due to her age, ceremoniously exiting her own show entitled Sparkle Your Life in favor of a younger host. So right off the bat, we get a sense of politics and society tarnishing the weight and prestige of a woman who should be praised regardless of her looks or age.
More importantly, though, the real subject matter comes out as Sparkle learns of a new cell-replicating “substance” designed to basically ‘clone’ a younger version of herself. And then we see what this film is trying to address, something poignant and rich in subject matter that arguably no one could overlook.
But It Even Goes Deeper Than That
Here’s the reason why this films actually categorized as “body horror.”
Its unabashed view of nudity and even sexuality takes massive precedence in the sense that our senior-aged Demi Moore does something no actress of her years has ascribed to do in front of the camera: full frontal nudity.
The beauty of that is those scenes in The Substance have nothing to do with sex appeal, per se. Sure, we all love Demi Moore anyway, but not so much in the way we’re accustomed to. Rather within the context of the scenes that feature her goodies, it’s clear that her younger clone (the talented Margaret Qualley portrays) being ‘birthed’ from the cells of Elisabeth Sparkle, Demi Moore’s character, provides a stark contrast that examines how we view the human female body.
Strikingly, we see Demi Moore nude again in a very bloody fight with her also naked clone — and it’s utterly horrific.
That’s entirely the point.
Amid the Foreboding of the Battle of Ageism with the Horror Trope of Cloning….
It’s nevertheless a direct declaration of body positivity, rooting for Moore’s character as she battles her clone to somehow salvage some sense of self and prosperity. Critics seemed to love the inner meaning behind all of it….
“It’s the casting of Moore, though, and her willingness to denude herself at 61 — emotionally, as well as physically — that gives ‘The Substance’ a startling connection with its themes”
And….
“[Coralie Fargeat] draws on much of the hyperbolic flamboyance that’s come to define megaplex horror…. But unlike 90% of those movies, ‘The Substance’ is the work of a filmmaker with a vision. She’s got something primal to say to us.”
It’s Fair to Say “Bravo” to Moore and Co. on The Substance….
And we’re calling a shot right here: we’re seeing Oscars or Golden Globes coming. There, I said it.
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