The Substance

"⭐️9/10⭐️ There’s no doubt THE SUBSTANCE is destined to become a CULT CLASSIC—it has ALL the essential horror elements and then some! Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley deliver bold, unapologetic performances, diving deep into a narrative that explores FEMALE beauty, aging, sexism, & the grotesque, all wrapped in biting social commentary. These two women, essentially playing mirror images of each other, are absolutely brilliant, making their dual performances both captivating & haunting. Conversely, the MALE characters are portrayed as EXAGGERATED CARICATURES, providing comic relief amidst the tension. Dennis Quaid’s portrayal of Harvey—a sleazy TV producer—is as grotesque as it is humorous. His character’s name feels like a not-so-subtle jab at Harvey Weinstein. Whether intentional or not, it’s hard not to revel in despising such a slimeball character! And then there’s the MONSTER!! A Picasso-esque amalgamation of every creepy horror figure brought to film—imagine elements of Barbarian, The Fly, The Elephant Man, & The Hunchback, all fused into one grotesque entity. It’s indescribably freaky! You just have to see it for yourself. If you’re a true #horror fan, this is a film you absolutely NEED to experience on THE BIG SCREEN. Watching it on a small screen without professional sound simply won’t do it justice. The film thrives on #ATMOSPHERE, with stunning VISUALS & an unsettling SOUND design. Eerie silences build tension, while the chilling #FilmScore adds layers of unease, perfectly matching the film’s #mysterious, #intense, #desperate, #bizarre tone. The use of close-up camera angles & distorted shots amplifies the sense of disorientation, making you feel as unsettled as its two #FemaleLeads. The final act is nothing short of pure absurd madness, pushing the boundaries of horror & absurdity. It’s bold, it’s weird, & it’s unforgettable. THE SUBSTANCE isn’t just a horror film—it’s AN EXPERIENCE, one that will stay with you long after the credits roll. "

"Deeply unsettling but incredibly poignant. Don’t watch if you’ve got a weak stomach 🫠"

"I loved this movie it was the perfect mixture of camp, body horror and serious drama about how we treat not only aging women but just women in general in society with Hollywood being the perfect conduit for the story telling. It also could be seen as a cautionary tale about how we view ourselves and our bodies as we age and become less “perfect”. There are so many angles to this movie I could talk about it for hours! "

"Yucky yucky my tummy feels funny"

"I get the gist of the movie but wth was this garbage? I cannot even erase this from my memory. This is the worst movie I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Gory, beyond disgusting, completely destroyed the beautiful message behind the movie. "

"I will be thinking about this movie for a long time…….some parts were definitely over the top, on purpose. It’s an exaggerated take on the world we live in. Striving for perfection no matter what the cost. This movie is not for everyone. My take away is when you’re beautiful everyone loves you…… but when you lose that beauty………"

"4.5 - WOW. The most disturbing film I’ve seen in a LONGEST time. Every shot is a smack in the face. Instant cult classic for sure!!"

"Wow wow wow! If you are a fan of body horror and practical effects, then this is the movie for you! If you are afraid of needles, blood, or other forms of body horror, then I would recommend skipping this one. The Substance had my eyes glued to the screen the entire time. This movie has fantastic and creative ways to show how women and their bodies are treated by themselves and others (specifically men). It was fun to watch a movie that consistently surprised me. Even when there were certain plot points that I knew would take place, I was still surprised with the way the body horror added to it. Sometimes it was scary, sometimes it was funny, and the entire time it was gross! I highly recommend watching! "

"Whoa. What did I just watch? 😅✋🏼 definitely gruesome, weird, unhinged and crazy! Body horror is a real thing but oh my gosh. I definitely went into this movie blind and didn’t watch the trailer. But I’m still wondering what I just watched LOL. The art, the way they went about this film was perfect. Demi Moore went above and beyond for this. Definitely a crazy wild movie 🤣 8.5/10 ⭐️ "

"I went into The Substance mostly blind after only seeing the trailer and I'm glad I did. Body horror can be hit or miss for me, but this one really locked me in and so did the satirical aspect. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think I was actually holding my breath and the arms of my seat for the last 20 minutes at least. Fair warning: the body horror is pretty gruesome, but I'm pretty sure the shrimp eating scene is the most upsetting food scene I've ever watched. It's no comparison to Denethor eating tomatoes. I might never eat shrimp again. By the way, I was the only one in the screening I went to after I got off work today. What an experience!"