THE SUBSTANCE

TIFF 24 REVIEW BY: DARREN ZAKUS

DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2024

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

The Substance is one of the most grotesque, twisted and outright brilliant horror films in recent memories thanks to a daring vision from Coralie Fargeat that she brilliantly brings to the screen, while directing two mesmerizing performances from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.

There was one film that made headlines at this year’s Cannes Film Festival for being incredibly gory, unsettling, and “f—ing insane”, and that was The Substance. For those who are familiar with writer and director Coralie Fargeat’s previous film Revenge, it should come as no surprise that her latest film is soaked with blood, and it has just splattered its way into North America at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. And while you may be expecting a grotesque and bloody experience, nothing can truly prepare you for The Substance. It’s an ambitious and daring film that delivers some of the most extreme moments of body horror in recent memory, armed with incredible direction and writing from Fargeat and two outstanding performances from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley that makes it an instant horror classic… if you can stomach it!

If there is one thing The Substance isn’t, it's tame. Tackling internal violence, societal importance of looks and how women are treated as they age, and a critique on powerful men who control these women, Fargeat does not hold back for a second in her latest film. Following an aging actress who undergoes a black market medical procedure to allow her to obtain youth through a cloned younger version of herself, Fargeat has crafted a biting and shocking satire. There are moments of extreme body horror and gore, that you think can’t get any more grotesque than that first scene with the spawning of the clone, but it gets so much worse by the final act that non-horror fans will be sick to their stomach and horror fans will be gleefully excited as the madness unfolds on screen. But beneath the gore, the story is brilliant. Filled with twisted dark humour that will have audiences erupting into laughter, the exploration of aging and looks has a haunting quality that showcases a revolting side of our modern society, which is only amplified by Dennis Quaid’s character Harvey (and you can bet that name was selected on purpose). The duality between Elisabeth Sparkle and Sue is entrancing, watching these two halves of the same person fight for control and fame that culminates in that absolutely insane final act, there is truly no other film like it. And it's all done without lots of dialogue, instead allowing the sound and visuals that Fargeat wrote in tandem with the screenplay to do the heavy lifting of the story.

With Fargeat’s emphasis on visual storytelling, it comes as no surprise that the film is gorgeous to look at. The cinematography is striking, creating a gorgeous visual experience between the colour palette and the impressive camera work to draw the audience into the world of Elisabeth Sparkle. Bringing to life the body horror elements are some of the best makeup and prosthetic work of the year that transforms Moore and Qualley in front of your eyes, requiring six plus hours of makeup and Qualley running around in a full on body suit during the final act, that shows displays very minor digital work (if any beyond the two moments that are not practical) and is more than deserving to win the Academy Award this year. The sound design is aggressive and amplifies the terror of the film, with incredible mixing and editing that hits you like a train to ensure that the film is an all out assault on your senses. 

But, it is the performances that make the film the wild ride it is. Moore is nothing short of spectacular with one of the best performances of her career as Elisabeth. Building the backbone of the film, Moore’s portrayal of Elisabeth is heartbreaking as she will do anything to hold onto fame and a youthful image, afraid of how time is affecting her body. Whether it be a moment where she is being courageously silent or going unhinged as she clashes with Qualley’s Sue, Moore is nothing short of spectacular. It’s still crazy that she agreed to such a daring and grotesque role, but it’s one remarkable performance that is getting the critical acclaim it deserves. Qualley, continuing a streak of incredible performances, is a blast as Sue. Capturing a youthful energy and killer instinct to grasp fame and never let it go, Qualley is both alluring and sinister as Sue and once again proves herself as one of the most exciting up and coming actresses! Her pairing with Moore is sensational, with the two of them building the intoxicating duality of Elisabeth and Sue like a ticking time bomb and letting the madness explode in the final act. And Dennis Quaid, what a crazy brilliant performance! While he does not have a lot of screen time, every second he is on screen he gives an over the top and disgusting performance that will make your skin crawl that perfectly captures the disturbing male executive with some sickening scenes, one of which will make you never look at shrimp the same way again! 

In a year of already great horror films, The Substance comes out as a late addition to the lineup and washes the competition away with a tidal wave of blood and gore in one of the year’s most shocking films. With an exceptional technical craft in every aspect of the film, Coralie Fargeat unleashes her daring vision on audiences tackling themes of age, image and violence in one of the most unsubtle yet effective ways possible. With the dazzling pairing of Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley delivering two of the year’s most intoxicating performances, The Substance is a true home run for Coralie Fargeat that delivers an unforgettable film that horror fans will not soon forget!