The Substance

Grotesque, diving into the pitfalls of progress and the human obsession with perfection. Visually, it’s remarkable — its uncanny imagery often leaves you questioning whether you’re thrilled or disturbed. However, while it’s bold and at times deeply unsettling, it doesn’t quite achieve that elusive "perfectly balanced (as all things should be, cit.)" quality. The narrative occasionally stumbles, with gaps that detract from its overall impact. It’s thought-provoking but not groundbreaking — a film that’s above average, yet just shy of excellence. And I like to imagine that the director somehow died during the making of the movie and was secretly replaced by Yoshihiro Nishimura.

I’m into strange films, psychological elements, dramas, and gore, but this movie is complete garbage.

A disaster. It's an insult to the illustrious careers of Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid, who both deserve far better. The film focuses too heavily on the body of Margaret Qualley's character, Sue, at the expense of delivering a meaningful story or message. The gratuitous gore towards the end seems to be an attempt to align with current trends, but it falls flat. Ultimately, Coralie Fargeat failed to deliver a coherent message, making the movie a missed opportunity for everyone involved.