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The Substance: One hell of a movie!
- Thread starter Bitstream
- Start date
If that was supposed to be a main theme of the film, then I think it fell short. There are really no negative consequences for Qualley's Sue character, she is young, beautiful, and gets her career handed to her. There is no lesson there, other than maybe the way diet impacts youth with the chicken leg bit. And for Demi there is no "up side" to age, its not like she was trying to transition out of being in front of the camera to being behind it (Jane Fonda, arguably a model for this character, shows how to deal with age in the fitness industry) or any other "with age comes wisdom" type lesson for older folks. It basically all downsides to ageing, so what, exactly, are older women supposed to be happy about? I feel like the theme is pretty squarely about cosmetics/surgery and while men do engage in it there is no where near the degree of lavish adherence to it like there is for women.
Futaleufu
Member
Sonik
Member
The last 30 minutes are like a parody of the rest of the movie, it started pretty good but it never took itself seriously enough and it kept getting more ridiculous, that dumb scene at the end where people reacted completely unrealistically towards the monster was the last straw for me. Maybe it's a preference but I like horror that actually gets in your mind not horror that just disgusts you and shows you gross shit/gore, I've gotten bored of that shit years ago and I've seen it a million times
Hawking Radiation
Member
This movie fucked me up. I legit had trouble sleeping that night and it grossed me out. Some of the scenes man, WTF !!
I think this did more damage to me than Poor Things which was already on another level of crazy.
Interesting movie but would not watch again.
I think this did more damage to me than Poor Things which was already on another level of crazy.
Interesting movie but would not watch again.
I dunno, I've seen folks applauding some pretty horrific "visions of women" to think that scene was lampooning that atrocious end result of some of this cosmetic surgery and how woman can still be "stunning and brave" with it, kind of an "emperors new clothes" vibe. The guy who saw her with the cut out of demis face stapled to her head and just shrugging as if it's all ok and not the worst thing he's seen that week was the best.
Definitely a choice to end it in such a way. Like I mentioned earlier, I really think they wanted that final shot of the face over the star and just had to work backwards from there. Or they got a few million as a kicker to punch it up. I'm just glad they still CAN do effects like that, I would have thought all those types of practical effects houses would have been long closed and the knowledge lost. Glad to be wrong.
Hawking Radiation
Member
Demi's ass sure is something. Bruce Willy put that thing through the wringer.
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Sonik
Member
I'm judging it as a story, I very rarely care about the allegories because 99% of the time it's pretentious Hollywood bullshit, which it definitely was. Something something women are victims and something about some women's narcissism, who gives a fuck.
When the director basically disrupts the pacing of the movie because the allegorical bullshit is a priority over story he can go fuck himself, if you want to make a good point make it through an engaging, moving story not with this cringy shit
MudoSkills
Volcano High Alumnus (Cum Laude)
This film was absolutely straightforward and about as subtle as a brick. Pretentious is not the word for it.
Grildon Tundy
Member
Very good movie. Like a feminine The Fly.
Some people in here said that the tone was messy; I disagree. It held a consistent, balanced goofy horror tone throughout, with the finale upping both factors.
It was funnier than I thought it'd be. I actually LOL'd at the MONSTRO ELISASUE title card insert.
Another movie getting press now because of gore is Terrifier 3. But the gore in those movies is intended to be entertaining for its own sake. Here, I feel like the writer/director has a heart and the gore/body horror serves a purpose to deliver home a message.
It's not subtle, but it's a story well-told and realized. Could've been about a half-hour shorter, though.
Some people in here said that the tone was messy; I disagree. It held a consistent, balanced goofy horror tone throughout, with the finale upping both factors.
It was funnier than I thought it'd be. I actually LOL'd at the MONSTRO ELISASUE title card insert.
Another movie getting press now because of gore is Terrifier 3. But the gore in those movies is intended to be entertaining for its own sake. Here, I feel like the writer/director has a heart and the gore/body horror serves a purpose to deliver home a message.
It's not subtle, but it's a story well-told and realized. Could've been about a half-hour shorter, though.
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Revolutionary
Member
Del Toro approved
Definitely, but I would have loved to have seen Ray Liotta's take on the role (it was his role but he passed away before filming).
I watched it on an edible right before bed and that was crazy enough.
Sardaukarama
Neo Member
I went in looking to be diasapointed but I loved it ! It reminded me of those 80's gore b movies. Fair play to Demi Moore for showing all her bits and dabs!
Branded
Member
Man, y'all like some slop dontcha?
Just watched this and thought it was pretty disappointing. First of all there's no reason why this had to be a two hour and twenty minute movie. This could've be so much more palatable as a tight 90 min shockflick. Further (and I'm probably not the first to say this) but for a film called The Substance it sure felt lacking in that department. All it gives the viewer is body horror and incessant editing to up its shock value. It's extremely predictable as well and you see the plot-beats coming from a mile away.
The only positive I would attribute to it is that the female director has the male gaze down to a tee and she's given us Margaret Qualley in all her bare glory. So kudos for that I suppose.
Just watched this and thought it was pretty disappointing. First of all there's no reason why this had to be a two hour and twenty minute movie. This could've be so much more palatable as a tight 90 min shockflick. Further (and I'm probably not the first to say this) but for a film called The Substance it sure felt lacking in that department. All it gives the viewer is body horror and incessant editing to up its shock value. It's extremely predictable as well and you see the plot-beats coming from a mile away.
The only positive I would attribute to it is that the female director has the male gaze down to a tee and she's given us Margaret Qualley in all her bare glory. So kudos for that I suppose.
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The Cockatrice
I'm retarded?
Finally seen it. As a horny male, worth it for the first half. Margaret is really hot and so is Demi considering her age. As a horrir fan it was shit. 6/10 and modtly for the sexual stuff.
Hrk69
Member
If You Thought Demi Moore’s Transformation Was Crazy in ‘The Substance,’ Wait Til You Hear How They Did It
Production designer Pierre Olivier-Persin spills all.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
Futaleufu
Member
Most of it was prosthetics
Yeah, the breasts definitely were, and I think a lot of the butt shots were a double. The leotard exercise stuff was her though, I think.
I think this kind of thing will be more common going forward. The silicone tech is really good now. That and CGI to remove pasties to give the actress more cover on set. I think we will see what is essentially simulated nudity. Lots of dudes with rubber junk flapping about for sure. Adding the actress' face over a body double. All that kinda thing.
Qualley has her natural self on display in other films though. She's nice if you like 'em slim.
8bitpill
Member
This generations Jennifer Connelly,
It's a good film. If you like David Cronenberg films you're going to love this. Definitely give it a solid three and a half stars.
It's a good film. If you like David Cronenberg films you're going to love this. Definitely give it a solid three and a half stars.
Ovech-King
Member
Loved the movie. My only gripes with it is that it overstayed its welcome . Even thought every additional scenes with make up and such were fantastic , it was dragging a bit on the pacing . Subtle but I think I would have worked better with 10-15 minutes less.
RJMacready73
Simps for Amouranth
First half was brilliant, second half was..
IntentionalPun
Ask me about my wife's perfect butthole
Too long and sort of one note. I did enjoy it but it’s a bit boring. The actual dialog in the script must be like 3 pages long.
MMaRsu
Member
Thats a shame
GymWolf
Member
Lol not even close.This generations Jennifer Connelly,
It's a good film. If you like David Cronenberg films you're going to love this. Definitely give it a solid three and a half stars.
8bitpill
Member
Acting wise or looks?
GymWolf
Member
Look, but i haven't watched almost anything with her in it so i can judge the acting, in the leftovers she was pretty unremarkable tbh.
8bitpill
Member
The ones I've watched with her in them is,
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood,
Poor Things,
and Death Stranding,
Which were decent performances. Margaret Qualley is a B List actress like Jennifer as well.
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RJMacready73
Simps for Amouranth
Tbf she has an absolute kick ass bod
ForAcademicPurposes
Member
37 fucking thousand gallons of fake blood.
Werewolf Jones
Member
Watched this last week expecting to be blown the fuck away when it was above average at best. Still way, way, WAY better than Longlegs. This movie at least deserves some of the praise.
Dr.Morris79
Member
Watched this last Saturday, the last ten minutes had us looking at each other in wtf moments.. The part were she's wearing the 'mask' and coming back onto stage with everyone 'loving' her was.. trippy, but
Coming away from it though and thinking about it some more, it might just be the best take of this industry in years!
I haven't read a thing about it online, and read zero takes from people, but am I right in thinking?
I mean, look at Rachel Zegler. An utter wombat, the whole internet hates her, she must know and you know deep down inside her she probably just wants the world to love her
If that is the case in the film, then it's damn good film.
If not. Braindead did it better.
Coming away from it though and thinking about it some more, it might just be the best take of this industry in years!
I haven't read a thing about it online, and read zero takes from people, but am I right in thinking?
The last ten minutes. She's wearing the mask as an utter monster, but everyone's loving her, is this a metaphor for her being an absolute bastard but people are pretending to love her? And is the blood spraying meant to be her pouring out her 'soul', so to speak, as an act of getting everyone to 'actually' like her, she doesnt want to be this monster shes made?
I mean, look at Rachel Zegler. An utter wombat, the whole internet hates her, she must know and you know deep down inside her she probably just wants the world to love her
If that is the case in the film, then it's damn good film.
If not. Braindead did it better.