Dad's Movie Lists
 

The Substance (2024), Director: Coralie Fargeat, rated R for nudity, gore, language, disturbing images

The untold story behind the miracle on the Hudson

Film ClipStarring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Edward Hamilton-Clark, Gore Abrams, Oscar Lesage, Christian Erickson, Robin Greer, Tom Morton, Hugo Diego Garcia

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"One single injection unlocks your DNA, starting a new cellular division, that will release another version of yourself. This is the Substance. You are the matrix. Everything comes from you. Everything is you. This is simply a better version of yourself." - The Substance Product Ad

Why watch this? It's quite an engrossing - and disturbing - experience.

Plot Summary: A faded star uses a black-market product to create a younger, more beautiful version of herself in order to reclaim her relevance. When her youthful counterpart becomes greedy with her time, the delicate balance between the two bodies begins to unravel. Their rivalry spirals into a nightmarish, satirical battle with horrific consequences that forces them to confront the damaging realities of perfection.

Dad's Preview: This visual and emotional onslaught will leave most viewers asking the question, "That the hell did I just watch?" It certainly satirizes the beauty industry, and begs the larger issue regarding the lengths some people will go to "stay young". This is a triumph for Demi Moore. Her performance is nuanced and complex as a woman accustomed to being the center of her world, yet brutally aware that her age is becoming a problem to her image. Many of her choices are horrible, yet (when we're not cringing), we love taking the spiral staircase to hell with her. There are also admirable performances from Dennis Quaid and stunning newcomer Margaret Qualley.   


Working Title Films, Blacksmith, A Good Story; Mubi

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