The Substance

[SocksAndTheCity]

I saw this a few weeks ago at a festival but it's out on general release today and I'll be going again on Monday - I thought it was terrific, if a bit long. Has anybody else been for a look? It's pretty squishy and definitely not for everyone.

Demi Moore is just stunning (as is Margaret Qualley), Dennis Quaid is absolutely grotesque and the end is mental 🤣

Thanks! This is fine, I'll book the ticket then :)

Ooh. That is really interesting. I'll have to think about that.

Saw it today. Bonkers ending but sad ending.When she put the poster on her face and did her hair...and just went along. Then that all happened 🤣

Loved it. Bless her little poster face 😅

I roared with laughter. Great to see women being allowed that kind of splatter/gonzo horror.

I really liked the fact that there was no sexual assault. Everyone desired Sue but no one felt her up or tried anything. I think that was a conscious decision and shows that it was a female led film. If I'm honest I kept waiting for it to happen, Dennis Quad, the dodgy share holders, the neighbour.

It's a really thought provoking film, even my 18yr old DD got it.
Like pps have said, Demi Moore was brilliant, probably her best film ever.
I think she should be Oscar nominated for her performance.
And Coralie Fargeat for best director.

Margaret Qualley & Dennis Quaid's performances were great too.
I loved the Hitchcock / Twin Peaks style filming.

Edited: added a bit

Apparently one of Coralie Fargeat's influences are David Lynch (Twin Peaks) who also cites Hitchcock especially 'Rear Window' as an influence

(Guess who did Film Studies at A Level 😂)

That's very true @Jigglypufff, I hadn't considered that.

I wondered if Dennis Quaid was the old version of the guy in the doctors who gave the card to Elizabeth

No the old version is who she met at the diner who asked her if the other self had taken everything from her.

Of course thank you

I have just returned home from seeing the film and it is quite gross in parts. Also the last 20 minutes is insane.Go and see if if you like lots of blood and gore.

Me and my friend (both 53) were in bits laughing near the end. Less John Hurt as The Elephant Man and more Peter Kay as Victor Kennedy.

It was utter shite, so much so I nearly walked out.
Way too long, too many lingering arse
shots, and the B-movie schlock at the end was done so much better in the 80s by Carrie, The Thing and The Fly etc.

Avoid.

I'm just back from seeing this. I hated it. I was bored for the first hour. So many plot holes.

How did she build that door? She's not a builder. Stupid.

How did she get paid with no social security number?

How did she just walk on stage with nobody noticing? No security? Did nobody notice Sue had just fucked off?

Also what was Elisabeth getting out of it? Apart from weird dreams about chicken wings what did she actually gain?

Did none of the neighbours notice that two celebs were living in the same house?

How did Sue even know what to do with the stabiliser?

Lol. Nobody has that much CSF.

AND HOW DID SHE SURVIVE WITH A HUGE GAPING WOUND IN HER FUCKING BACK?

Bloody daft film.

No

I'm just back from seeing this. I hated it. I was bored for the first hour. So many plot holes.
How did she build that door? She's not a builder. Stupid. YouTube tutorials and decent set of tools?😂
How did she get paid with no social security number? You got me
How did she just walk on stage with nobody noticing? No security? Did nobody notice Sue had just fucked off? It's a bit of a fever dream at that point
Also what was Elisabeth getting out of it? Apart from weird dreams about chicken wings what did she actually gain? I think they had a shared consciousness, so she was Sue
Did none of the neighbours notice that two celebs were living in the same house? Sue told the neighbour guy Elisabeth had left and she was living there now.
How did Sue even know what to do with the stabiliser? She was Elizabeth
Lol. Nobody has that much CSF. Fair 😂
AND HOW DID SHE SURVIVE WITH A HUGE GAPING WOUND IN HER FUCKING BACK? Presume the advanced medical technology that allowed her to birth a clone allowed her to survive the process
Bloody daft film. It requires some willing suspension of disbelief 😂

Agreed.

Utter shite.

It's been a while since I saw it and I still think it was absolutely great! Has really stuck in my head.

How did the Princess in Princess and the pea feel the pea through all those mattresses?

How did the fairy godmother turn a pumpkin into a carriage and mice into liveried footmen

Where did the fairy godmother come from in the first place?

How did that huge geni fit in a tiny lamp?

It's a fable, that's how.

Apart from those are stories for children which are clearly all a bit daft. The best horror films are the ones where you can really suspend reality and get lost in the movie. For me, this wasn't it. Too many holes.

Yeah, willing suspension of disbelief.

I enjoyed it. It was a bit mad and feverish, but that was kind of the point

The great thing about film is that you can do whatever you want and tell whatever story you want using whatever effects or storytelling devices that you want.

It can be a prosaic, serious biopic that's been meticulously researched and triple checked for authenticity or it can be an outrageous and farcical genre defying romp.

Why the hell not?! I loved it.

It wasn't just meaningless though - it was a reflection on the superficial (and ageist and sexist) looks based demands of a celebrity lifestyle. I'm a similar age to DM and was watching it envious of her looks - and then she was envious of her second-self's looks - and on it goes! How many people would risk all for an elixir of eternal youth?
(Well I wouldn't after watching that!)