The Substance

CliffHangeroner

Watched this last night and really enjoyed the ending. The acting from all involved was superb but Moore in particular was a standout.

Space Dog

I loved this. I found it hilarious that a US prime time family TV show would show topless women, you could tell the director is French!

Sleepy

The first two thirds of this were excellent but sadly the ending was laughably bad. Nevermind the absurdity of the monster, stupid details like the dancers on a US network TV New Years special all being topless are jarring and take you out of the moment.

It's a real shame because from the beautiful opening montage of the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star to Moore's excellent performance there was a really fantastic film in this that ends up feeling like it was finished out by a 10 year old boy on a bring your kids to work day…

Yvonne007

I might be alone but I am of the opinion that people are Under-Thinking the ending.

It was meant to be absurd. The whole premise was absurd. It brought it to an absurd ending. It doubled down and spat in your face at how mental the whole concept is.

Its so strange to see people say, "well…. the ending was so over the top" when they literally saw a woman being born out of another woman's back during the part they thought was plausible.

I loved every part of it.

Banjaxed82

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122721364#Comment_122721364

Spot on. Amazing film. For a film that thoughtful, clever and intentioned, to suddenly "just go mad" in the final act would be the absurd idea. Director in complete control from start to finish.

Yvonne007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122722617#Comment_122722617

Thank god!!!!!!!!🤣

Fysh

I finally got to see this tonight, and largely enjoyed it. I did feel the third act was a step down from what went before, not because it went absurd but because for me it felt like it didn't do enough with it - although in saying that, it mostly won me back at the very end with the supremely Society-like development on the pavement 😆 but really, once we've had the

Spoiler Warning

Monstro ElisaSue as Brundlefly reveal, having her turn up to try and do the show and then just... spray blood everywhere while being yelled at, as if Sam Raimi had turned up to guest-direct a scene, felt like a bit of a damp squib, har har.

I think there's a tonal shift as it progresses that it doesn't quite manage - Moore gives a great performance as someone struggling with being pushed out of her job just because she's aging, but aside from the scene where she second-guesses herself out of going for dinner with Fred we don't see much of what the day to day toll of those pressures are doing to her, and adding something of them in the early part of the film might have helped provide a contrast to the later developments.

I don't know that I'd rewatch it in its existing form again; it could do with losing 10-15 minutes towards the end, (and probably another 15 from the earlier parts too). A pet peeve of mine is films that beat you over the head with repeated lines of dialogue, and the film really goes to town with them in a way where I understand the intent but for me it fell flat. But I can imagine a fanedited version that brings out the best of the film, which is ironic given the plot...

fatbhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122721364#Comment_122721364

Nope, not buying that.

El Gato De Negocios

Just got done watching it. Thought it was ok, Demi was really great in what was a brave choice for an actress in her demographic (the parallel with her own life experience can't be ignored). Visually a stunning piece of film, the lurid colours, the up close shots of boob's and bums jiggling, all very deliberate. Qualley as Sue (Andie McDowells daughter) was brilliant and Quaid was delightfully sleazy.

The ending fit the overall OTT nature of the movie but as far as body horror goes, it pales (imo) in comparison to the likes of Videodrome, The Fly or Society.

Still, the effects work was top notch and I've a real soft spot for practical effects. Not something I can ever see myself watching again but a decent watch.

6/10

The White Wolf

I feel beaten to death after that. Not sure if that's good or bad.

cena

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122731412#Comment_122731412

I felt the same way. I didn't enjoy watching the other taking the fuild from the spine over and over

murpho999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122731424#Comment_122731424

Sorry but you go see a body horror and you're bothered by that? Is that all you took from the film?

dubstepper

Very enjoyable movie until the last 20. It does somewhat redeem itself with the final scene before the credits, which I really liked.

Dennis Quaid is great and may be the grossest thing in it.

neirbloom

It's now available on Mubi for anyone who didn't catch it in the cinema along with Revenge her first feature..

Potatoeman

I really enjoyed it but like many here didn’t enjoy the last twenty minutes. The gore wasn’t well done, it wasn’t realistic enough even though earlier parts of the film were. Old films like the thing or hellraiser have better effects than this. The blood scene looked like they used an actual hose. It was just retelling the same story over again so it added absolutely nothing to the movie. I get it was being surreal but it wasn’t done well at all.

JP Liz V1

Golden Globes Nominated

Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

The Substance

Best Female Actor in a Musical or Comedy

The Substance

reubenreuben

Some of it reminded me of clockwork orange, the shining, suspiria, the thing, elephant man and many cronenberg movies.

A tad long, some over violent scenes and too similar to other movies (intentional?) but highly recommended for horror fans.

JP Liz V1

Demi has been nominated

Nigel Fairservice

I watched it tonight on foot of Demi Moore's Oscar nomination. Certainly not a bad movie at all. I thought the last 20 minutes or so were overblown. The movie had been making its points just fine up to then. I didn't know Demi Moore had a performance like that in her and certainly the most interesting role I've seen her in.

murpho999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122690816#Comment_122690816

So are you astrounded? Fully deserved nomination for Moore in my opinion.

murpho999

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123097029#Comment_123097029

People keep saying about the ending being ridiculous/overblown but that's the whole point.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103784#Comment_123103784

Yep, I am. She'll probably win though.

Nigel Fairservice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123103786#Comment_123103786

I get that but I don't think the movie needed it. It was hard to miss the point before the ending.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123104501#Comment_123104501

It was making a different point though, or perhaps more coming around to the final point… that mutated mess was the first version of the character to feel fully happy with herself despite appearances, and just went out to do what she loved doing (getting thoroughly rejected in the process). Given the escalating insanity up to the final act, going big and bombastic with the final thesis statement worked for me anyway