## 2025-02-09 **The Substance** is one of the most affective and haunting horror movies I've ever watched, and holds the honor of being the only movie that's gotten as close as **Hereditary** as far as fucking me up on an emotional level. It's a body horror satire about a celebrity that's fading in the entertainment industry, which causes her to turn to a drug called "the Substance" to create a younger version of herself. Things uh. Happen. Satire is not easy. I'd say it's one of the most difficult genres to work in. Do it wrong and you end up becoming the thing you satirize. **The Substance** does not have this problem, thanks to the fact that it's directed, written, and produced by a woman, Coralie Fargeat. It delves into multiple layers of critique: about the male gaze, about the pressure women constantly face to be pretty, about drug abuse - and about the way America is so quick to discard its elderly. Despite juggling all of these themes **The Substance** never drops the ball - all of these issues are addressed with care and effort. A lot of that effort stems from the absolutely unbelievable cinematography by Benjamin Kracun. There are no throw-away shots in this film. Each one is meticulous. Of special note are the close-ups, which never stop being extremely fucking stressful to great effect. Margaret Qualley holds her own, and Dennis Quaid chews up the scenery every time he's on camera, but by *god* is Demi Moore a force of nature in this film. It's without question her best role. Her physical acting is ridiculous. I don't know how else to describe it but she's just straight up acting her ASS off in this movie. I honestly have no notes about this film. I want to say that it's too long, but even that's kind of the point. Like it just keeps going. It never stops. What a fucking film. 7/7