The Substance (2024)
I think my expectations were a bit too high given all the positive buzz I have seen about this, so while not the most mindboggling film ever, still one heck of an experience. I tend to prefer movies that present their themes with subtlety, and it would it be an understatement to just say this does the opposite. It literally screams its themes with the dial turned to 11 all the way through. When it is done with such confidence and impenitence, I can totally respect that choice.
As great and as well executed the narrative is, it was also a little predictable and I was at times just waiting for the story to follow its natural cause. We get the premise and the setup for The Substance pretty quickly, and from there on you know that all the presented rules will get broken. It mostly writes itself from the start. At least until the ending where it took an even wilder left turn and somehow went from having the dial already at 11 and cranking it to 22.
I applaud the movies themes and it is admirable in every way how it is handled. But it didn’t instill much pondering or thoughts for me, as the point about beauty standards and Hollywood are pretty clear from the start.
Still highly recommended, except if you have a fear of needles.
Rating: 4