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The Substance (2024): A Surprisingly Strange and Intriguing Ride

When I first heard about The Substance, I was fully prepared to hate it. The concept just seemed weak, like something I’d seen recycled a dozen times in other sci-fi and horror flicks. But sometimes, it's good to be wrong. The movie managed to surprise me in more ways than I expected, and while it wasn’t without flaws, it certainly wasn’t the shallow mess I thought I’d be sitting through.


Familiar Tropes, but Done Better

Sure, there were elements in The Substance that I’ve seen before—stories about beauty, youth, and vanity have been done to death—but this one somehow managed to do it in a way that felt fresh. The execution here stood above a lot of other attempts at the same theme. I found myself more intrigued by the storytelling than I expected, and that’s saying something for a film I walked into with low expectations.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of this film was the twists. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, The Substance would throw in something unexpected. I genuinely enjoyed the unpredictability. It kept me on edge, waiting to see how things would unfold—even though, in the end, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of the final twist.

Image by Deadline

That Ending... Really?

And then there’s the ending. Wow, it was strange—and not in a good way. We all suspend disbelief when watching movies, especially sci-fi and horror, but this ending asked for way too much of that. It was almost laughable, like they had no other way to close the story, so they went with something completely outlandish. It didn’t work for me. I was engaged up until that final stretch, and then suddenly, I couldn’t take it seriously, and that was a shame. It really had me until then.

Image by IMDb

Demi Moore Shines

I’ll give credit where it’s due—Demi Moore was fantastic. She really nailed the role of a beautiful woman past her prime, struggling with the fear of aging and what the world sees of her. You could feel the fear, desperation and vanity that her character bleeds out, which gave her character more depth than you might expect in a movie like this. Moore's portrayal made it easier to sympathize with her character's decisions, even as things spiraled out of control.

Image by Rolling Stone UK

Metaphors Everywhere, but Not Overdone

There’s no denying that The Substance has a glaring metaphor about society’s obsession with youth and beauty. The "in-your-face" message of how the world only sees your skin and how far you’d go to stay young is something we’ve seen plenty of times before, but this film walked a fine line between hitting you over the head with it and missing the point entirely. They balanced it well enough for it to be effective without feeling preachy.

Image by Far Out Magazine

Moments of "Wait, What?"

The overall vibe of this movie was bizarre, in a good way. It was one of those films where you know what the general outcome will be, but you have no idea how it’s going to get there. The script was written in a way that kept me guessing at every turn. It revealed just enough of the “rules” of its world to make you think, without laying everything out on the table. That’s the kind of script I enjoy—a movie that respects its audience enough to leave some things unsaid.

Image by Movie Insider

Final Thoughts

7 out of 10. Overall, The Substance was a strange but enjoyable ride. It wasn’t a perfect movie by any means, and that ending still makes me shake my head, but it was an experience worth having. The performances, particularly Demi Moore’s, helped elevate the material, and the twists and turns kept me engaged. I didn’t see a single advertisement for this film before watching it, and that’s a shame because I think it would’ve been great to see on the big screen.

If you’re a fan of horror, thriller, or sci-fi, The Substance is definitely worth checking out. Just be ready for a bizarre ending that might leave you scratching your head.


Pros:

  • Surprising Twists: The film kept me guessing with unexpected plot turns.
  • Demi Moore’s Performance: A standout portrayal of a woman grappling with vanity and aging.
  • Intriguing Storytelling: The script gives you just enough to follow, while keeping a lot hidden, which adds to the suspense.

Cons:

  • Weak Ending: The bizarre conclusion stretched disbelief to the breaking point.
  • Predictable Themes: While executed well, the metaphors around beauty and youth aren’t exactly original.





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