The Substance Reviews

Personally, i thought the guy eating shrimp at the beginning was grosser than the ending

movie had no soul, the overt nudity was unnecessary (I understand it was the point. Still dumb) it’s actually the worst movie I’ve ever seen. The last 7.5 minutes of the movie is genuinely something I could never have seen coming and not in a good way. I couldn’t stop laughing

İ cant bring myself to dislike it but i feel personally violated and queue doesn’t have a button for that the movie feels written by two different people who couldn’t agree on the storyline

Oh. My. God. This was insane. Disturbing. Disgusting. This really delivered. Incredible performances paired with an interesting, unique, and real story. Extreme tension. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I loved it. Amazing. Shocking. Horrifying. I want to see it again.

Absolutely awful movie. First hour and a half we’re interesting and I loved the concept but I feel like it was not for a horror as gruesome as this. By the last half hour I just wanted it to end. It was all shock factor and no substance.

This was a 2 hour 15 minute short film

The first two acts were fantastic. The camera work and symbolism were incredibly well done. Dennis Quaid was amazing. Practical effects were great, CGI was MCU level bad. Even though it’s crucial to the story, the overt nudity was not for me. It just felt way too much in my opin.

Some of the most specifically accurate portrayals of anxiety, depression, paranoia, rage, ageism, sexism, society, addiction, self-harm, psychosis, self-image, and the list goes on. Just like the graphic body horror, which comes close to that of 'The Fly', this film projects how excruciating and adamant our very own minds can be. Anyone on every scale of life can relate, so much so that I began oozing out acidic tears. The drastic choices throughout the entire 2h20m make you feel guilt, anger, confusion, and disappointment toward society. Yet, we all rather suffer reality's unrealistic standards and isolate change. The genius imagery, score, script and acting? I'm going to 'sue'.

When I watched the trailer I thought it was going to be like Black Mirror episode. I really liked the beginning but then the ending ruined it for me but the whole premise of the movie is pretty cool.

why was this so gory? it could’ve actually been good but for some strange reason they decided to make it gross af. it added nothing to the movie other than… yeah idk what. nothing. that’s what.

This is weird but I really enjoyed the story and underlying message which is surprisingly relatable. When u really think of it, it’s actually very sad considering Elizabeth was already beautiful, but still felt the pressure and need to do better. The more I watch the more I love

Never again!!

what the fuck.

with all due respect to the cinematography, script, acting, and score, this was horrible. the story goes downhill about halfway through and it just doesn’t have to. all the messages this production tries to convey are delivered and understood in the first hour and it doesn’t have to end the way it does just to prove those points further (though the full circle with the hollywood star was nice). and it definitely doesn’t need to be 2.5 hrs long. painfully focused on the ‘shock factor’ rather than a good (or even complete!) storyline. some of the stunts looked fake as fuck and, again, just didn’t have to. way too many plot holes that i genuinely couldn’t overlook (the senile hunchback up and running full speed, fuck off). i wanted to like it so much more but for the last half hour of the movie i sat on the couch in utter disbelief and disappointment of what was going down. just so unsatisfying.

with all that being said, i can absolutely see why others like it and why it won so many awards (demi undoubtedly deserved that shit). it’s gorgeously filmed and produced and the cosmetics were insane.

but i’d never in my life watch this again and i definitely want those 2.5 hours back

they had to ruin it with the ending.

this was, at first, a very well crafted movie covering the heavy and “taboo” topic of female ageism and beauty standards. it started off very strong, but that last bit just dragged.

the message was there, dont get me wrong. society facing the monster they created themselves and being terrified of it, is not an irony that is lost on me, but it sadly felt like they had remaining budget money and chose to spend it all on fake blood and guts.

the performances were amazing though. Demi and Margaret did not come to play. Overall it was a 6/10 for me.

7/10 - loved the ideal and concept behind the film. Loved acts 1 and 2, although should have faded out in act 3. Without giving too much away, This could have been a great 1h 45mins (did not require 2h 20mins). Both Moore, Qualley and Quaid gave great performances. worth watching

This was one of the most nauseating movies I’ve seen in a while so I don’t really know how to feel about it rating-wise. I just know I really love the moral message of this movie, it was so creative in how it was conveyed and was honestly quite sad but such a great story.

One of THE most visceral experiences I’ve ever had at a movie theatre!!! BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY that this film is a full on assault on the senses and may be a sensory overload so be warned, this film is NOT for everyone nor is it subtle on its commentary but that’s what makes this film so great is it heavy handedness and the in-your-face style that is up to the highest power throughout!!! While I think it’s unlikely that Demi Moore will be acknowledged by the Academy for this, I strongly believe that she deserves all the praise in the world for her work in this!!! Margaret Qualley is also so delightful in this and Dennis Quaid is having the most fun in his role!! The music was BANGING!!! Cinematography was PERFECT and just everything about this film was so well thought out and right in place!!! It’s hard to put into words my experience because I felt so many emotions watching this film but I think that’s why I loved it so much!! I know people will be going to see this just to see if it’s as disgusting as everyone is saying it is and TRUST ME it really is so if you’re a fan of really fucked up shit you’ll have a gruesomely good time!!! But…if you’re going purely just to see the “hype” around it you’ll believe it by the end or if you make it to the end, (I had two girls in my row walk out and one said that they might puke) you’ll have a transformative experience either way. Shoutout to the elderly people in my theater, y’all are cool asf!!