The Substance (2024)

The Substance has consistently been compared to various strands of David Cronenberg’s filmography – most prominently The Fly – for its body horror elements, and that’s a very valid correlation to draw. But, it’s worth noting that this Coralie Fargeat picture, arguably, has more in common with the camp and chaotic Robert Zemeckis comedy, Death Becomes Her, or Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, thanks to its genuine moments of dark humour. Demi Moore is a delight to watch in the lead role and is fully deserving of any and all accolades she receives throughout awards season. If you’re a fan of ludicrously bold storytelling decisions, the finale of The Substance will have you applauding on your feet.

A fabulous basic idea is one thing, but it’s so great when a movie takes its concept and pushes it further, and further, and further… this body-horror comedy never stops getting weirder, funnier and more grotesque. Demi Moore revives her whole career by bravely playing a TV star who is so aghast at ageing, she takes a drug that creates a younger, hotter version of her (played by Margaret Qualley). When the alter ego goes rogue, the messiness that occurs will make your jaw hit the carpet. The satire of how showbiz treats older women, meanwhile, is deliciously vicious.