Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance,” has been generating hug buzz around these parts after it bagged the Best Screenplay award at Cannes.
With the film earning an audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival only added to the hype.
Curious, we watched the film recently, and we could say the noise is well-deserved.
“The Substance” is exciting, thought-provoking, irresistible.
It is also visually stylish, playing out very much like a music video or an advert but bigger, hyper-realistic.
The images are magnified, the colors intense.
And the gore? Graphic.
Some may say it went over-the-top in not a few instances but if the film is supposed to be a no-holds-barred, in-your-face commentary on ageing, vanity, sexism, greed, power, well, what better way to show all these but up-close and really personal?
“The Substance” follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), an ageing actress being eased out by the powers that be, in this case a slimy TV executive played by a delightfully revolting Dennis Quaid.
Elisabeth, reluctant to let go of fame, would go on to accept an anonymous offer to become “a better version of herself.”
It is then that she would give birth to Sue – a younger, sexier facsimile of herself as played by Margaret Qualley.
It could’ve been perfect, too.
But, of course, as these things go, there are all kinds of rules and requirements that both versions have to abide to.
One of them is for Elisabeth and Sue to trade places every seven days.
But the pull of youth and celebrity prove too strong to resist for Sue.
And the consequence is deadly.
We won’t spoil it for you but suffice it to say that Demi and Margaret as with the rest of the cast did a great job.
If we have any quibble, it is of the film seemingly being too long at 2 hours and 20 minutes.
It also becomes so sadistically nasty to a ridiculously absurd level near the end.
Then again, if that is your thing, then “The Substance” is just perfect.
Catch it in cinemas September 25.
