Warning: Mild spoiler about the ending ahead.
Wow.
There’s no better way to start describing The Substance.
From the first scene to the last, this film had me reacting in ways I haven’t in a long time. I was gritting my teeth, scrunching my face, and cursing more often than I care to admit. This movie is a rollercoaster of emotions, grounded by incredible attention to detail and inventive cinematography that elevates the viewing experience to new heights.
At its core, The Substance taps into a universal theme: the desire to reclaim one’s youth. Initially, I thought the film would be a meditative reflection on gracefully accepting the aging process. As it unfolded, I realised it was much deeper, asking its audience to embrace and appreciate their younger selves in ways they might not have before.
The film’s narrative navigates greed and desire, exploring the lengths to which we’ll go to avoid confronting reality and aging. It presents primal conflict, one in which the characters are at war with themselves, constantly comparing who they were with who they’ve become. The film excels in portraying this inner battle, drawing viewers in with intense scenes that are both relatable and disturbing. There’s an unsettling familiarity in watching characters cling to their past selves with an almost desperate energy. The Substance’s moments of tension are balanced with just the right amount of humour. This was an unexpected but welcome element that broke up the intensity.
I was fully prepared to give this movie 5 stars. It had me hooked and made me think deeply about the passage of time and self-acceptance. Unfortunately, the ending threw all that promise out the window.
Rather than delivering a thought-provoking or even ambiguous conclusion, the final moments devolve into chaotic absurdity. It felt random, unnecessary, and out of place.
The last scene, reminiscent of an old horror flick complete with over-the-top blood baths and the obligatory cast member who just won’t die, was a stark departure from the tone of the rest of the movie. It felt tacked on, as if the filmmakers were unsure how to wrap up their story and settled for shock value over substance (no pun intended). The movie would have been better served by ending ten minutes earlier, on a note that was more coherent and fitting with the rest of the narrative.
So while The Substance has plenty to offer, it ultimately falls short. I give it 3 stars.
The Substance opens 19th September at Luna Palace Cinemas.