The Substance
The following contains freebooter for The Substance , now play in theatre of operations .
The Substanceis a cinematic hoarded wealth trove , packed with decidedly unsubtle references and Easter eggs thatpay homage to Greco-Roman horror picture . From iconic visuals and thematic parallel of latitude to pernicious nod to fabled filmmakers , this picture from theatre director Coralie Fargeat offer a rewarding experience for repugnance enthusiasts .
ARotten Tomatoesrecord - breaking office for Demi Moore , The Substancefollows the course taken by other movies in regards to its pop culture acknowledgment . Like theEaster eggs provided byAbigail , The Substanceis a repulsion flick that ’s quick to acknowledge other notable films in the musical genre responsible for what it is today . This highlights the importance of court , peculiarly when done in a tongue - in - cheek , harbour way .
10Elisabeth Sparkle’s Climactic Transformation Mirrors Nina Sayers
Black Swan (2010)
The institution of the“Monstroelisasue”is the climax ofThe Substance’sending . The horror just keeps unfolding and just when the viewer thinks it has peaked , fresh abominations are unleashed on the screen . The climactic final exam performanceof the New Year ’s Eve show shares some visual constituent with Aronofsky ’s concert dance body horrorBlack Swan . When Monstro is croak , there are several cross - faded shots of her face and the faces of rooter call her beautiful and narrate her they love her . This subverts the monstrosity aspect to connote a kind of ascent to her ideal of being adored .
The Substance is one of the best horror movies of 2024 , and here are 10 others that are perfect to watch after Coralie Fargeat ’s body horror plastic film .
This similarity hold on as Elisabeth gazes smiling at the night sky from her genius on the Hollywood Walk of Fame before her death . The ethereal light of the sparkle and her expression are similar to the final shot ofBlack Swanwhen Nina is stare at the light source above her , triumphantly murmuring,“I was gross . ”There are also other references toBlack Swanearlier in the movie , such as the human face - off betweenElisabeth and Sue , who look different inThe core . In the competitiveness scene , Suesmashes Elisabeth ’s face against the mirror , reminiscent of when Nina symbolically dig her doppelgänger with a shard of mirror .
Custom Image By Yailin Chacon
9The Vibrant Corridor At The Studio Is Very Kubrick-inspired
The Shining (1980)
The carpet of the Overlook Hotel inThe Shiningis surely the most imitated , iconic piece of flooring in cinema , andThe Substancemakes a clear nod to it . InThe Shining , thecarpet ’s bold pattern and intense colorscreate a sense of unease and foreboding . This absolutely aligns with the film ’s unsettling atmosphere . The graphical design complements Kubrick ’s touch symmetric framing , accent the corridor ’s length and adding a spectacular sense of view .
InThe Substance , a alike carpeting is used , although the geometric configuration used are rectangles rather than hexagons . smartly , the rectangles are split down the middle , areminder of the dichotomy in the movieand the orchis yolk separate in two at the offset . The color , however , are almost selfsame , with the orange emphasized on the walls . The strip lighting and the solid wall at the end of the farseeing corridor also evoke a good sense of malaise , creating a liminal space . The corridor is afterwards soaked in the bloodshed , clearly referencing the“redrum”scene inThe Shining .
8The Lips Closeup Is A Throwback To Cronenberg’s Classic
Videodrome (1983)
The Substanceuses a striking ikon of Sue that is doubtless a reference to what is often view asCronenberg ’s definitive oeuvre , Videodrome . When Sue is asked to state her name to the photographic camera when she is inevitably being sick as Elisabeth ’s replacement , she says,“I’m Sue,”at which peak there is a closeup of her lips repeatedly innovate herself . The paradigm of her lip is repeated across multiple analog idiot box screen . This , and the tethering of Elisabeth / Sue ’s identity to her television calling , are a brilliant reference to the images and theme ofVideodrome .
… Human progress [ in Videodrome ] make ego - demolition necessary .
The image of the lips reference Nikki , play by Debbie Harry , in the consistence repulsion classic . In an redoubtable scene , Nikki ’s backtalk on a screen coax cable and beckon Max to kiss her while the vascular video bent breathes heavily . This is all part of thetheme of the seduction of engineering and mediain the moving-picture show . The kingdom of Videodrome result the hearing question whether the“new flesh”is suitable as human forward motion do self - destruction necessary . This tie in perfectly with the self - mutilation that blossom forth inThe Substanceand is a masterful homage to its body horror predecessors .
7The Monster Is Society At The End, Evoking A Lynch Biopic
The Elephant Man (1980)
Elisabeth ’s final physique , the Monstroelisasue , clearly evokes the iconic cinematic figure of John Merrick inThe Elephant Man . According to Letterboxd , The SubstancedirectorCoralie Fargeat has listed David Lynch as a major influence . The depiction of Merrick in the Victorian - set unfeigned narrative of his disfiguring condition is tragical – however , Lynch alsoholds a mirror up to societyin the movie . By depicting how Merrick is exploited , by the carnival first and then the upper classes of London , makes the interview self - mindful of their own voyeurism in viewing the film .
The Monstro regarding herself in the mirror in the final act ofThe Substanceare a reminder ofThe Elephant Man . Her despair in these view is also a reminder of thetheme of sufferance . Whereas earlier in the movie , Elisabeth felt too unworthy to go out , the irreversibly disfigured version of herself is compulsive to be seen . There are point shots of the rose with the accompanying note,“they’re going to LOVE you!”The judicious utilization of the word“love”bookends the flick , showing her want for establishment . InThe Elephant Man , love and acceptance are what Merrick craves .
6The Other Self In The Substance Is A Backburster
Alien: Covenant (2017)
The SubstanceandAlien Covenantshare a thematic thread of bodily liberty , fertility , and creation , culminating in theemergence of a leechlike life configuration . The birth of the Other Self from the spikelet inThe Substanceechoes the backburster ’s emergence inAlien Covenant . Both motion-picture show research the concept of a parasite taking over a host soundbox , disrupting human nature and prioritizing the bread and butter of a remorseless , superior being . The similarities between these two cinema indicate a likely covert acknowledgment , hint at a shared geographic expedition of these profound theme .
It could also be a broader point of reference to the body horror aspect of theAlienfranchise . Alien subverts the traditional image of parturition by presenting it as ahorrifying and invasiveprocess . The film depicts the nascency of the Xenomorph as a violent and fantastical case . The puppet bursts out of the host ’s chest of drawers , shoot through their flesh . Similarly , the nascency of the Other Self inThe Substanceis a traumatic birth corruption with a fully - organise new self emerging from the horde ’s spine . Much like a leech , Sue drain the life from or“eats away”at Elisabeth throughout .
5The Very Literal Fly Reference At The Restaurant
The Fly (1986)
Many viewers will recognize the not - so - elusive reference to Cronenberg ’s classic dead body horrorThe FlyinThe Substance . If not too distracted by Harvey ’s wondrously antic peewee eating , there is a shot of a fly on his neck before the conversation at the eating place with Elisabeth in which he fire her . At the end of the scene , thefly is seen drowning in his discarded glass of wine .
Cronenberg’sThe Flyexplores the consequences of scientific hubris and theterrifying voltage of biotechnology . The film delve into themes of identity and transformation . As the protagonist , Seth Brundle , becomes increasingly unify with the teleportation twist he ’s invented , his physical and psychological state drop . The film do as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked scientific advance , spotlight the potential for technology to become a destructive force if not wielded with province and ethics . A similar hubris is explore inThe Substancewith Sue repeatedly overstaying her welcome against the instructions ofThe Substance ’s serum .
4The Bloodbath Scene Evokes Another Feminist Classic
Carrie (1976)
The Substance ’s final bit , where Monstroelisasue spray blood all around the theater , shares striking similarity withCarrie . Both film depict femaleprotagonists driven to extremesas a resultant of societal subjugation . Carrieoffers a criticism of societal expectations . Carrie ’s experience of bullying , closing off , and spiritual repression highlight the challenges front by young women in a patriarchal beau monde . The promenade view , when Carrie is covered in pig profligate , can be see as a comment on the dangers of suppressing female anger and the potential consequences of societal mistreatment as she unleash her powers , contrast effectively with the celebratory prom shot .
The cast of The Substance brings a secure sense of case to the body horror / Hollywood satire and match easily into the film ’s tight narrative .
Monstroelisasue ’s natural process can be seen as a potent expression of rage and despair about thesocietal expectations imposedupon her . The blood symbolise her pain sensation , her revolt , and her ultimate liberation from a macrocosm that has consistently marginalized her . This shared theme suggest that both plastic film are sending a herculean content about the destructive consequences of misogynism in a fashion that is very on - the - olfactory organ and entertaining . It is incredibly satisfying that being continually dismissed and rejected due to her eld at last results in the dismission of being truly grotesque .
3The Hitchcock Reference In The Earrings Scene Is A Hilarious Nod
Vertigo (1958)
Monstroelisasue prepares for the New Year ’s Eve show by force the drear dress back on and embellish herself for the event . The scene uses the grievance from Hitchcock’sVertigo , a calculated choice that drawsparallels between Monstroelisasue and Judyin the classic film . Like Judy , who endeavor to transmute herself into the idealized and unrealizable epitome of Madeleine , Monstroelisasue is attempting to conform to societal expected value and the thaumaturgy of perfection . The mirror becomes a mirror image of her internal hullabaloo and the lengths she will go to gibe in , mirror Judy ’s own struggle .
The Substanceexecutes this movie reference with itswell - established satiric aplomb . In the context of the vista , Monstro ’s endeavor to make herself look normal , let alone idealistic , have a hilarious effect as she can not find ear pickle for her earrings and simply sticks them into her flesh . The humor of the scene is underscore by the repeated line from a casting agentive role for Pump It Up in the first place in the moving-picture show , who remarks on everything about Sue ’s forcible appearing being in the“right place ” .
2Elisabeth Is The Dorian Gray Portrait Of The Substance
Dorian Gray (2009)
The Substanceshares thematic similarity with Oscar Wilde’sThe Picture of Dorian Gray , exploring the consequence of unbridled hedonism and the corrupt influence of desire . In both works , the protagonist ’s pursuit of joy and ego - satisfaction leads to a moral decay , at last evidence in a physical transformation . InThe Substance , Elisabeth’sobsession with beauty and acceptanceculminates in a grotesque strong-arm alteration , mirror Dorian Gray ’s corrupting portrait . Both stories serve as prophylactic story about the dangers of unchecked indulgence and the importance of maintaining moral unity .
Dorian Gray ’s 2009 adaptation starring Ben Barnes in particular features a memorable pampering collage that includes a slow - motion closeup of him prick into a scone . A likewise decadent and repulsive scene run out with the excessive pulmonary tuberculosis of runt by Dennis Quaid ’s character , Harvey , inThe meaning . These are visual representations of the male characters ' ungoverned hedonism . In the context of male privilege , the men of the stories have the superpower to utilize and discard . More overtly , the dynamic of the effects of the serum means that like Dorian Gray ’s portrait , Elisabeth bears the import of Sue ’s young selfishness .
1Harvey Makes A Reference To Another Female Horror Icon
King Kong (1976)
One of the funniest acknowledgment that speaks to the manlike dismissiveness and ignorance in the movie is a verbal reference toKing Kong . When the women ’s bathroom is closed , Elisabeth uses the world ’s stalls and catch Harveydiscussing his plan to ax her careeron the phone with a colleague , cruelly referring to her as an“old bitch”and expressing his disbelief that her Jane Fonda dash exercise show is still going . He refers to how long ago her with child break was , asking,“And what was that , King Kong ? ”
This is a dodgy nod to thetheme of agism in the movie . He is , of form , refer to Jessica Lange ’s iconic screech queen role inKing Kong . Lange has spoken out about ageism in the entertainment industry – in aninterview with AARP , she said,“Ageism is pervasive [ … ] It ’s not a level playing field of honor . ”Her most telling operation have been in late years , which create a mockery of Harvey ’s dismissiveness . Her performance as a young actress was extremely criticized along with the film as a whole , make it additionally a canny reference to one of the most maligned monster picture show in history . The Substancerevels in its own ridiculousness and excess .
Source : AARP , Letterboxd
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