Movie #3421 "The Substance" (theatre) Leaving the theatre after watching this movie, I really didn't know what to say except: THIS IS A HORROR FILM, and it really isn't being sold as such. Disclaimer: I hate horror pictures, and if I knew it was really in that genre, I never would have paid money to see this film (and I really didn't see all of it in my seat because like others, I walked out. But my curiosity made me watch the end in the vestibule just to see how far it would go. And it crossed the bizarre line way too many times for me. However, the initial part of the film (about 30 minutes) sets up the sci fi part well, with creepy music, stark white/black sets, unoccupied rooms with rusty doors, etc. --- and it deals with a type of cloning, but we are given very few rules -- actually only one -- that the two people have to take -7-day turns; i.e. they take turns --- while one is living a life, the other one sleeps it off. All the characters in the film are shallow and one-dimensional --- never has Dennis Quaid been type casted like this ---He is despicable - he chomps on food, puts his face in everyone's face with an annoying voice - I have always found him to be an annoying actor so this fit the bill for him! We know little how this doubling works (evidently neither do the characters because as shallow as they are, they ask very few questions). But simple greed sets in and the major rule, of course, is broken and all hell breaks loose --- but we don't know what that means until we see a literal bloodbath of kicking, slamming people against mirrors, bleeding, and....well, I don't want to give any more away. If you still want to see it after what I've said above, you go ahead. I hate violence and blood and guts, and when it's mindless (without thoughts behind it except revenge), I dislike this film with every fiber of my body. I was contemplating giving it a zero, but I do have to say the opening was worth some points, so I would give this a 2 out of 5. I would never recommend this to anyone I know --- waste of time and film. However, there must be people out there who might enjoy all the blood spurting, etc. --- I can't believe it has 75% from audience on rotten tomatoes, but I am thinking people are being told what this film is like and not paying money to see it --- so there's a small amount that like Horror films that are supporting it. I can't believe Cannes gave this best script --- yikes! Makes me lose trust in the Cannes film festival -- because I think they blew it this time. ONE MORE TIME --- THIS IS A HORROR FILM --- do not pay money to see it if you don't like to see blood and guts by the gallon!
"THE SUBSTANCE" 2024 R 2hours, 21 minutes
A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself. (did I say it was a horror film and just the creating of that second person rips Demi's body down the back and like "alien" it appears, blood and guts and all?)
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Writer: Coralie Fargeat
Actors: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid)
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