The Substance2024-10-04
Vancouver, BC
Believe me when I say this one is GROSS. It holds a candle to some of the nastiest body horror films of the 80s, the defining decade of the genre. Taking it to levels we really haven't seen in contemporary body horror films (I'm thinking recent stuff like Titane and Possessor, both well worth watching). And it's not just gross for the sake of being gross -- the ideas here regarding how "the substance" works are laid out in a pretty straightforward matter and totally lends itself to some of the disgusting stuff we see on screen. Wears its influences on its sleeves (The Shining, Vertigo anyone???) and as a movie nerd I love it all the more for that. Superb casting and performances with our two leads -- it's a total home run for both in driving home the fear of aging and how that can take on a life of its own in the underbelly of Hollywood.
Another thin crowd at a matinee screening, this time at the International Village Cineplex in downtown Vancouver. A lot like Megalopolis, which I watched under similar circumstances the day prior, I imagine it would be a hit with a crowd, but for totally different reasons!
Another thin crowd at a matinee screening, this time at the International Village Cineplex in downtown Vancouver. A lot like Megalopolis, which I watched under similar circumstances the day prior, I imagine it would be a hit with a crowd, but for totally different reasons!