10 Best Sci-Fi Horror Movies Of The 2020's (So Far)
2. The Substance
In Coralie Fargeat's second feature, an over-the-hill starlet called Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) hopes to reclaim her stardom by taking an experimental drug, which creates a young clone of herself (Margaret Qualley). When the clone misuses the drug, it sets both ladies on a path of self-destruction.
The Substance does a remarkable job at not coming across as derivative despite the done-to-death social commentary. The dark satire combines elements from other body-horrors, like The Fly, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Tetsuo into a fittingly Frankenstein manner, but still remains fresh.
The OTT sequences are guaranteed to leave an impression, but there are subtle moments that are just as effective. During one scene, Elizabeth prepares for a date, but becomes self-conscious of her appearance. As Elizabeth prepares to leave, she notices the distorted reflection in the doorknob, exaggerating her imperfections and compounding her insecurities. What's makes this scene so palpable is how Moore effortlessly conveys her inner turmoil without any dialogue whatsoever.
The Substance also stands out for creating a delightful blend of horror and comedy. One person may find a certain scene hilarious while another will find it hauntingly traumatic (especially the ending).
The themes are nothing new, but the way The Substance explores societal pressures is uniquely elegant and horrifying.