Ep 178: “The Substance” Injects Gonzo Horror into Cutting Critique (dir. Coralie Fargeat, 2024)

Today we're discussing the Cannes award-winning horror film, "The Substance" (2024). Written and directed by French auteur Coralie Fargeat and starring Demi Moore as a fading Hollywood celebrity keen to recapture her sparkle, this horror parable centers around a black market procedure that can produce a younger, better, more perfect you in 7-day cycles. What results is a war of attrition between two selves (the other played by Margaret Qualley) that embody the same vices while brutally lampooning the Hollywood-style beauty culture that fails to prize anything but youth and a narrow archetype of appeal (this idea embodied in the character of Dennis Quaid). Thinky, gorey, and darkly comic, this festival award darling will haunt you long after the credits roll. Let's get into it!

Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform and follow us on social media to stay up to date on upcoming shows and announcements! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Linktree⁠

And if you are listening for a workout, you can download Podbeat FREE in the App Store and add a beat to this podcast! Download Podbeat on the ⁠App Store⁠ or ⁠Google Play Store⁠ and follow them on ⁠Tiktok.⁠