Mark Kermode reviews The Substance - Kermode and Mayo's Take

#MarkKermode #SimonMayo #FilmReviews
A fading celebrity decides to use a black-market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
To hear more, follow Kermode and Mayo's Take wherever you get your podcasts: listen.sonymus...

[@j0niithan]

Saw it at an advance mystery screening in my local cinema. Packed screen, prompted five walk outs, I had to stop eating the food I ordered after a while because it was genuinely making me feel a bit nauseous. Gets about halfway through the film and I think "it can't get any worse", and then it does and it does and it does again. Absolutely insane, one of my favourite ever cinema experiences, my favourite film of the year and destined to be a horror classic. Loved it!

[@stephennootens916]

So I should skip the popcorn when I go see it.

[@AceZachrocks123]

@@stephennootens916 i had to stop drinking the milkshake i had personally. i can't imagine getting a food to chew on during it lol. I see like soooo many horror movies and i've seen some gross stuff but this genuinely got me grossed out at points.

[@leighrogers1383]

@@stephennootens916😂😂

[@usedfuzzbox]

I was already very keen to see this, now I'm desperate to go tomorrow.....

[@j0niithan]

@@stephennootens916 Lol I would... I was gonna buy a hotdog and I'm so happy I didn't now 😅

[@scuderia_rob]

I genuinely think The Substance might be my favourite horror movie of all time. I saw it at a Scream Unseen viewing and I’ve never laughed, winced and gasped more watching a horror movie and I feel thats exactly what an amazing horror movie should do.

[@danthsmith]

Saw it at Frightfest. Film of the year. Absolutely incredible

[@cameronkaercher919]

Brian Yuzna would be proud!

[@MiguelLopez-fs3ll]

Yup. This film is much more Yuzna than Carpenter or Cronenberg

[@johnh5424]

This was insanely brilliant. The sound design was amazing, you really feel every skin prick and laceration.

[@geese5061]

Sounds like a “what if Cronenberg made Death Becomes Her?” scenario

[@MiguelLopez-fs3ll]

Eh, more Yuzna than Cronenberg imo

[@DJGadj]

Saw the substance a couple weeks early at an Odeon Scream Unseen showing and haven't stopped thinking about it since, i absolutely loved it, the body horror was top notch and both Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley's performances were excellent A definite recommend for fans of either the actors or body horror, It definitely had some of the grossest scenes i've ever seen on the big screen but it was amazingly done and i can't wait to see it again! 9.5/10 for me 🔥

[@davidrobinson2776]

I saw this with the wife and she couldn't believe Demi Moore got naked. All I could do was hold her hand and say "Bless."

[@lukebale8550]

I loved this film, managed to get tickets for an early showing in Manchester and was not disappointed. I'm going to see it again loved it that much. This film will be up for some awards I am sure of it

[@Ryhan_Beard]

I just adore hearing Mark talk about horror films, regardless of whether he ends up liking them or not. Been anticipating seeing this film for quite a while, this just helps it more!

[@davedecayed8218]

This film is an absolute riot. I've seen better films this year, but nothing as much fun.

[@ryanpatrick1875]

Cant wait to get to see this

[@Crouchy232323]

I dont think that's correct

[@nevetsny1]

Despite how good this movie is, I bet its message will still be lost on many viewers. No matter how unsubtle the movie is.

[@mrclaytron]

Ok, I NEED to see asap... I've been super excited since the trailer! I seem to have similar taste in movies to Mark, so that's a green light for me to see it over the weekend!

[@jimwantsaliens]

We often say you can tell if Mark hates a movie because he sighs before he starts. Here, I don't think I've ever seen him smiling so much at the start of a review.

[@olliem5538]

Best bit. Mayos eyes after internal add 👀🤨

[@Uzumaki350125]

I saw this at Frightfest and loved it, my film of the festival. A mix of Cronenberg and Miike Takashi, it's not for everyone but those it is for will get a kick out of it

[@TheRealClankZoka]

I saw it a week ago, one of the rarest horror films to legit disgust me in horror, I looked away, I screamed and had to take my shoes off as it was making me sooo uncomfortable, but I absolutely loved it, it was brilliant!!, bold, creative and very outside of the box, the performances are all great, an experience that I’ll never forget nor a film I’ll watch again…

[@GB_Rusty]

Was the shoe removal to enable proper toe curling?

[@tymeadows9427]

This is the most perfect Kermode Mayo review ever! Watching Mayo think “not this body horror nonsense again” was golden!

[@hrmg]

Titane is one of my faves of the decade. Guess I'll have to see this one then!!!

[@squatch545]

Makes you wonder if Cronenberg himself has seen it and what he thinks of it?

[@dkazmer2]

Didn't Zemeckis tackle a similar concept with Demi's ex?

[@AD-fx2qd]

Incredible film that I just saw for a second time last night. Only narrowly inched out by Love Lies Bleeding as my favourite film of the year thus far, but yeah, jaw on the floor level good.

[@JimmyRJump]

First time I heard about Rob Botin was for some of the effects in "John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)" and the name stuck because he did some spectacular work there.

[@CzechImp]

Amazing performance by Makr Kermode! He has this great ability to talk for ten minutes about a film in an entertaining, informative, passionate way, but without over-doing it and showing off. Simon Mayo plays his role well too - interrupting at the right moment to ask for an explanation of a term, adding his own thoughts.

[@strikeformatik]

With the third act, the unbelievebly squishy theatre scene.. my take was everyone has blood on their hands because everyone participates in it. Also their hate was thrown back into their faces.

[@tonk82]

"unbelievely squishy" im sold.

[@usedfuzzbox]

Been gagging to see this, seems I won't be disappointed at all

[@halfalivebandit2535]

Watching this in Cannes at 8am made me and the packed crowd very queasy but it was the most fun I’ve had at this years festival. Can no wait to watch it again. Body horror is back in safe hands

[@joshuatree5668]

Nothing can really prepare you for it.

[@charlesmclaughlin4444]

Some Annilhilation music there...cosmic birth scene in particular.

[@elihyderart]

It’s fucking nuts man, wow

[@Onmysheet]

Loved Revenge. Can't wait to see this.

[@bentleyhunter9370]

This is the second film I've seen with Margaret Qualley (after Drive Away Dolls) where I've been alone in the front row, oblivious to the content of the film and felt a little self conscious. The Substance is good, but no idea how it won Best Screenplay.

[@filmfreak21]

Its a wonderful bonkers movie and i loved it

[@richaquilastokes]

Revenge was basically the Crow remake everyone deserved

[@suedehead-lv2bo]

Yes !

[@kirastus]

Such an enjoyable masterpiece!! And oh Demi Moore! I’ve always had such a soft spot for her and she’s proven me right!!

[@d.m.3645]

Different than "The Stuff?"

[@Marty269]

Cannot wait to see it.

[@dylanrays5]

Could someone explain the significance of the dragon robe Sue wears?

[@arnowillekes7979]

Has Mark taken the substance and turned into Simon yet? The twitching and Mayo’s worried looks seems to imply so…would that is weeeeere so simple 😂

[@danielwhittle2867]

Having only seen the trailer, I was on the fence, but this review has made me jump through the fence. Can't wait to watch it.

[@SamWill1999]

Sounds great! I’ll be watching this

[@waynemcdermott9051]

Death becomes her 😊

[@EppyGibbon]

I don't think Simon is convinced.

[@MaterLacrymarum]

I saw this and it's every bit as good as the review suggests. Just fantastic cinema. Easy the best movie of this year.

[@eliotmccann2589]

Does Mayo ever smile? Every pixel of him on my screen seems to be begging for death...

[@menocu87]

CED alert.

[@kinae]

I seem to be in the minority, but I found it boring and repetitive. There was lots to like in there (Demi Moore is superb) and I dug the whole vibe off it, but I felt that the screenplay was clunky and poorly structured and the pacing, both on a scene specific level and across the acts of the film, was flat and lacked escalation. Much to admire, but needed a second draft and a good 30min dropped out.

[@kinae]

To be fair, I did laugh a lot in the early going, but there's a moment in the second half where it breaks its own internal logic and I just couldn't get back on board.

[@swervbe]

Just a shame it's so slow in the first half and how much it labours on whats quite a simple and straightforward premise compared to Cronenberg's best.

[@321bytor]

Sounds bloody awful