The Substance - Absurdity of Hollywood beauty standards

The substance is not what you’d expect. Unless you expect a gross out body goo horror movie about Hollywood.
No reason to get upset, just don't listen to me!
2nd Channel: / rencatgames
IMDb: www.imdb.com/u...
Letterboxd: letterboxd.com...
Twitter: / rendanlovell
The substance - 2024 - drama, comedy, horror -

[@masudashizue777]

This is the first film to excite me in a long time. Perhaps cinema isn't dead after all.

[@RendanLovell]

@@masudashizue777 👏

[@EmilyFoxSeaton]

This is a good film because almost every review touches on a "talking point" that no other reviewer touched on. Interesting that the main character is out of time. It is one tell of older people no matter how good they look that they are "out of time" in some way.

[@RendanLovell]

That’s a great point! There’s so much in here that everyone can pick up different things!

[@evaarena2462]

The reason the message is not subtle and goes so far because the gaze is LOUD and violent. It is to illustrate just how much women carry the external messaging and how it impacts our internal self. Elizabeth Sparkle is incredibly beautiful by most standards but was fired from her job for just being an older woman... Women receive this violent messaging on a daily and it is as loud and violent as film has conveyed. Best film of this year.

[@stickynorth]

Anyone else cackle at the hamburger dropping on her star in the opening scene? That was when I knew this was going to be something wry and special... And frankly ICONIC...

[@paige3789]

we are our own worst enemy. take care of yourself.

[@RendanLovell]

@@paige3789 excellent way of putting it. Take care of yourself Paige!

[@stickynorth]

Best summary of this film and genre and the unhealthy pursuit of perfection I've read in a while...

[@paige3789]

@@RendanLovell so no more classic movie night?

[@RendanLovell]

@@paige3789 admittedly, life has been crazy recently. I hope to get back to doing it soon! It’s a blast watching and chatting with everyone.

[@Jesse-r9s]

Love the floating candles

[@km0rrt]

its literally Cronenberg and Verhoeven on acid in a blender. loved it.

[@RendanLovell]

It really is 😂

[@stickynorth]

Even if you strip away the pop culture candy colour aesthetic and ultra violence the story works well just as spooky sci fi drama about medical inventionism and self loathing and how most of our problems are psychological or cultural not physical... Even if you turned it into a bloody Lifetime movie, Ms. Moore gives it her all in this like Joan Crawford on meth and it works well because most of it is so icy and restrained and the tension and outbursts seem cathartic even if damaging to both version of her... Even the phone call scene used in the trailer about the "slight misuse of The Substance" is enough to show the strength of both the concept and execution and she's just talking on a phone like someone trying to get a Shein order cancelled...

[@SheilaPatterson]

I’ve been on a 90’s-early 2000’s movie kick, and honestly it just made me kinda sad. They were SO good! But major studios don’t want to make good/weird art anymore, it’s gone completely plasticy mainstream money hungry slop. I’m glad some movies like this are still getting made, gives me hope for the future of cinema. Wish more experimental, mid budget scripts got green-lit.

[@RendanLovell]

Agree! The 90s was like a return to that 70s craziness and I want more!

[@wizardfromthewest]

The sound editing on your review is peak! Loved the movie! I'm glad your liked it too. It was bonkers but it was also very intimate and sad.

[@RendanLovell]

Thank you!

[@Bolognasandgrof]

The most enthusiastic review I’ve seen on KZbin, which I absolutely agree with the substance is BRILLIANT

[@RendanLovell]

@@Bolognasandgrof thank you! It’s not often something like this comes around, it’s exciting!

[@erinnadia0409]

This film was so camp in the best way! It’s my favourite film of the year, it shocked me with the body horror and violence, it made me laugh, it made me want to look away at the gore, and it actually hit me in a really emotional way because I have been Demi, feeling so insecure and body checking myself, not feeling good enough, cancelling plans or a date because I felt too ugly, Demi and Margaret deserve so much praise for this as it would have not been easy, they were asked a lot of for this film, Dennis too was incredible. Also the hair/makeup and effects need to also get award attention practical effects will always be one of my favourite art forms.

[@RendanLovell]

Totally agree!

[@stickynorth]

Agreed 1000%. It's a maximalist "more is more" Verhoeven-style affair with Showgirls undertones and I approve. It's also the type of film America probably needs to see and yet won't and despite its obvious aesthetic appeal in Ms. Qualley. And probably one reason Universal dumped the film quickly after purchasing it was because of the lack of dialogue, making it probably the most silent major movie since The Artist which connected but only because I think the hype created by the Weinstein Company made it inescapable at some point which wouldn't happen now obviously.. Either way, we need way more films from outsiders with very odd and specific viewpoints to cut through the blandness of today's cinema like a hot knife through butter... Just like this. But different. I mean I like a sequel to a franchise as much as anyone but OG content still should be the #1 focus for long-term survival of the industry. I mean The Substance was literally the first film I've seen in theatres since Twisters in July... And I used to go weekly to the theatre...

[@stickynorth]

This is one hell of a film in all the best ways. I love the visual nodes to Kubrick circa The Shining from the carpets in the eerie symmetrical hallways which thankfully went where I hoped it would to the use of the close up fish eye lens shots of D Quaid eating shrimp and talking about Ms. Sparkle's "stuff stopping" to the shocking twists and turns... It's Stephen King meets Kubrick meets Tarantino all through a solidly feminist lens and this Canadian dude couldn't be prouder to say this is Ms. Moore's finest work of her career and it would be a G-D travesty if she doesn't get nominated for Best Leading Actress at the Oscars for this... It's bold, daring, lurid, shocking but most importantly... HONEST... Brutally human and humane... Watching the pre-date makeup removal scene is enough to secure the win if you ask me...

[@RendanLovell]

I agree! It would be a real shame not to see this do we’ll come award season.

[@AlvLbr]

@8:40 I think it’s the very opposite of that: Elisabeth gets her Hollywood Walk of Fame star with a distinctive motion pictures emblem: she is an actress who works on films. You hear in ‘The Substance’ a feminine voice saying Elisabeth is ‘her favorite’ right when the star is brand new, then some time later, a couple fails to remember in which movie she appears, and finally, as time goes by, nobody cares about her star anymore. This is when she has her fitness program. It’s certainly not a gift bestowed upon those of a higher status, this is clearly a disgrace, another step down the ladder. To further reinforce this idea, you have the clear notion that after the fitness program follows NOTHING. You’re done. “At 50, it stops.” Following this line of thought, this is also the reason behind Sue’s show getting cancelled: it’s not worthy of her increasing popularity, she deserves better than that. To sum up: fitness shows are the end of the food chain.

[@TheCinemaDetective]

They're a step down for Elizabeth, but they are a stepping stone for Sue, she's being talked about for a movie role and got the new year show.

[@Asad-xi3io]

Watched it today, and I totally agree with all the great homages she paid to other films. Another one I noticed (without spoiling), is that there's a scene towards the end that reminds me of the prom scene in the original Carrie movie. Speaking of which, the point you make about if a male director directed this, also kind of applies to the original Carrie, as well. In the opening scene of that movie, there's a shot that feels very male gazey which I think would've played out differently if a woman had directed that scene.

[@RendanLovell]

That’s a great point about Carrie! I didn’t think of that.

[@iCotty]

Thank you! I really enjoyed your delivery of the movie review and hope to see more of your content on my KZbin feed

[@RendanLovell]

Glad you enjoyed! Looking forward to seeing you around more!

[@liveyourdreammedia]

I love the floating candles, nice touch!

[@RendanLovell]

Thank you! 😊

[@77Creation]

Movie is dope.

[@RendanLovell]

You can say that again.

[@saifiscool6]

Great review

[@RendanLovell]

Thanks brother!

[@brevepausa.podcast]

calling Demi Moore a washed up actor is insane

[@tankdesign1]

Omg so true about how sue is shot lol

[@RendanLovell]

Right??

[@stickynorth]

Nailed it with the Carls Jr. reference... Very Paris Hilton/Kim K eating a double Angry burger... But with Jane Fonda's dream wardrobe...

[@newesttouch]

3:00

[@FoxoticTV]

maybe put the movie title before the title?

[@m.i.n.9000]

imma comment a lot on this one

[@m.i.n.9000]

1:21 she's not trying to get her life back on track, she was happy having a bday then that disgusting pig says she's old and is getting let go and she spirals from there

[@m.i.n.9000]

you can be beautiful at any age tho hahaha, also this is not just about Hollywood it's about every walk of life.

[@m.i.n.9000]

she loses also the respect of the neighbor and basically everyone. the pretty privilege perfectly portrayed

[@m.i.n.9000]

it's actually her own female gaze that's her downfall, see the scene where she looks at hersefl and keeps adding mkp for the date

[@m.i.n.9000]

it's like watching a guy that is digusting and comments about you being not at your peak anymore and it's not a cartoon. it's exactly how dear harvey must have looked to every woman he crossed paths with.

[@dumperslog412]

Thumbnails a bit too clickbaity for me

[@RendanLovell]

In what way?

[@razzledazzle15]

Boo hoo poor me! Commodifying my genetic gifts has a shelf life! This lucrative, low effort, high prestige career path I entered into is exploiting me!!!! Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

[@RendanLovell]

@@razzledazzle15 are you being purposely callus or do you genuinely believe there isn’t an issue?

[@razzledazzle15]

@@RendanLovell i think it’s extremely hypocritical to profit from an industry and then condemn it when you’re on the downswing. Demi moore made a fortune off of her looks and now that they’ve fading, all of a sudden it’s the industry that’s the problem? I know demi moore didn’t write it personally, but you get the picture.

[@RendanLovell]

​@@razzledazzle15 So do you think it would hypocitical to criticize your own job even though you profit from it?

[@razzledazzle15]

@@RendanLovell situationally, yes. But complaining about beauty standards is an example of people externalizing their own insecurities and turning them into other people’s problem, and that’s particularly ironic coming from those who directly benefit from them. Beautiful people exist. Not all people are. It’s a simple, hard truth. And there’s a demand for beauty only because it is scarce. It’s uncommon, and it doesn’t last. A good friend of mine is a semi-retired model. She’s well past her prime, but still gets work occasionally. Modeling allowed her to finance her education and she parlayed it into a better career. She was fortunate enough to be blessed with above average looks, and savvy enough to turn it to her advantage. Now that she’s on her way out, you don’t hear her badmouthing beauty standards or the modeling industry. Because she has integrity.

[@RendanLovell]

Thank you for your time, you make a lot of great points! I totally see what you’re saying now. Personally, I think it’s a catch 22. If you do complain you look bad and if you don’t you look bad all the same. It’s unfortunate but I think your friends story is a great example of what I would hope for everyone in that situation.

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

Of course for immature teens it is for "Good Teason....Which Is?!

[@RendanLovell]

What

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

@@RendanLovell Can You NOT Read?

[@RendanLovell]

I guess I can’t because this is like Chinese to me.

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

@@RendanLovell O Let me break it down since you aren't intelligent enough to grasp the CONTEXT of my argument. You said that Elizabeth was teminted from her show for: GOOD REASON. So I replied: WHAT REASON IS THAT? Which COMPLETELYDismantled you. You are a that impressionable age , where you are as shallow as Harvey is. Now I am not going to go into detail, because you haven't reached adulthood, maybe there's sti;ll hope for you. I suggest that you shave that peachfuzz on your face, because you are still a child. Understand, little boy?

[@Yes_Anastasia]

@@RendanLovellsomeone’s gramma’s drunk and on KZbin again. Pay no mind.

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

Did you even watch the movie, Sue applied for Elizabeth Sparkle'S Job Did you even bother to watch the movie Junior. Sue essentially applied for the now vacant position, and got it. If you bother to pay attention btw "WACKS" you would KNOW thins fact. PAY ATTENTION little boy.

[@RendanLovell]

Girl I have no idea what you're tryin to say.

[@TessySega]

Men just don’t understand this movie at all,

[@RendanLovell]

Please enlighten me.