BONUS: The Substance
Added 2024-10-14 19:24:52 +0000 UTCWe take a moment away from the 90s to share our thoughts on Coralie Fargeat's latest brash body-horror festival darling The Substance, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. It's a stylish, blunt provocation ostensibly targeting the oppressive brutality of patriarchal beauty standards that feels completely at odds with its own intentions, often reinforcing the very ideology it purports to be railing against.
We discuss the film's formal elements, and how they so frequently contradict the film's messaging. Then, we talk about the the movie's many (empty) reference points and why they are indiciative of the diminishing returns of a generation of filmmakers interested in aesthetic homage without seriously contending with theme. Finally, we consider some troubling rhetoric around who the movie is for, who "genuinely" understands it, and who is excluded from this understanding.
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Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.
Comments
i tried watching this last night and was so disgusted by how flattened and one dimensional demi was, namely hate herself bc of the patriarchy. so glad you covered this. demi is hot, period.
Jolene Bresney
2025-03-10 17:41:31 +0000 UTCFor much better Demi Moore films that is in keeping with your show's ethos, check out Alan Rudolph's Mortal Thoughts and Brian Gibson's The Juror. Much better films that respect its protagonist while critiquing the forces and conditions that victimize them.
Dark Alliance
2025-03-08 21:29:05 +0000 UTCAshamed that this dumb movie was what finally got me to be one of y'alls patrons, but I just saw it yesterday and absolutely needed to hear your thoughts. Also miss you both so it was nice to have you in my ears for an hour. I enjoyed the movie, though I pretty much agree with every single criticism you have at the same time. <3 cant wait to check out these other sclusies! Enjoying your dick tracy ep rn.
Vera Drew
2024-10-20 21:23:48 +0000 UTCthanks for joining us here on the patreon! i hope we're as enjoyable when we're talking about movies we (mostly) love! be sure to check us out on discord as well (invite link should be in your dms) where we keep the conversation going, talk new movies, and occasionally share extremely legal** files of movies that people are asking for!
Hit Factory
2024-10-15 23:37:47 +0000 UTCJust joined your Patreon specifically to ease the insanity of reading positive coverage of maybe the worst movie I've watched all year. Thanks for articulating so much, and I'm excited for the rest of the pod as well
pileofbugs
2024-10-15 21:56:49 +0000 UTCthis one has been on our list for a minute! will absolutely check it out soon. been meaning to watch/revisit some movies that do this type of thing, but better. See also: Refn's The Neon Demon
Hit Factory
2024-10-15 19:55:42 +0000 UTCbarely 5 mins into listening to this, but i am also not a fan of this film. i just joined the patreon so idk if uve seen it - but i reallllly recommend Sick of Myself if you want something that's like .. a better version of this movie. its just way more fleshed out, funny, and poignant.
A
2024-10-15 19:37:18 +0000 UTCYou both nailed the core issue of this film, as with many genre films of late: it's a major drag to mistake cruelty for thoughtifulness.
Chris C
2024-10-15 00:30:34 +0000 UTCThought alot about the patriarchy while staring at Margaret Qualley's ass in slo-mo.
Chris C
2024-10-14 19:59:44 +0000 UTC
