‘The Substance’ Is a Brilliant Combo of Unhinged Cronenbergian Body Horror and Brutal Social Commentary

 

 

CW for mild references of body dysmorphia and eating disorders.

Ever since I heard about 'The Substance', its premise and its themes, I have been curious to watch it, and even though the hype from the reviews and the reactions was pretty big, it still managed to exceed my expectations. If nothing else, I was surprised with how completely bonkers it becomes, especially in the final act, and how at the same time it manages to deliver a very deep, very real message, if you care to receive it.

The film from start to end is deliberately exaggerated. Every single thing that is shown, and every single thing that happens on camera is on purpose and plays a part in telling the story. The angles used, the bathroom scenes with Demi Moore, the oversexualisation of Margaret Qualley's body that basically weaponises the male gaze against itself, and the antithesis that exists in comparison with the old Hollywood executives who clearly believe that they are exempt from the "it ends at 50" rule they impose on Elizabeth, all work together in building up the plot in an absolutely unnerving and hyperbolic way that actually works in the movie's favour.

On the surface, one could claim that the film is about vanity, but in a world where youth and beauty are so tied to a person's value, where women are told from an early age that they have an expiration date, where eating disorders affect a significant amount of both men and women, and are actually considered the most lethal mental health conditions, and where there are entire industries creating insecurities for people about the most minor things and then selling them the solutions, Sue's choice to take the substance as a last resort to regain some of the social currency she thinks, or she is constantly told that she has lost, is just an exaggerated satirical version of the miracle solutions people are being sold daily for problems that society goes above and beyond to convince them they have.

It's interesting how, with all the out there scenes that the film offers, the one that most people, including myself, remember the most because it resonates and it hits home in a very specific way, is the scene that is also shown in the trailers, where Demi Moore's character is angrily applying and reapplying her makeup, and getting progressively more frustrated with herself for not looking "right". Similarly, the scene at the very beginning where she is standing in front of the mirror, scrutinising every tiny detail on her admittedly gorgeous body, while the camera focuses on her in a way that feels almost invasive.

And I think having someone like Demi Moore, who is objectively an immensely attractive woman, play that part was key in getting the film's message across. Because beyond age and appearance, standing in front of the mirror and nitpicking on every single detail and perceived flaw, while a little spark of self loathing starts gaining ground, is an experience a lot of people, especially women, have had. I guarantee you, there is a big chance that some of the most attractive people you know have gone through something similar.

What is amazing is that, in all its ridiculousness and surrealism, the film manages to offer one of the most accurate depictions of body dysmorphia in two of its simplest scenes. And in a way it becomes nearly heartbreaking seeing Elizabeth miss the date with the sweet, awkward guy who clearly sees her as perfect, and you wish you could tell her to not hate herself out of whatever happiness she can find beyond the shallowness of Hollywood.

Of course being a satire, 'The Substance' takes that "I hate you" self loathing part and turns it up to eleven, and from the middle until the end it starts fully embracing its body horror themes. The final act is unhinged and unpredictable. I certainly didn't see it coming. Offering plenty of gore and moments that will probably make lots of people lose their appetite, and at the same time, in its own unique way delivering a little "fuck you" to the ridiculous beauty standards of society and the industries that have turned youth and human flesh into a commodity, while pushing the narrative that human beings can somehow become expired, or that the only right way to exist is to be young, slim, with a flat belly, and conventionally attractive.

All in all, 'The Substance' is a bonkers horror story that goes places you won't see coming. It's funny, it's disgusting, it's ridiculous, and it's also tragic. The hype and praise are very much deserved, both Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley give it their all in scenes that cannot have been easy to film, and I absolutely want to see more of Coralie Fargeat has to offer. 

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‘Agatha All Along’ Is a Significant Step in the Right Direction

 

I have to admit that I came into 'Agatha All Along' with more curiosity than investment, given that both 'WandaVision' and 'Multiverse of Madness' weren't really my cup of tea, so for something that seemingly relied so heavily on Wanda's lore, it was more my love for the comics and the premise itself that lured me in. All in all, the show took a few episodes to find its pacing, and it had a bit of a slow start, but halfway through it won me over and kept me tuning in every week.

It's undeniable that the cast is one of the show's strongest aspects, even when the writing isn't as brilliant, the performances just manage to make up for it. I also liked that there are significant comedic elements, but during the later episodes the story takes some dark and very emotional turns too, and that part of the plot is executed really well, as at that stage you've come to care for the characters and what happens to them. I'd say that for me, 'Agatha All Along' handled the themes of sadness, grief, and complex morality better than the stories involving Wanda, with every single main character feeling both multi-faceted and, to varying extents, endearing.

The MCU has certainly had its hits and misses, but it has undeniably come a long way, much like with most comic book adaptations in general. Seeing the show embrace diversity, and include queer relationships so organically, was definitely another plus. As was having a main cast primarily consisting of women in their 40s, their 50s, 60s and 70s, without their age ever becoming a gimmick. It feels both refreshing and miles away from the time when the only female member of the Avengers was doing the stereotypical torso-twisting, boob-and-butt pose on the poster, and was characteristically called a "mewling quim" by a villain who saw the beginning of his redemption arc before Black Widow saw her own film happen. For a guy reading this, it may perhaps seem like a triviality or not a big deal, but I think quite a few people who grew up loving comic books, despite the constant reminders that this is primarily the turf of straight white men hinting that, as a fan who doesn't fall into that category, you don't really belong, will get where I'm coming from, and why representation matters.

Kathryn Hahn, Patti LuPone, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Debra Jo Rupp, and Aubrey Plaza are all powerhouses both in their comedic and dramatic performances, and Joe Locke more than holds his own in his part, acting more or less as the heart of the group. I do have a few nitpicks, as at times it felt that certain characters got more focus than others, and there were a couple of loose ends that warranted a more fitting conclusion, but overall I liked the revelations and the direction the story took, and I think the show stuck the landing.

So I'm glad Marvel is trying different things, and I'm glad that 'Agatha All Along' exists, and I hope we'll see more attempts at doing something different, especially with how much people clearly seem to love this show. 

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Recent Watch: Heaven Adores You: A Documentary Film About The Life and Music Of Elliott Smith (2014)

 

Elliott Smith has been one of my all time favourite artists and songwriters, yet I somehow never got around to watching 'Heaven Adores You' in the decade that it has been out, until it finally became yesterday's late night watch. Overall it's a beautiful, if unavoidably heartbreaking viewing. I'd honestly call it more of a sincere tribute rather than a documentary, as its primary focus was to showcase his music and give a few snippets of Elliott Smith's life, as described by several of his friends and family members.

I actually liked that the documentary heavily leaned on showing his work as an artist, his creative process, and his inspirations and influences, without putting too much focus on the more tragic aspects of his life and his untimely death. And even when it does speak about his passing, it doesn't sensationalise it or try to exploit it in the slightest. His story is told through the lens of the people who knew and cared about him, and their grief, sadness, and even regret, are apparent as they discuss his inner demons, the darker angles of his psyche, and his struggles with fame and with the labels that were put on him by the critics and the press, that never really resonated with him and his love for creating music.

For the most part, though, 'Heaven Adores You' focuses on celebrating Elliott Smith's life, with a genuine and personal approach. It doesn't go into too much depth or offer many answers, and I wish there was more actual footage of Smith himself showing his own perspective on things, but it still does a great job at showcasing his talent, his fragility and kindness, his sense of humour, the reasons he was so loved, and the vulnerability that he poured into his work and which made his music so timeless and influential. The soundtrack is unsurprisingly brilliant, the cinematography is beautiful, featuring some lovely shots of Portland and Los Angeles, and it's overall both an interesting watch for fans and a great intro for someone interested in discovering Elliott Smith as an artist.

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‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ Has Its Heart in the Right Place, but It Is Ultimately Limited by Its Budget

 

I went into ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ with low expectations and an open mind, knowing that with its small project status, zero marketing, and direct to VOD release (with a few limited theatrical releases in some countries), it’d be unfair to judge it on how well it compares to the Guillermo del Toro films. Considering the elephant in the room that is the film’s significantly low budget of $20 million, which is less than one third of what the 2004 Hellboy film had to work with 20 years ago, and less than the reported cost of one episode of the recent ‘She-Hulk’ show, the main thing I’d say about 'The Crooked Man' is that it tries its best to deliver a love letter to the comics with whatever resources it got.

This is a project that Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is directly involved with, both as part of the executive producers team and as a co-writer of the script, and consequently, the movie in many ways does carry the spirit of the books as he gets his chance to bring the character to the screen the way he wanted. The film’s tone is significantly different to all previous Hellboy movies, making a complete turn towards the indie horror genre, with a hint of b-movie on the side, which admittedly is something that mostly works in its favour. Based on the 2008 ‘The Crooked Man’ comics with a story taking place during the 50s, the film is an overall faithful adaptation, with a few additions surrounding Hellboy’s origins and the newly-introduced Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense special agent, Bobbie Jo Song.

It’d be a lie to say that the very limited budget of ‘The Crooked Man’ doesn’t become obvious very soon, mostly when it comes to the special effects. From dimly lit scenes, to showing things from a certain angle, to things happening off camera, the film tries every trick in the book to find a workaround to its budgetary restrictions, and in all fairness, it actually succeeds more often than it fails. That said, there are moments, especially during daylight scenes, that the fact that you are watching a man wearing a red skinsuit and a gigantic prop hand becomes a little too hard to ignore.

At the same time, Jack Kesy delivers a solid performance in the lead role. His Hellboy is rather different to Ron Perlman’s charismatic and snarky version, but with his dry wit, brooding and no-nonsense personality, and his softer side also coming through the cracks, this does feel like a comic book accurate depiction of the character. I just wish the film took more chances to showcase Hellboy’s vulnerability and distinctive sense of humour as well.

All in all, ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ is a pretty OK film and makes an enjoyable watch, especially if you hold any love for the comics or the indie horror genre. It has some legit fun moments, it’s a self-contained story without attempting to do any more than that, and it’s clearly a project that tries to honour its source material as best as it can. Sometimes it gets a little cheesy, not all characters get their chance to shine, but it manages to tell a Hellboy story in a way that feels reminiscent of the books. I might be off here, but I feel that people coming from the comics might have an easier time digesting this film, compared to those who solely know the character through GDT’s adaptations.

I won't claim that 'Hellboy: The Crooked Man' is a flawless film, but between a blockbuster that looks down upon its source material and attempts to reinvent it coming from that angle, and a small project that genuinely, if sloppily and imperfectly, tries to pay homage to the comics it is based on, I'll personably always pick the latter.

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‘Terminator Zero’ Is One of the Best Installments in the Franchise

‘Terminator Zero’ has certainly been a pleasant surprise. Created and produced by Mattson Tomlin, co-writer of 2022’s ‘The Batman’, and directed by Masashi Kudô, it works perfectly as a standalone, self-contained story in the Terminator universe that doesn’t revolve around the Connors, and doesn’t even require much knowledge of the lore to be enjoyed.

 

The show consists of only 8 episodes that are 25-ish minutes each, so it can be pretty much binge-watched as a film. It introduces a brand new story and characters, taking place in Japan, switching back and forth from the present time of 1997, a day before Judgment Day happens, and 2022. It’s action-packed and gory and fun, while it also takes the franchise to interesting new places. The story explores philosophical themes and raises compelling questions, dabbling in existentialism and at times even in spirituality, in ways not seen in previous installments.

 

The animation is also gorgeous, the characters are diverse and unique, the way time travel is explored is pretty much what someone would expect from a Terminator story. Another big plus is that, while the show is brutally violent and features several instances of nudity, it never feels cheaply exploitative or sadistic. It is well-worth a watch, it’s one of the best installments in the franchise, possibly the best thing to come out since T2.

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32 Years of 'Batman: The Animated Series'

Today marks the 32nd anniversary of 'Batman: The Animated Series', a show that has definitely earned its timeless classic status since its premiere back in 1992. The series didn't just define the way a whole generation viewed the Dark Knight, but also significantly contributed in proving that animation as an art form can without question be a serious storytelling medium, with nothing to envy from live action. In fact, a lot of the live action comic book adaptations that came after it lacked the depth and character development that were so characteristic of the series.

With its distinctive Art Deco and Noir animation style and taking clear inspirations from the Burton films, BTAS broke away from the campiness of Adam West's Batman, but also introduced new layers and depth to Bruce Wayne that went beyond the comic book adaptations of the character that existed until then. The show's amazing writing, combined with Kevin Conroy's incomparable performance, gave the character his heart, and helped Batman break out of the monotone, brooding stereotype, showing us a multilayered human version of the Dark Knight that made him more than a vigilante out for vengeance.

With Mark Hamill's chilling performance as the Joker, and with the numerous complex and dark plots that redefined characters like Mr. Freeze, gave villains motivations based on tragedy, unfairness, and situations that were more grey than the usual black-and-white  definition of evil one would expect from a Saturday morning cartoon, and introduced the now super-popular Harley Quinn, the show never shied away from pushing boundaries and exploring adult themes in a way that respected its children audience, treating them as intelligent viewers who would be able to appreciate such storylines. It's no surprise that BTAS has stood the test of time so well and has defined the legacy of Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and the numerous creative people that helped shape it, and 3 decades later it is still an intriguing watch, even for grown adults.

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Recent Watch: Sweet Bean (2015)

Tonight's spontaneous watch was Naomi Kawase's 'Sweet Bean'. It's a bittersweet story about kindness and human connection, but also about abandonment and how prejudice stigmatises and isolates people. Mainly though, it's a gentle story about three people, each dealing with their own loneliness and baggage, whose lives at some point interconnect, and the way they manage to find meaning in the simple things and leave a lasting impact on each other. Really beautiful film.

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‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ Carries the Spirit of ‘Batman the Animated Series’, but Doesn’t Quite Capture Its Heart.

I was really looking forward to this show, and after finishing watching all 10 episodes of the first season, it has ended up being a bit of an interesting mixed bag for me. I really wish the promos and the marketing had done a better job at communicating that ‘Caped Crusader’ is a complete reimagining of most characters, apart from Batman, instead of focusing on the character of Penguin alone, because that would certainly help someone knowing what to expect going in. The show is not so much the spiritual successor of ‘Batman TAS’ but more of a completely new thing, taking place in a 1940s noir Gotham city, with most characters being given completely different backgrounds, origins, and motivations. And honestly, ‘Caped Crusader’ works better if you approach it not expecting to see the same characters as you know them from most of their comic book iterations.

The show definitely has more than a few positive elements: more diversity, characters being openly queer, Barbara and Jim Gordon being Black. Plus, it's a pleasant surprise to see diverse body shapes, especially among female characters in a Bruce Timm production. It was also nice seeing Renee Montoya and Barbara Gordon take so much center stage, even if Barbara isn’t Batgirl (yet?) in this version, and she is now a lawyer, she is still given a lot to do. Giving these two characters the spotlight is certainly one of the highlights of the show.

One has to respect that ‘Caped Crusader’ is very much doing its own thing, and taking a bold approach in reimagining some of the core elements of the Batman mythos. The show exists in its own 40s noir continuity, and makes a clear effort to reinvent most villains in a way that fits that narrative, with some legitimately interesting takes on the characters. Clayface and Harley Quinn specifically have some significant changes to them and their backgrounds. For Harley in particular, it’s interesting seeing her existing in this universe independently of the Joker, being motivated by something else completely. At the same time, not all changes work so well. This version of Selina Kyle, for example, which goes for the spoiled rich girl angle, is probably the most unlikeable depiction of the character I have ever seen. She mistreats her maid (and keeps her unpaid while she spoils herself and her cats), she lacks any sort of sympathetic personality traits, and she steals someone’s cat for no reason then abandons it on a rooftop to run from Batman. Generally, even her fondness of cats overall seems shallow and weird, rather than genuinely affectionate.

The show also pretty much goes for a version of the Batman who is in his early crime-fighting stages, and goes out of its way to highlight that he still has a lot of anger issues and he has not found his heart and his empathy just yet. Which is not a new approach, but the more human and vulnerable version of Bruce/Batman that Kevin Conroy so excellently portrayed is undeniably a more layered and intriguing depiction of the character. There’s only so much a story can do with a monotone, brooding Batman. Hamish Linklater and the rest of the cast all deliver some great performances as their respective characters, but not every character feels as deep and nuanced as the ones in the original Batman TAS. It’s the reason why both Barbara Gordon and Renee Montoya shine in the show, because they are the characters acting as the heart of the story against a one-sided, often unempathetic Bruce.

Perhaps my biggest gripe with the show is the way it changes Bruce’s relationship with Alfred, in order to highlight his coldness and how closed up he still is. I just cannot get behind a Bruce Wayne who calls Alfred “Pennyworth” instead of using his first name, in the same way a superior officer would address a subordinate, and is mostly impersonal and even abrasive towards him, no matter what plot point this eventually serves. It just taints the very specific fatherly bond between the two characters, removing something that should have been there from the start. The relationship between Bruce and Alfred works better when Alfred is established as the catalyst who has helped Bruce keep hold of his human, kind side because he was the one being there for him during the worst events of his life. Any other dynamic just doesn't have the same impact.

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The Hateful Attacks Against Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-Ting Are Yet More Proof That Transphobia Harms All Women

Imane Khelif is a cis woman, she has experienced (as of now) 9 losses against other women in her career, including the 2020 Olympics where she lost against Irish participant Kellie Harrington. Yet, the usual transphobes are currently unleashing a vile attack against her, misgendering her, accusing her of being a man competing unfairly and having some sort of advantage against her fellow athletes, all because she doesn't fit their incredibly limited norm of how a woman should look.

Suddenly, people who never cared or know much about the sport are very interested in women's boxing, and found a scapegoat in her in order to spread their disinformation. Khelif is currently receiving more vitriol than convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde who was still allowed to compete.

This is basically yet another reminder that it was never about genuinely caring for the safety of women. Transphobia is dangerous for everyone, *including* us cis women, and that the links between TERF ideology and white supremacy are very real. Feminism isn't feminism if it's not intersectional.

Lin Yu-ting originally got into boxing wanting to protect her mother from domestic violence, which clearly shows that she has experienced domestic abuse first hand.

Imane Khelif grew up in poverty, she started boxing when she became good at dodging the physical attacks of boys in her village, traveled 10km to train, and had to work to pay for her own bus fare, as her father didn't approve of boxing for girls. An experience that a lot of girls who grew up having so-called "tomboy" interests are probably familiar with. I know I am. She has recently become a UNICEF ambassador, aiming to inspire girls everywhere to chase their dreams.

Not that the transphobia and clear racist undertones of attacking these two women, despite the fact that they are both cis, aren't horrible enough, but there's something particularly sinister and cruel in the fact that the people who decided to paint them as villains and keep circulating disinformation about both, claim to act in the name of ending violence against women and protecting women's rights.

 

Originally posted on Mastodon

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‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Is Solid Fun

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ is everything you’d expect from a Deadpool film, plus one bit superhero satire and one bit genuine love letter to all the Marvel comic book films that preceded the MCU and helped pave the way, even those projects that never actually came to be.

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