Ray’s review published on Letterboxd:
After giving some time for The Substance to marinate in my system...W O W.
The screenplay is so well structered. The more I think about it the more flawless it seems. It wastes no time getting in and relishes its time getting out. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley are incredible. The scene stealer though is Dennis Quiad who is deliciously evil in his colorfully tacky suits and over-the-top demeanor. The stunning cinematography and Kubrickian production design builds this hyper-stylized yet grounded version of Los Angeles.
Thematically the desire to find love and the misuse of substances, ala plastic surgery, that end up hurting the user in the long term is clear. While it does begin to feel repetitive towards the second act; the 3rd act comes back as pure bloody perfection.
Hilarious, G(l)ore-ious, Beautifully crafted cinema.
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