Director Coralie Fargeat Explains Why ‘The Substance’ Isn’t a Horror Movie

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This year’s top genre film, titled “The Substance“, was created by director Coralie Fargeat. She recently shared her perspective on whether the movie should be categorized as horror or not. With the film receiving acclaim in the award circuit for its unique take on body horror, critics have given it a high score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, further solidifying its recognition.

Fargeat, responsible for writing, directing, and editing the movie featuring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, discussed with The Hollywood Reporter the classification of their film The Substance as a horror production. Although the movie transcends its terrifying elements, it’s challenging to place it in any other category besides an effectively crafted horror film with potent social commentary. However, we won’t dispute Fargeat’s assertion that the filmmaker describes it thusly:

I wouldn’t categorize it as a horror movie per se. To me, it falls under the umbrella of genre films, encompassing various styles like sci-fi, action, and anything else that isn’t based on real life. Growing up, I was drawn to these movies because they offered an escape from reality, something I found myself struggling to fit into. I disliked reality a lot.

In that particular movie, it was a place where I discovered my liberation, felt potent, and had the unbridled ability to showcase myself without limitations. It’s a destination I deeply enjoy pushing the boundaries, exploring my wilder side, and dealing with aspects of my life that are often challenging. Furthermore, the film’s theme resonated profoundly with me as it provided an ideal platform to be as over-the-top and eccentric as I desired, thus mirroring the audience’s experience of excess and madness.

The director’s perspective seems valid; we can’t refute it. To put it another way, the movie seems to serve both as a captivating character development story and an allegory, which is quite striking. For instance, the climactic scene where Hollywood’s relentless production process is portrayed as the peak of entertainment, leaving viewers stunned at the fruit of their fascination. The film’s summary goes like this:

Have you ever imagined a superior version of yourself? I’m referring to an enhanced, improved version of you in every aspect. You simply must give this innovative product a try! It goes by the name The Substance. It transformed my life! This remarkable creation generates another you – a newer, younger, more attractive, flawless version of you. However, there’s just one condition: you’ll share time. A week for you and a week for the new you, alternating every seven days. Sounds simple and fair, right? As long as you maintain this balance… what could potentially go amiss?

Will ‘The Substance’ Score Big at the Academy Awards?

With the head of The Substance’s director stating that the film is not horror, there might be a possibility for it to make an impact at the Academy, considering their known reluctance towards the genre. Yet, we can never truly predict these things. We’ll simply have to wait until the nominations are revealed in a few days, allowing horror enthusiasts to entertain hope once more. If pressed to make a guess, Moore could potentially be in contention, but will the Academy really lower its standards and bestow an Oscar on the actor portraying Monstro Elisasue?

It appears quite certain that, unlike what voters at the Golden Globes seem to believe, The Substance isn’t a film that fits into the musical or comedy genres. Regardless of some people finding it amusing, this is still true.

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2025-01-10 22:05