Tag: Beauty Standards

The Substance Year: 2024 Rating: R Length: 141 minutes / 2.35 hours Social commentary is a fine line to walk for any film. Most times, the message is too heavy handed that it beats the audience over the head with it. The Substance (2024) leans into this and literally beats the characters over the head with the harsh reality of aging—especially for women in show business. While uncomfortable to watch on an enormous movie theater screen, this modern adaptation of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" is almost perfect with only a few plot choices that left a bad aftertaste. The premise of The Substance is so simple and easily understandable at its core. Take this drug and split into two bodies, one of which is a younger and more attractive version of yourself. The packaging, font, and presentation of the titular substance was top-notch and a definite highlight of the film. Of course, one could argue that the secondary message aside from the unending obsession...