natalilahidalgo

The Substance takes on an important topic: the societal pressures and anxieties faced by aging women. It's a refreshing theme to see addressed, especially in a genre that so often ignores the real, lived experiences of women. This could have been a poignant and thought-provoking narrative.

Unfortunately, the execution misses the mark. Rather than exploring these themes with emotional depth or nuance, the film leans heavily into graphic and disturbing violence.

What saddens me most is that the film was both written and directed by a woman, which feels like a missed opportunity to challenge the more aggressive, stereotypically masculine approach to violence in film.

I believe that women filmmakers have the power to bring new voices, perspectives, and sensibilities to the industry. It's unfortunate that this film feels like a replication of the same shocking content that men often produce, rather than a challenge to it. Women need not imitate these extremes to make impactful, meaningful movies.

Excellent actresses, great cast. I love that the protagonists are women. However, the narrative of this story fundamentally lacks sisterhood among women, once again aiming to show women in conflict with each other. It's a story the patriarchy tells us repeatedly, to the point that even women have learned to tell it. It emphasizes the idea that unity among women is neither important nor possible, thus perpetuating a divisive view that undermines female solidarity.

Moreover, it is frustrating to see a good series that ultimately focuses on representing women according to a male perspective of how they should be.