2024 was flooded with many new horror movies, each vying to be crowned the scariest of them all. But there's one film that really stood out, not necessarily for being scary but for how disturbing it was. It's ranked pretty high on many people's "Best horror films of 2024" lists, but it's at the No. 1 spot on ours. By now, you're probably thinking we're talking about Longlegs. However, you'd be wrong.
Look, let me be clear. Longlegs is an amazing horror movie from this year, and we'd even give it the No. 2 spot when it comes to the best horror films of 2024. However, the one horror flick that really stole the show for us this year is The Substance. Not only is it the best horror film of 2024, in our opinion, but we'd also say it's one of the best body horror movies we've seen in a long time.
From its unique concept to the strong performances and disturbing visuals, The Substance has become a standout in modern horror and a movie we can't seem to get out of our heads. Truthfully, that's what you want to happen after watching a horror film. These types of movies are designed to evoke intense emotional responses, and when a movie lingers in your mind, making it difficult to forget, it indicates that they have successfully achieved their goal of creating fear, intrigue, or unease. And boy, did we feel uneasy throughout The Substance's 2-hour and 20-minute runtime!
There are so many disturbing moments in this body horror that left us absolutely gobsmacked! But the scene that takes the cake for the most disturbing happens at the end of the film. Without spoiling anything, all I'm going to say is that there's blood galore in this scene, and it goes on for a good period of time. Think of the iconic prom scene in the movie Carrie, but instead of water spraying everywhere, it's a torrent of blood that drenches everything in sight. I had to cover my eyes a couple of times during this scene, and I'm usually not a squeamish person.
The Substance comes from Coralie Fargeat, who wrote, produced, and directed the film. 4x Golden Globe nominee Demi Moore takes on the leading role of Elisabeth Sparkle, a once-celebrated movie star who decides to take a mysterious drug that promises to turn her into a younger and more perfected version of who she was. But like with any drug, there are side effects, and Elisabeth soon discovers what they are in the worst way. Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid join Moore in the cast.
The Substance currently has five Golden Globe nominations, including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. We're keeping our fingers crossed that the body horror takes home at least one award, if not more. It definitely deserves it!
If you haven't gotten the chance to see The Substance yet, here's your reminder to do so. While it's not playing in theaters anymore, it's available to stream on Mubi with a subscription. You also have the option to rent or buy the movie on digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV+.
Mubi released two thrilling trailers for the body horror. Check them out below!
Don't forget to watch the 82nd Golden Globe Awards to see if The Substance wins any awards. The ceremony will air live on Jan. 5, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET on CBS and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.