The Substance: A Game-Changer for Horror Movies?
While the nomination of The Substance for Best Picture is impressive on its own, what’s truly remarkable is that it’s a body horror movie with a dark sense of humor and a gruesome ending. The film’s fearless performance by Demi Moore is a career-best, and its nomination marks a significant milestone for the horror genre.
Horror movies have historically been snubbed by the Academy, with only seven nominees throughout its history. Most of these nominations belong to sub-genres such as psychological thrillers or supernatural horror, rather than outright body horror. The Substance is different, with its focus on the grotesque symbiotic relationship between its two main characters.
The film’s body horror elements make it stand out from other horror movies, including Black Swan and Get Out, which, while incorporating some elements of body horror, are primarily psychological thrillers and satirical sci-fi horror, respectively.
The Substance’s nomination is a significant step forward for body horror movies, which have often been viewed as gross-out fare and not taken seriously by critics and awards organizations. Director David Cronenberg, a master of the genre, has never received a Best Picture nomination despite his numerous accolades.
The success of The Substance opens up new possibilities for directors working in the horror genre, and its recognition by the Academy could change the way Hollywood approaches horror movies. Recent years have seen major horror hits repeatedly snubbed, and The Substance’s nomination could mark a turning point in the genre’s acceptance.
With its critically acclaimed performance and gruesome ending, The Substance is a game-changer for horror movies. Its nomination is a testament to the power of body horror and the potential for horror movies to be recognized as legitimate artistic endeavors.