“The Substance” and the New Horror of the Modified Body
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Oct 3, 2024
Dive into the darkly comedic world of body horror, where aging and perfection collide. A new narrative uncovers the societal obsession with youth through the lens of films like 'The Substance.' The haunting consequences of body modification and the haunting visuals of transformation raise questions about identity. Amidst the grotesque, discussions also challenge beauty standards driven by social media. As hosts dissect the horrors of societal pressure, they ponder how we can find peace in our ever-changing exteriors.
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Psycho's Impact
Alexandra Schwartz's childhood fear of horror stemmed from seeing "Psycho" too young.
The film blurred reality and imagination, causing lasting anxiety.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Ren & Stimpy's Body Horror
Schwartz's first body horror experience was a "Ren & Stimpy" episode.
Ren gets pec implants from Stimpy's butt, creating a lasting grotesque image.
insights INSIGHT
Fear of Fear
Vinson Cunningham prefers paranormal horror over gore.
He finds the anticipation scarier than the scares themselves.
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Set in Lorain, Ohio, during the Great Depression, 'The Bluest Eye' tells the story of Pecola Breedlove, an eleven-year-old African American girl who desperately wants blue eyes, believing they will make her more beautiful and accepted according to white cultural standards. The novel explores themes of race, class, and beauty standards, highlighting the destructive impact of internalized racism and societal pressures on Pecola and her family. Through a non-linear narrative and shifting perspectives, Morrison critiques the systemic racism and social stratification that contribute to Pecola's tragic downfall.
The Power of Positive Thinking
Norman Vincent Peale
Published in 1952, 'The Power of Positive Thinking' is a classic self-help book that emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mindset to overcome life's challenges. Dr. Peale provides practical techniques such as affirmations, visualization, and faith to help readers build self-confidence, achieve their goals, and improve their personal and professional relationships. The book is rooted in Christian ethos and uses biblical teachings to guide readers towards a more fulfilling and joyful life.
Passing
Nella Larsen
Nella Larsen's "Passing" is a novel exploring the complexities of racial identity and the experience of passing as white in the early 20th century. The story follows two light-skinned Black women, Irene and Clare, who navigate the social and psychological challenges of living in a racially divided society. The novel delves into themes of self-discovery, betrayal, and the psychological toll of concealing one's true identity. Larsen's masterful prose and insightful exploration of race and identity make "Passing" a powerful and enduring work of American literature.
In “The Substance,” a darkly satirical horror movie directed by Coralie Fargeat, Demi Moore plays an aging Hollywood actress who strikes a tech-infused Faustian bargain to unleash a younger, “more perfect” version of herself. Gruesome side effects ensue. Fargeat’s film plays on the fact that female aging is often seen as its own brand of horror—and that we’ve devised increasingly extreme methods of combating it. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss “The Substance” and “A Different Man,” another new release that questions our culture’s obsession with perfecting our physical forms. In recent years, the smorgasbord of products and procedures promising to enhance our bodies and preserve our youth has only grown; social media has us looking at ourselves more than ever before. No wonder, then, that horror as a genre has been increasingly preoccupied with our uneasy relationship to our own exteriors. “We are embodied. It is a struggle. It is beautiful. It’s something to wrestle with forever. Just as you think that you’ve caught up to your current embodiment, something changes,” Schwartz says. “And so how do we make our peace with it?”
Read, watch, and listen with the critics:
“A Clockwork Orange” (1971) “The Substance” (2024) “A Different Man” (2024) “Psycho” (1960) “The Ren & Stimpy Show” (1991-96) “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison “Passing,” by Nella Larsen “The Power of Positive Thinking,” by Norman Vincent Peale “Titane” (2021) “The Age of Instagram Face,” by Jia Tolentino (The New Yorker)
Critics at Large | The New Yorker 
