2024 Shocking Movie of the Year
The Substance vs Terrifier 3. This year saw two movies shock audiences and get well-deserved mixed reviews. Which was better?
Stats
The Substance - Mubi - September 19, 2024 - Rated R
Terrifier 3 - Cineverse Corp. - September 19, 2024 - Rated R
The Good
The Substance
The Substance is a crazy, mind-bending rollercoaster through a lot. Mostly emotion as visual metaphor, the movie leaves little to the imagination and more than drives home its main point but does so in a way that feels fresh and exciting. All the manic energy, sleaze, craziness, and body horror of Showgirls, Black Swan, and Society tossed into a blender.
Terrifier 3
The little indy shockfest that could, Terrifier is back for a 3rd installment. Picking up 5 years after part 2, this one sees more lore, more gore, and more… Terrifier than we have seen before. With more budget at his command, Damien Leone is able to go even further with Art and give even more of the stomach-churning, soul-crushing, over-the-top depravity the series is known for.
The Bad
The Substance
There is a sarcastic streak and sensibility that runs through The Substance as it hammers you over the head with its main point. There is no escaping the intensity as the movie continually doubles down on being equal parts sleazy and brutal. Nearly everything in the movie is designed to be an offputting over-the-top version of itself. Some will find this intriguing, some will find it overbearing.
Terrifier 3
Terrifier 2 is too long, Terrifier 3 is shorter but still too long. The movie constantly toggles between bland melodrama and shocking gorefest so often it never finds a rhythm or a purpose and becomes a 2 hour slog to get through. 3 movies in, the parts that are designed to be shocking are shocking but are missing elements that would make this an enjoyable movie instead of an endurance test.
The Verdict
Seeing these movies so close to one another cried out for a comparison. On one hand, in The Substance, we have a film that is pushing your buttons with purpose. Instead of just talking through the emotions, it is using quality filmmaking to force you to experience them: the disgust, self-loathing, the jealousy, the fear of being exposed… it all comes out in a nightmare thrill ride that is as engaging as it is harrowing. On the other hand, we have Terrifier 3, which, as much as I hate to admit it, starts to feel like a kid kicking your chair just to make you squirm. Like The Substance, the discomfort is the intent but here there is no higher purpose. the reaction is the point. 3 movies in, Art needs a new trick. The clear winner to me is The Substance. It is definitely not for everyone but The Substance may be my favorite movie of the year.
