On this week’s New Movie Monday, Griffey and Alex go all-in, declaring The Substance not just a new classic of body horror but a legitimate contender for Best Picture at the Oscars. Does it really have a shot at winning over the traditionally stuck up Academy voters? Let's break it down.
Let’s start with the bold claim: The Substance is one of the greatest body horror films of all time.
Body horror is a genre that thrives on the visceral and the grotesque, but the truly iconic entries in the genre—The Fly, Possession, The Thing—marry those elements to deeply human themes. The Substance does this with ferocity, forcing us to confront how we perceive and weaponize our own flesh.
As Griffey put it, “You can’t have great body horror without grappling with how we view our own bodies and our own self-worth. The Substance might be as good as anyone’s ever done that.”
The Gags that Will Break You
The set pieces in this movie are legendary. Need proof? Just ask Griffey and Alex about the turkey scene.
Demi Moore’s character, in the throes of an existential and physical meltdown, turns a French cuisine dinner into a spectacle of psychological collapse and pure gross-out insanity. It’s not just about the gooey, dripping mess; it’s about the why behind the madness.
Or take the shrimp-eating sequence, which Alex swears is the most disgusting cinematic meal since The Lord of the Rings’ Gollum slurping down raw fish. That’s high praise (and high nausea).
And don’t even get us started on the street beatdown scene—superpowered kicks as a metaphor for self-loathing? It’s chef’s kiss.
The Oscars Need The Substance
Here’s the thing: genre films have always had to work harder to prove their worth. But the tide is shifting. Movies like The Shape of Water and Everything Everywhere All at Once have shown us that the Academy can embrace the weird, the imaginative, and the visceral.
And let’s be real—if the Academy is serious about evolving, they need to recognize The Substance.

It’s not just a showcase of dazzling technical achievements (although, yes, it absolutely should win Best Sound Design). It’s not just about the jaw-dropping performances from Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid (who deserve Oscar nods, by the way). It’s about what this movie means.
“This movie nails the cinematic truth of the moment,” Griffey said. “It’s rage. It’s self-loathing. It’s humanity on the brink. This movie is the frontrunner for Best Picture because it captures us, right now.”
Why It Matters
If The Substance wins, it won’t just be a win for the filmmakers or fans of body horror—it’ll be a win for every genre movie that’s ever been dismissed as “just” horror or sci-fi. It’ll be a sign that the Oscars are ready to embrace the full spectrum of cinematic storytelling.
So, Academy voters, inject yourselves with some cinematic substance. We’re begging you.
And for the rest of us? If you haven’t seen The Substance yet, you owe it to yourself to experience one of the most messed-up, meaningful, and masterful films of the year.
Go see it. Go talk about it. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll all be celebrating come Oscar night.
Ready to watch The Substance take over the awards circuit? Let us know your thoughts on its Oscar chances in the comments below!
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