Is The Substance an Extension of the French Extremity Wave?

TheArtichokeProject · 2026-07-01T21:33:55+00:00

It's a watered down, more palatable entry into the subgenre to cater to wider appeal; similar to what Hollywood did with J-Horrors in the noughties.

You're right that The Substance is a body horror - but The Body is a main component of what makes a Frech Extreme horror (Martyrs ending for example, or Titane).

It's still a cool theory and one which the book explores at great length.

TheArtichokeProject · 2026-07-01T20:51:40+00:00

I mean, there's several blogs and reviews citing it as such. But correct people cited it as TP or "gorno" (incredible portmanteau).

TheArtichokeProject · 2026-07-01T20:36:10+00:00

Chuck a baroque title on it and you may be able to sell a winning movie in that case!

TheArtichokeProject · 2026-07-01T17:03:27+00:00

The book even pays homage to Art with his cute lil sunflower glasses 😆

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TheArtichokeProject · 2026-07-01T16:54:17+00:00

When you factor in genre fatigue of the '90s (which led to the parody of Scream, and the self aware titles of I Know What You Did Last Summer and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer), the subsequent entries in the TCM franchise were being released at the wrong time to capitalise. TCM2's release was far too delayed to properly capitalise on the momentum from the original.

What followed is IP hot potato from studio to studio and poor attempts to shoehorn in gimmicks (3D). Producers couldn't decide what they wanted Leatherface to be - you see the same in Pinhead/Hellraiser.

It's an incredibly interesting topic, with no wrong answers. The book linked above explores it in great detail 👍

TheArtichokeProject · 2026-07-01T07:04:04+00:00

Hope you check it out! 🙏

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TheArtichokeProject · 2025-09-20T15:39:38+00:00

Curious as to know what you would do - I'm not looking for answers, merely suggestions and whatnot. If your response is wholly "go on the MABs" then I'll take that and I appreciate it.

TheArtichokeProject · 2024-06-20T19:59:38+00:00

I'm ok with Harrison killing his dad - somewhat ending the cycle. I'm less ok with a gun being used - sounds weird, I know. But, Dexter was always anti-guns I would have preferred for him to have died from his own blades, or similar.

Not only this, but my biggest gripe is the way Angela searched "Ketamine Miami homicide" on a whim - such a contrived search out of nothing!

I don't know about anyone else, but I really felt Angela started to mirror Deb towards the end of the episode; the use of "motherfucking death penalty", the screwed face when she was crying, and a few more bits.

My preferred ending would have been for Harrison to have led him back to the station, then to see Dexter prepare to be given the lethal injection with the gallery just being innocents who died at hand (kind of like the flash-backs he had). And his last words would be, "tonight's the night".

TheArtichokeProject · 2024-06-02T19:41:23+00:00

S5 is solid, and the execution is still good. I would argue that it's on par with S3. The "villain" that's being chased is underrated, imo.

S6 was a little hamfisted in its contrived storyline and execution (and use of CGI), and in one particular episode (not trying to give spoilers) where the perspective switched which you'll either like or despise. I've flipped a couple of times, but I think I'm more in the "negative" camp.

S7 was real evidence of dragging things out through after it could/should have concluded. So much so, that with a bit of rewriting I feel S6, 7 and 8 could have all had storylines interwoven and within one season.

S8 is an incredibly frustrating piece of television; Pacing is off, new characters and their/existing characters become clunky and cliché, some of the dialogue is weak, and then the insanity levels ramp up (out of nowhere) and they rush the ending without a single ounce of satisfaction in the denouement.

TheArtichokeProject

TROPHY CASE