Joey Magidson
The Sunday Scaries are upon us once again! Yes, as the weekend concludes, most of us feel an oncoming sense of anticipatory dread about the week ahead. Anxiety about work manifests itself into a feeling that’s known as the Sunday Scaries. However, we at Awards Radar are here to combat that, by taking back the name. Now, we want you think about a horror-centric piece on the site when you hear the term. So, let us continue on with another installment of the Awards Radar Sunday Scaries! This time around, we’re looking again at how a 2024 genre effort could challenge the Academy this awards season…
One of the big surprises of the precursor season the past few weeks has been watching The Substance exceed all expectations. The film from Coralie Fargeat could easily have just been the fright flick where Demi Moore turns into Margaret Qualley, with lots of gore. That, of course, has not happened, a it has performed instead like a prestige satire. It’s early, but if you’re a fan of the film, these are very exciting times.
Normally, we’d be dismissing the movie out of hand, just being a horror title. However, the genre work is clearly connecting this precursor season, which gives it a pathway to Oscar attention as well. That love, as well as potential for Academy Award citations, had me thinking about a prior Sunday Scaries piece on just how much the work was going to challenge voters this season.
Below is the article I ran three months ago on this very topic, before there was any true hope that the film would be a legitimate player in the awards season:
This weekend marked the release of The Substance, after a hotly buzzed about film festival run. Coralie Fargeat‘s movie enters theaters with strong reviews, to be sure, but also some conversations about potential Oscar attention. Here’s the thing, though…it’s horror, and body horror at that. The Academy Awards rarely goes for that sort of thing. At the same time, what this flick is about, as well as how it goes about doing it, may prove irresistible for some voters. So, it presents an interesting awards season question to ponder.
In my review of the film here, I had the following to say, in part, about its high quality:
It has become a cliche to say that a horror film is extreme or unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Too often, the degree to which something is gory or out there is exaggerated, resulting in some level of audience disappointment. Well, I’m here to tell you that The Substance warrants those kinds of brash comments. A body horror satire with terrific performances, it’s as out there as it gets. No matter what you’ve heard, you’re not read for this flick, and I mean that as a major compliment, too.
The Substance goes hard. It does so in service of a metaphor that wouldn’t jive with subtlety, that’s for sure. Women in Hollywood, the aging process, sexism, it’s all in here, done in a savagely satirical manner. Plus, again, this is a very graphic body horror epic, at nearly two and a half hours long. Is it going to be for everyone? No. Was it very much up my alley? You better believe it. This is one of the most darkly enjoyable experiences of the year.
I also spoke of its Oscar situation in that same review, writing:
To that end, this film will be an interesting test of Academy tastes. If this were a simple film about an aging actress, I do think Demi Moore would have a great chance at a Best Actress nomination. The thing is, Oscar doesn’t usually go for body horror. Now, the metaphor and satire on display may well resonate with voters more so than another movie of its ilk. Still, this seems like a big ask for them, though I’d love to see it happen.
Again, if this wasn’t horror, I’d be pretty confident that Demi Moore would be getting a Best Actress nomination. Hell, we could even be talking about Margaret Qualley in Best Supporting Actress. This is extreme body horror though, so Moore has an added hurdle to clear, one that Qualley probably can’t overcome. Fargeat could fare better in Best Original Screenplay, but of all potential contenders this season, The Substance is the one that more Academy members will turn off than any other. The ones who love it will love it, much like with the critical community, but those that hate it will refuse to give it the time of day.
Now, anything can happen. When talking to Fargeat here, a rep actually mentioned to me how well it was apparently playing to female voters. Is that just spin? Perhaps. Maybe it’s more evidence of a changing Academy membership? Also a possibility. No one should expect Best Picture or Best Director, but Actress and Original Screenplay are at least going to be given more of a shake than most fright flicks. Plus, this movie has a chance in Best Makeup & Hairstyling as well. So, that below the line consideration could prove to be an X factor as well. Just something to ponder when considering The Substance in the awards season mix.
Ultimately, Oscar will have its say, one way or the other. The Substance is a great film, regardless, and will stand the test of time, horror-wise. Whether it becomes an Academy Award nominee or not, well, that remains to be seen. So, sit tight to find out…
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As you saw above, I was skeptical, but left the door open. Now, the precursor season has firmly established the movie as a real contender. I’d argue that no Oscar hopeful has done more to improve its chances than The Substance. Not only is Moore right there for a Best Actress nomination, Qualley isn’t an afterthought in Best Supporting Actress, while Fargeat is hanging around not just in Best Original Screenplay but Best Director as well. Throw in how the flick has been a mainstay in the technical categories so far this season and it makes it not at all crazy for a Best Picture nomination to happen. As I stated on Friday here, it’s one of the thirteen title most clearly vying for a nomination in Picture.
Obviously, the guilds could bring the above the line momentum screeching to a halt. If DGA, PGA, and SAG don’t go for it (WGA would be a friendlier space), then it’s below the line or bust. Regardless, it’s clear that voters are watching The Substance so far, which means Academy members will too. That’s a big win, not just for this film, but for genre as well…
Stay tuned for another Sunday Scaries installment next week!
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