Skip to content

The Substance - S14 E110

March 23, 2026 · 1 h 23 min

Show notes

Inject this into your ears and pray that a better version of yourself doesn’t pop out of your spine. We’ve reached the fourth episode in Dan’s Identity season where we’re discussing Coralie Fargeat’s the Substance (2024).

This isn’t one of those slow French movies where characters meditate on a fireplace for three hours, it’s an $18 million bloodbath that treats Hollywood beauty standards like a personal insult. Demi Moore delivers a career defining turn as Elizabeth Sparkle, while Margaret Qualley provides the ultimate “parasitic” companion for anyone struggling with character identities.

Between Dennis Quaid behaving like a pig with a plate of prawns and a third act that left our jaws on the flaw, this film proves why body horror is best served with a side of satire and some very expensive tile work.

What to expect from this episode:

  • We reveal why we watched the trailer 28 times and still weren’t prepared.
  • Sarah explains her cynical view on why children are basically parasites.
  • Explanation for why babies aren’t born with names.
  • Attempts to pronounce Coralie Fargeat’s name at least four different ways.
  • Discussion around Hollywood beauty standards.
  • We decide whether this film is style over substance or a masterpiece of the crunchy and wet variety.
  • Chat about why Dennis Quaid’s eating habits are the real horror of the movie.
  • Explaining why Dennis Quaid’s tobacco-stained teeth are the real horror of the movie.
  • Pondering why Dennis Quaid’s character name is the real horror of the movie.

This season has eight episodes, concluding April 27th

Would you like to see the full lineup for season 14? The only place you can see it is on Patreon but you don't need to be a paying member. Sign up for a free membership and get access to the lineup.

If you're a fan of the show and want more content, check out our £3.00 a month tier on Patreon where we release our end of season wrap shows and a minimum of 2 reviews of brand new movies every month. Plus you'll get access to our back catalogue from 2023 onwards.

Enjoy the show but can't support us financially? We get it. You could submit a review on the podcast player you're reading this on right now. Or if you listen on Spotify and you haven't given us a five-star rating yet, what are ye waiting for? It's easy.

If you've done some or all of that and still want to do more, we would love it if you tell a friend about the show.

Or come find us on social media:

Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube

All episodes of Shoot The Hostage

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.