10 Spine-Chilling Horror Films to Pair as a Double Feature with The Substance

Horror fans know that certain films can create a profound cinematic experience when paired together. Among the standout contemporary titles is The Substance, a satirical horror thriller directed by Coralie Fargeat. This film has captured attention not only for its outrageous premise and graphic themes but also for its recognition during awards season, boasting five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Demi Moore. Such acclaim represents a remarkable milestone for the horror genre, which often garners limited recognition.

While The Substance is distinctly original in its approach—especially with its critique of the cosmetic industry and contemporary beauty standards—it also draws inspiration from previous horror classics. The film’s elaborate makeup effects pay homage to the groundbreaking work of David Cronenberg, while the intense rivalry between characters recalls themes from psycho-biddy films like What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. This article highlights ten excellent films that would create a compelling double feature alongside The Substance.

10 Society

Bill gets attacked by the cult in Society

In The Substance, gruesome imagery paints a biting portrait of the wealthy elite’s desperation to maintain power and status, mirroring the themes found in Brian Yuzna’s cult classic Society. The film follows Billy Warlock, a Beverly Hills teenager, who uncovers the shocking truth about a sinister cult among his affluent parents. Captivatingly strange yet relevant, Society culminates in an outlandish third act that parallels the shocking climax of The Substance.

9 Revenge

Fargeat’s debut film, Revenge, also serves as an amazing pairing for The Substance. This film flips the traditional rape-and-revenge narrative on its head through a feminist lens. Starring Matilda Lutz, it chronicles the journey of a businessman’s mistress, who seeks revenge after a horrific assault. As the story unfolds, Lutz’s character transforms from the quintessential damsel in distress into a fierce warrior, mirroring the empowerment themes found in The Substance.

8 Carrie

The climactic moments in The Substance, featuring Monstro Elisasue’s tumultuous performance, evoke a strong connection to the tragic finale of Carrie. As the first film adaptation of Stephen King’s work, Carrie dives deep into the life of an ostracized girl with telekinetic abilities, resonating with themes of isolation and acceptance found in The Substance. Both films offer compelling character studies cloaked in horror, making them a potent double feature choice.

7 Re-Animator

Herbert West looking at a severed head in Re-Animator

The irreverent spirit and shocking visuals of The Substance find a kindred spirit in Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator. This adaptation of H. P.Lovecraft’s works features Jeffrey Combs as a medical student who discovers a serum that reanimates the dead. The neon-green fluid in The Substance draws eerie parallels to the titular serum, marking both films as part of the body horror genre that successfully intertwines horror and comedy.

6 Tusk

After the lukewarm reception of Cop Out, Kevin Smith turned to horror with films like Tusk, which became a cult classic. Featuring Justin Long as a podcaster who faces a horrifying transformation by a deranged seaman, this film delivers a similarly bizarre humor as The Substance. Both films draw laughs from their absurd premises while delving into darker themes, creating a uniquely twisted viewing experience.

5 Raw

Julia Ducournau’s Raw made waves in the horror community just a year prior to The Substance. This film follows a veterinary student who develops an unsettling craving for human flesh after a haunting initiation ritual. Both films masterfully incorporate body horror as a means to explore character growth and societal pressures, making them compelling viewing companions for fans of thought-provoking horror.

4 What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?

Bette Davis as Jane watching Joan Crawford as Blanche look out the window in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Another cinematic pairing worth exploring is What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, which showcases the intense rivalry between former child star Jane Hudson and her sister Blanche. The bitter feud between Elisabeth and Sue in The Substance echoes the toxic dynamics found in this classic psychological thriller. Their shared themes of obsession and rivalry create an intriguing lead-in to The Substance.

3 Evil Dead II

Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams in Evil Dead II

Within The Substance, the visually frenetic escapades often recall the cartoonish horror style pioneered by Sam Raimi in Evil Dead II. This sequel reintroduces Ash Williams battling demonic forces with a balance of slapstick and horror. The whimsical yet grotesque tone in both films creates a thrilling, laughter-infused ride through chaos and terror.

2 Death Becomes Her

Ernest sees Marilyn Monroe at Lisle's party in Death Becomes Her

At its core, The Substance utilizes a dark comedic framework to critique society’s obsession with youth, a theme paralleling Robert Zemeckis’s Death Becomes Her. Featuring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, this cult classic delves into the absurdity of cosmetic enhancements and the rivalry for affection from a famous surgeon, deftly capturing the satire also present in The Substance.

1 The Fly

Jeff Goldblum's Seth Brundle in the midst of his transformation in The Fly

Lastly, David Cronenberg’s enduring classic The Fly resonates poignantly with The Substance through its exploration of body horror and human emotion. As Seth Brundle, played by Jeff Goldblum, succumbs to a grotesque transformation, the film portrays a chilling reflection on society’s expectations of women, similar to the resonant themes in The Substance. Both films strike a delicate balance between horror and profound character drama, marking them as essential viewing.

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