‘The Substance’ Breakdown: The Year’s Wild Horror Film, Explained

The movie titled “The Substance” has now joined an exclusive group of films: It’s a horror flick that was nominated for the prestigious Best Picture award at the Oscars. Critics and viewers alike have been captivated by its thought-provoking narrative on mortality, celebrity, and unrealistic beauty norms enforced by society, particularly towards women. Moreover, the exceptional performances delivered by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley have also garnered much praise.

As “The Substance” continues to captivate cinema-goers, there’s been a whirlwind of discussions about its themes, underlying messages, and daring finale. In our newest ScreenCrush video, we delve deep into the movie’s intricacies. We’ll dissect that chaotic ending, uncover why director Coralie Fargeat crafted “The Substance”, and discuss what she intended viewers to grasp from it. Moreover, we’ll examine how this film fits within the grand scheme of Hollywood horror films and monster movies. Feel free to watch our comprehensive analysis on “The Substance” in our latest video below…

If you enjoyed the video on “The Substance”‘s concluding scene and its deeper meanings as well as minor details, explore more of our videos below. You might find interesting content like our analysis (and explanation of the ending) for the 2025 “Wolf Man” film, a video diving into Robert Eggers’ remake of “Nosferatu”, and a top 5 list featuring the best horror sequels ever produced. Additionally, you can find more videos at ScreenCrush’s YouTube channel – don’t forget to subscribe to keep up with our future releases! “The Substance” is currently playing in cinemas.

’90s Foods We Wish They Still Made

BoKu

In a creative twist of thought, the idea behind BoKu, a brand offering juice boxes (and bottles) for mature consumers, was born out of the question: Why limit juice boxes to kids? With this in mind, they designed larger boxes and offered flavors that might be too bold for children’s taste buds, such as Black Cherry White Grape. Advertisements for BoKu were geared towards adults, featuring comedian Richard Lewis expressing his affection for the product and wishing he could have them at parties and other events. Thanks a bunch, Richard!

Bud Dry

In the 1990s, Budweiser introduced a new line extension with the puzzling slogan, “Why ask why? Try Bud Dry!” The commercials asserted that it was “cold filtered” for a “smooth, draft-like taste” and “dry brewed,” eliminating any aftertaste. This raised an intriguing question: If their product was already so exceptional, why create a version with improved smoothness, dryness, and no lingering aftertaste? Anheuser-Busch aggressively marketed Bud Dry for several years before shifting its focus elsewhere. Eventually, the product hung on for a while before being discontinued in 2010.

Butterfinger BB’s

Although Butterfinger candy bars have been around since the 1920s, they gained significant popularity in the 1990s due to their association with The Simpsons. Characters from the show frequently appeared in commercials promoting both the original and the spin-off product, Butterfinger BB’s, which were bite-sized, ball-shaped versions of the classic candy bar.

BB’s were just as tasty as the larger Butterfingers and incredibly hard to resist. However, Nestle discontinued the product by the mid-2000s. Recently, they have introduced a similar product called “Butterfinger Bites,” but I can’t help but feel that nothing compares to the original. I’m confident that Bart Simpson would concur with me on this.

Choco Taco

Oh, there’s nothing like the delightful Choco Taco! It’s an ice cream treat encased in a waffle cone “taco shell,” with a scoop of ice cream, drizzles of fudge, peanuts, and a hard chocolate shell on top. Truly a frozen dessert heaven! Unfortunately, Klondike stopped producing it just a few years ago. Perhaps if we all make our voices heard, they might bring it back, or even the less popular but equally delicious Cookies & Cream version.

Cinn-A-Burst Gum

In the 2020s, we’re certainly not short on choices when it comes to chewing gums, but I can’t help but reminisce about a defunct brand from the ’90s that left a lasting impression: The “Burst” line of gums, with its trio of flavors – Mint-A-Burst, Fruit-A-Burst, and the undisputed favorite, Cinn-A-Burst. What made these gums special, as their commercials boasted, was the inclusion of “flavor crystals.”

Now, you might wonder, what exactly are flavor crystals? I can’t say for sure! Why were they a unique selling point? I still don’t know! However, they did make an impact because I chewed so much Cinn-A-Burst gum throughout that decade. If only I could relive the experience of those flavor crystals just one more time…

Crunch Tators

Looking back over the past five decades, it seems like there have been as many types of potato chips on store shelves as there are stars in the night sky. Every now and then, manufacturers try to lure in new customers with unique flavor combinations or shapes. In the ’90s, Lay’s introduced a snack they called “Crunch Tators,” which, as the name suggests, were renowned for their exceptionally crunchy texture. (The advertising claimed that they were made with 100% peanut oil.) These Crunch Tators still hold a special place in the memories of many ’90s kids due to their brief appearance in the original “Home Alone.” In one scene, Macaulay Culkin is seen next to him, munching on a bag of these Tators while watching “Angels With Filthy Souls.

Crystal Pepsi

In the ’90s, few products were anticipated with as much excitement as Crystal Pepsi, a soda innovation by PepsiCo aimed at leveraging shifting tastes and the fad of clear items. People in the ’90s seemed to believe that if something was transparent, it was automatically healthier. Crystal Pepsi was essentially a colorless version of Pepsi, available in regular and diet options. It gained significant attention with a massive Super Bowl commercial featuring Van Halen’s song “Right Now.” However, despite the buzz, Crystal Pepsi disappeared from shelves within three years, eventually becoming a symbol of pop culture humor. At present, it’s hard to find, although Pepsi has occasionally reintroduced the drink sporadically. Who knows if it might resurface again in the future?

Fruitopia

In a similar fashion, the growing public interest in healthier options prompted The Coca-Cola Company to significantly increase its investment in juice products and launch the Fruitopia line. With its mystical packaging reminiscent of New Age ideals and flavor names like Fruit Integration, The Grape Beyond, and Strawberry Passion Awareness, the product seemed akin to health food from the ’90s. Stores were filled with these bottled drinks, and branded vending machines became common sights, symbolizing a true integration of fruit into our daily lives. Over time, Fruitopia’s popularity waned, although it is not officially discontinued; you can still find it in some places, primarily internationally, often shipped from countries like Canada on platforms such as Amazon.

Fruit String Thing

In the ’90s, I found myself reminiscing about the golden age of fruit snacks from the ’80s, yet there were still some unique takes on the classic concept. One such innovation was the Fruit String Thing, a refreshing alternative to the Fruit Roll-Up. Instead of a flat roll, it came as a long, curled fruity string set upon a piece of waxy cardboard, often in fun shapes like bicycles. However, the market for children’s snacks was incredibly competitive during that decade, and unfortunately, Fruit String Thing didn’t make it through the tough competition. Reflecting now, I believe the fact that you only got a small fruity string compared to larger offerings like a whole fruit roll, bar, or a bag of Gushers might have contributed to its downfall.

Fruit Stripe Gum

Did you know that Fruit Stripe Gum managed to stay popular for more than five decades? Launched back in the early ’60s, it wasn’t until the 2020s that production finally came to an end. This chewing gum offered five unique fruit flavors and was easily recognizable with its striped packaging. During the ’80s and ’90s, you could often see ads for it on children’s TV shows, starring a zebra mascot.

Josta

Launched in 1995, Josta failed to survive beyond the turn of the millennium as Pepsi discontinued its production. However, it holds a significant position in beverage history being the first energy drink from a major beverage corporation and containing caffeine and guarana. There are still some fans who remember it, as evidenced by its appearance in the first season of Loki. Thus, it seems that Josta is not entirely forgotten.

Munch ’Ems

Based on SnackHistory.com, Keebler’s Munch ‘Ems were designed to be a middle ground between potato chips and conventional crackers. The available flavors were ranch, cheddar, and sour cream & onion. It appears that both chip enthusiasts and cracker eaters desired their respective snacks, as Munch ‘Ems disappeared from the market by the early 2000s.

Surge

In the 1990s, Keebler was brainstorming innovative snack concepts, and one of those ideas was Pizzarias, which were pizza-flavored chips made from real pizza dough. Despite their popularity, these chips were eventually discontinued following Keebler’s acquisition by Kellogg. By the early 2000s, Pizzarias had ceased production.

P.B. Crisps

In the ’90s, Planters ventured into the realm of cookies and snacks by introducing P.B. Crisps – a unique blend of sweet peanut butter cream encased in a crunchy, peanut-shaped shell. Alongside the original crisps, Planters also created chocolate versions and an innovative take on the classic sandwich, “PB&J Crisps,” which featured strawberry filling alongside peanut butter. Despite their novelty, Planters acknowledged that they didn’t gain widespread popularity, as indicated by their tweet in 2017 explaining the discontinuation: “Unfortunately, consumer demand wasn’t high enough for us to keep producing it.

PB Max

In the ’90s, there was a strong affinity for peanut butter. Instead of crisps, one could opt for a PB Max, a candy bar that featured peanut butter spread over a cookie drenched in chocolate and sprinkled with mini cookies. A tale circulating online (which might not be entirely true) suggests that the Mars company discontinued this product, despite its steady sales, due to an aversion to peanut butter among its owners. One wonders why they introduced a candy bar called PB Max if they disliked peanut butter so much. The ’90s were certainly an interesting era!

Shark Bites

In the ’90s, I found myself drawn to the ever-changing, bizarre forms of fruit snacks as manufacturers strove to outshine each other with their most innovative ideas. One lasting favorite among these was Shark Bites, which came in a variety of shark shapes such as hammerhead, great white, and even a shark’s tooth. These iconic treats lingered into the early 2020s, though their ingredients and packaging underwent modifications along the way.

SnackWell’s

In the ’90s, SnackWell’s products embodied both the craze for junk food and the pursuit of health. Marketed as lower-fat alternatives to traditional cookies and crackers, they became popular with their signature Devil’s Food Cookie Cakes, which were marketed as “fat free”.

However, SnackWell’s had a paradoxical nature. While they were indeed lower in fat compared to many other snacks, consumers often misconstrued their health benefits, assuming they could eat them in large quantities without impacting their weight. This phenomenon led scientists to coin the term “The SnackWell Effect”, referring to the increased consumption of foods labeled as non-fattening. Originating from Nabisco, these products were later sold to a rival and eventually discontinued in the early 2020s.

Squeezit

This line of sweet beverages was nicknamed after its unique squeezable bottle design. To use them, you simply had to squeeze the bottle to push the contents out and into your mouth. They were available in many flavors and colors, all incredibly sweet. Launched in the 1980s, they became ubiquitous by the 1990s, with their advertisements frequently airing during Saturday morning TV. General Mills capitalized on this concept as much as possible before eventually ceasing production in 2001.

Thunder Jets

Despite sounding rather foolish, this concept proved surprisingly effective. Every kid I knew was consuming Thunder Jets for a while, eagerly hoping to find the stealth bombers.

In the 1990s, if you didn’t like strings or sharks, there were fruit snacks shaped like planes instead. The brand Thunder Jets made some rare shapes (like the stealth bomber) harder to find in each pack. Even though it sounds silly, kids liked this idea a lot and wanted to find those special planes.

Wow Potato Chips

The innovative forces behind Crystal Pepsi and SnackWell’s also led to the creation of Lay’s Wow chips, which were manufactured using a fat substitute called Olestra. Initially, when the FDA approved Olestra in the mid-90s, it was celebrated as an alternative to conventional, calorie-rich, high-fat ingredients. Brands like Lay’s saw this as an opportunity to offer consumers their beloved fatty snacks minus the actual fat content. This meant that you could enjoy Tostitos, Doritos, Ruffles, or regular Lay’s in a Wow version. Seems perfect, doesn’t it?

However, as often happens with supposedly healthier junk foods, there was a caveat. Consumers started reporting various gastrointestinal issues after consuming Olestra-based products (although the urban myth at the time suggested it led to “anal leakage,” I have no personal evidence to confirm this). Naturally, once the chips gained a reputation for causing indigestion, sales dropped significantly. So remember, people dislike unhealthy snacks even more than they dislike potential digestive problems – Wow, what a lesson!

2025-02-03 17:55