Who needs subtly when you've got "The Substance," Coralie Fargeat's delightfully bonkers body horror masterpiece? To quote "Garth Marenghi's Darkplace," "I know writers who use subtext and they're all cowards, every one of them." With "The Substance," Fargeat, who helmed the excellent, brutal, bubble-gum-colored thrillride that was "Revenge," has crafted a overstuffed, bonkers, blood-soaked saga about women and the hell they're put through all in the name of modern beauty standards. Fargeat's script is about as unsubtle as they come — every scene is loaded with unmistakable, obvious, impossible-to-miss meaning. And yet, this isn't a hindrance to the film. If anything, it just makes the movie all the more endearing. It's equal parts horrific and hilarious.

Demi Moore turns in a fearless performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, an Oscar-winner turned TV fitness star. I'm not an awards prognosticator, but I would love it if Moore scooped up some awards season love for this,...