The story of Substance is one of guilt, male sexuality and consent, and passion that sometimes turns out to be an all-consuming inferno. The film opens with a murky situation that has warranted the involvement of police. It further unfolds to reveal that a murder has taken place, which is later discovered to be an overdose on drugs instead.
As soon as the viewer begins to get comfortable with this truth, another unexpected turn awaits them, one that would involve the weaving of the narrative from the start all over again. The progression of events leads to the resurfacing of guilt, along with a dark reality that the protagonist had attempted to conceal so far. The plot unravels to reveal a truth far from what the viewer had been led on to believe. Notions of right and wrong are brought under scrutiny as all drama boils down to the decision of a police officer in the face of a character's deep repentance. Sometimes the punishment as well as the redemption of a sin is the knowledge and the regret of having committed it, along with the inability to undo it, and that indeed is the message the film attempts to drive home.
Read LessAs soon as the viewer begins to get comfortable with this truth, another unexpected turn awaits them, one that would involve the weaving of the narrative from the start all over again. The progression of events leads to the resurfacing of guilt, along with a dark reality that the protagonist had attempted to conceal so far. The plot unravels to reveal a truth far from what the viewer had been led on to believe. Notions of right and wrong are brought under scrutiny as all drama boils down to the decision of a police officer in the face of a character's deep repentance. Sometimes the punishment as well as the redemption of a sin is the knowledge and the regret of having committed it, along with the inability to undo it, and that indeed is the message the film attempts to drive home.
