Do You Have Severe Reactions To Gore?
It is increasingly rare these days to find a film that is so masterfully done, yet one cannot find it in them to ever watch again. After its world premiere on May 19, 2024, at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where director, writer, and producer Coralie Fargeat would win Best Screenplay, the film would then be released to theaters on September 20, 2024, where audiences everywhere would be shocked by what may be the most uncomfortable film of the decade. The Substance, distributed by Mubi and Metropolitan Filmexport and produced by Working Title Films, shows the world a horrifying and personal depiction of what it’s like to lose one’s self-worth through societal expectations of aging and debilitating life events.
A Film That Masters The Uncomfortable
The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle (portrayed by Demi Moore), a star of a popular aerobics show, who faces a crushing setback when she is fired on her 50th birthday and is left behind by producers and fans alike. In her despair, she discovers a lab that offers her a revolutionary substance designed to enhance her vitality and continue her youth despite the possibility of terrible, unknown, life-altering side effects. The black-market drug allows Elisabeth to spend a week being young and active, though she will have to return the next week as her usual self. In the first of many surreal moments in her cold tiled bathroom, the drug causes Elisabeth’s back to split open and expel a younger version of herself named Sue (portrayed by Margaret Qualley), who immediately sets her sights on taking over Elisabeth’s former television slot.
Sue’s audition is a resounding success, winning over the network executive Harvey (Dennis Quaid) with her vibrant charm and stunning looks. The new show, Pump It Up With Sue, skyrockets in popularity, marking a bittersweet victory for Elisabeth. However, the allure of Sue’s adoration becomes too enticing, and she ignores the warnings attached to the drug by taking Elisabeth’s spinal fluid and extending her week of youth. As Elisabeth’s time withers away, the audience is forced to witness the breakdown of a woman who is only respected (and only respects herself) when judged by her peers. Though the film is violent, gory, and intense in the most personal of ways, the feminist story does an interesting job of portraying the struggle for identity and self-worth. It even includes a lot of humor and relatability in the monstrous body horror that develops throughout the film.
Portrayals Of Self-Loathing
The film does a great job of taking serious topics and making them campy. Focusing a lot on the concept of the “male gaze,” the audience is witness to how professionals in the entertainment business, fans, and performers themselves judge the character of a woman based on their sex appeal and youth. Demi Moore balances the line between comedy and horror as Elisabeth Sparkle, a deeply insecure woman who struggles to find her identity when her lifelong career shatters. Beside her is Margaret Qualley as Sue, a preppy version of Elisabeth who is much bolder than her counterpart. Then there is Dennis Quaid, who embodies Harvey, a shallow executive who is driven by his desires and cares more about selling sex than the well-being of his employees.
Lastly, there is Yann Bean, who is the voice of the drug dealer whose face is never seen. Almost as if he is a portrayal of society itself.
Both women are portrayed as complex and relatable, making their performances truly exceptional. It also helps that Moore, who has had a long career in Hollywood with films including Ghost and G.I. Jane, was familiar with judging herself based on the opinions around her. In a September 2024 interview with The Guardian, she expressed, “Self-judgment, chasing perfection, trying to rid ourselves of ‘flaws,’ also feeling rejected and despair — none of this is exclusive to women. We’ve all had moments where you go back and you’re trying to fix something, and you’re just making it worse to the point where you’re incapacitated. We’re seeing these small things nobody else is looking at, but we’re so hyper-focused on all that we’re not. All of us, if we start to think our value is only with how we look then ultimately we’re going to be crushed.”
An Absurdist’s Fever Dream
Although the story is extremely brutal, the film is oddly theatrical. Fargeat presents a deliberately heightened aesthetic, crafting a world that is recognizable yet feels suspended outside of our reality. Interestingly, the film seems to range between the ‘80s, ‘90s, and modern-day all at once with fashion, technology, and slang. Further pressuring the message of how time is fleeting yet repeating. The camera work adopts a clinical style, featuring extreme close-ups that reveal human imperfections that would otherwise be unnoticed, alongside retro-futuristic decorated sets reminiscent of Kubrick’s masterpieces. Furthering the already grotesque acting choices and special effects, the camera lingers on the most intimate parts of Elisabeth and Sue, both when on a stage and alone in her home.
The film often feels silent even when it isn’t. There’s something about this film that is so incredibly isolating, even when the comfort of humming mechanical music is there to drown out the silence. Fargeat perfectly encapsulates the experiences of judging one’s own body to the point of self-ridicule and self-harm while reminding the audience that life still has to go on even when one feels alone. However, it is not the cinematography, or the sound, or the acting that has truly been at the forefront of conversations surrounding this movie. This film is gory, grotesque, and incredibly uncomfortable. Unlike slashers and paranormal films where characters are being gutted and massacred, the protagonists of this film are the cause of their own pain in a very personal and clinical way.
Final Rating
Despite all of the praises and accolades this film is worth, it is a hard watch for the average audience member. If viewers are used to disturbing topics and visuals, such as in Richard Shepard’s Perfection and John Carpenter’s The Thing, then this film will be a more suitable watch. However, even with its unsettling themes and graphic portrayal of self-destruction, its impact is undeniable. As a mirror reflecting one’s deepest insecurities, The Substance stands as a powerful testament to the struggles of finding value beyond the superficial.
Stream The Substance on Amazon Prime today!
The Substance (2024) Official Mubi Trailer
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Author
With a bachelor's degree in Film and Media Studies from Arizona State University, Ashley has a passion for the history of filmmaking and how audiences share a relationship with publicized media. Her love for the horror genre as well as feminist themes runs deep.
Elke Simmons' writing portfolio includes contributions to The Laredo Morning Times, Walt Disney World Eyes and Ears, Extinction Rebellion (XR) News/Blog, and Dead Talk News.