Demi Moore delivers a career-defining performance in The Substance, a body horror epic that dives deep into themes of beauty and envy. Helmed by female creative Coralie Fargeat, who both writes and directs, the film takes an unflinching look at societal beauty standards through the grotesque, otherworldly lens of Lovecraftian horror. The Substance will not be for the faint of heart. An unmistakable streak of weirdness will practically make it inaccessible, speaking nothing of any actual mainstream appeal. Yet, for the right audience, a new horror classic has been born. Bookended by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Substance puts a mirror up to the sin of envy, asking viewers to confront its surreal and unsettling nature.
In an immediately gripping metaphor about one’s starpower fading with time, we bear witness to the creation of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Eventually, this image cracks, giving way to tourism and homeless wanderers. Thus begins The Substance; perhaps obvious at times, yet somehow a perfectly executed burst of cinematic excellence. Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore, Ghost, Nothing But Trouble), the very celebrity whose star has been brought into existence, leads work out program Sparkle Your Life with Elisabeth. Even through her later successes, grimy producers still want to find fresh meat fast to replace Elisabeth. After a horrifying car accident nearly kills her, Elisabeth faces the chance of a lifetime. A hot young doctor proclaims her to be a “good candidate,” and secretly slips her a flash drive entitled THE SUBSTANCE.
Sparking this into reality may seem to be a fiercely graphic visual—rest assured, Fargeat is just getting started in this regard. Elisabeth duplicates from a slit in her back that hatches, creating two halves of herself that must coexist. The process, meant to birth “a better version of yourself,” promises to form a perfect, more beautiful version of its user, but at what price? In using this titular “substance,” there are many vital rules that must be followed. For one, a balance between the two halves must be maintained. Every seven days, the young version of Elisabeth, whom she names Sue (Margaret Qualley, The Leftovers, Death Note), has to relinquish control to her old self. But what happens when these very simple rules are broken? After all, surely Sue’s fiery path to success trumps the uneventful focal point of old-Elisabeth’s solitary existence?
While Sue’s fame rises, Elisabeth’s star falls further. The film explores Sue’s increasing desperation to stay in her present as she pushes the boundaries of the experimental drug, even injecting Elisabeth for extra hours. As a result, her body begins to deteriorate—fingers rot, limbs atrophy, and she spirals into horrifying, grotesque transformations. To reveal anything further would rob The Substance of some surprises, and rest assured, there are many. In fact, calling the film a surrealistic mix of Requiem for a Dream and Society would not even be too far off. Take particular note of prosthetic effects work from Pop FX, with special makeup effects designer and supervisor Pierre-Olivier Persin truly impressing. Gnarly imagery would be impossible without the care from Pop FX to make the truly disgusting moments stand out.
Moral complexities here are difficult to miss. Sometimes, these present the most interesting kinds of watercooler conversations. In a way, The Substance feels like an extended episode of Tales From the Crypt, complete with a takeaway lesson and a burst of dramatic irony. Any scenario in which the viewer must put themselves in the shoes of an ambiguous protagonist seems worthy of watching. As Elisabeth’s physical form deteriorates, the film explores the horror of losing one’s identity in the pursuit of perfection. Furthermore, the toxic nature of celebrity culture and obsession with youth are paramount to cracking the strangeness of its premise. The Substance burrows deep and never lets up, signaling the arrival of a freaky vibe barely glimpsed in modern day. Buoyed by incredible performances from Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, Coralie Fargeat’s elevated cringe-horror masterpiece will leave viewers screaming “JURASSIC FITNESS” for years to come.
Unlock your DNA with just a single injection of The Substance, rolling out in theaters everywhere on Friday, September 20th.
