Once you’re on The Substance, you have to respect the process.
Directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance tells the story of Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a former Hollywood icon who finds herself ‘past her prime’. Despite her still-stunning beauty, Elisabeth is abruptly fired from her fitness TV show due to her age. However, her life changes when she is invited to take ‘The Substance’, a mysterious drug that seems to have the answer to her problems. After one simple injection, The Substance promises to help her birth a version of herself that’s younger, gorgeous and, essentially, a ‘better version of yourself’. When Elisabeth creates Sue (Margaret Qualley), the two must co-exist by alternating one week at a time in order to live in balance. But, as things begin to spiral, the women find themselves torn between respecting the process and fighting for themselves.
Though the film earns its horror distinction, Fargeat ensures that The Substance is absolutely something worth taking in. Despite its seemingly simple premise, Fargeat has woven a tale of complexity. Smartly written and executed, this is a tale that taps into the emotional struggles of women in Hollywood as they battle an industry that’s built upon the predatory nature of gaze.
Much of the film’s success is due to stunning performances from Moore and Qualley. As Elisabeth, Moore bares far more than her skin. She bares her soul. Without knowing her reasons for taking the role, I have to believe that there’s something about this character that feels personal for the actress. Having been judged for her body throughout her career, the character of Elisabeth provides her the opportunity to strike back at those who have viewed her as an object. She pours herself into the role in a way that we haven’t seen from her in years and absolutely soars.
At the same time, Moore finds her equal in Qualley as well. Stepping into Sue’s skin, Qualley balances a fury and, frankly, ‘sparkle’ that brings her to life. However, this also ensures that here’s a certain sense of nastiness to her character. The same smile that makes her lovable to the world also carries with it a nasty snarl that can’t be denied. Although the two actresses spend very little time on screen with one another, the tension between their characters is palplable. It’s simply stunning work all around.
While the film is particularly graphic, it does so with intent. This is body horror at its finest. Fargeat lures you in with the allure of beauty but fearlessly explores the pressures of the ‘gaze’. For example, Elisabeth examines every inch of her nakedness, judging her aging body with a disapproval. Meanwhile, Sue stares at herself with the belief that she has regained the power that she had lost as her older self. For both of them, the standard of youthful beauty is the benchmark for success yet both characters are on either side of it. As Elisabeth’s body becomes increasingly exhausted, so too does she find herself increasingly overwhelmed by the undeniable effects of aging.
But Fargeat’s film is about far more than fading beauty. In fact, at its most powerful, Substance wants to discuss intergenerational dependence. Caught in a world of toxic masculinity, there is a genuine sense that both Elisabeth and Sue need each other to survive. This, of course, works on two levels. Physically, they have a dependence on one another in order to make the Substance work properly. But metaphorically, they also struggle to recognize what they each have to offer. For Elisabeth, it’s experience and wisdom. For Sue, it’s youthful energy and confidence to take on the world. Combined, they have the chance to fight back against of world of the male gaze.
But, first, they need to be ‘respect the process’ together.
In this way, Fargeat takes her conversation far beyond the normal questions about beauty and self-empowerment. The Substance is fueled by a genuine belief that changing the game will require unity across generations. Although it may be visually bonkers in moments, it never forgets its purpose along the way. After all, this is a film that wants us know what it means to really create a ‘better version of yourself’.
The Substance is available in theatres on Friday, September 20th, 2024.
