Written by Zoe
The Substance (2024) is a cinematic masterpiece worthy of more than the 70+ awards it has rightfully won since its release in September. I went into this movie completely blind, armed with only the knowledge that it was a film that functioned as a social commentary of some sort. By the end of this movie, all I could do was sit in impressed-but-horrified silence and stare blankly at my roommate as the credits rolled. Between the surrealistic set and overexaggerated characterization of the people Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) and Sue (Margaret Qualley) interact with throughout the movie, this film does an excellent job of setting up an unnerving atmosphere and evoking strong emotions through the set alone.
It’s easy to infer that this movie is more of a social commentary than a truly plot-driven story, but the plot that is included is so fascinating and leaves so many unanswered questions.
The substance, an experimental drug assumedly offered to older people suffering from the insecurities and restrictions that come with age in a capitalist society, comes in a small vial filled with an unknown neon-green liquid. The almost comically green color of the substance hints towards the absolute absurdity that commences as the movie goes on.
As a viewer, it’s painful to see Demi Moore, a blatantly stunning woman, suffer from so much self-hatred and insecurity, all born from the industry of fame that society perpetuates today. To see this theme portrayed in such an artistic yet overly gory way is a beautiful representation of the beauty expected from women and the pain that comes with that expectation.
Again, going into this blind, I did not expect to see Terrifier levels of gore and admittedly had to look away during quite a few sequences (the mirror scene…), so I definitely don’t recommend it if you are sensitive to the highest levels of body horror. This movie pushes the limits of artistic absurdity but does so in a way that ties everything together in a neatly (bloodily) wrapped bow chock full of metaphors and double meanings. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley’s performance was astounding, and I truly cannot commend both of them more for portraying that feeling of frustration, rage, inferiority, insecurity, and self-criticism that so many women in today’s male-centered society feel on a daily basis.
I truly recommend this movie to anyone who can handle the R rating and intense body horror present, as this film will slap you in the face with its message and leave you thinking about it for weeks after.
Overall, this movie was a 10/10 for me, and I’m so glad to be born in an era that produces creative pieces like The Substance. Now…will I ever rewatch it? For the sake of my fragile sensitivity to gore…probably not.