Movie Review: The Substance

Samantha McKenna

The Substance, written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, the Best Screenplay winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is a sci-fi/horror film that delivers much more than just scares. While there are moments of visceral horror to make viewers squirm, the film offers a sharp critique of modern society’s fixation on body image. Through a blood-soaked lens, the film depicts the age-old search for eternal youth in a gruesome but thought provoking narrative.

The film stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid – all superb. Moore portrays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity, unceremoniously dumped by her agent simply because she’s turned 50; that makes her no longer relevant. Quaid’s Harvey adds a layer of sleaze and villainy to the story, representing the ruthless pursuit of youth and beauty at all costs.

Desperate to remain in the spotlight, Elisabeth turns to ‘The Substance’, a black-market solution that creates a younger, seemingly better version of herself, played by Qualley. It comes, however, with dangerous caveats. Elisabeth is only allowed to switch to her younger self, Sue, once, and they have to alternate every seven days, but as they continue using The Substance, they progressively unravel the darker, unspoken consequences of chasing youth relentlessly.

The film plays with the exaggerated extremes of each character. Quaid’s Harvey, with his grotesque table manners and maniacal laughter, is a not so subtle reference to the real life Hollywood mogul exposed by the #MeToo movement. He embodies the male gaze, lusting after the overtly sexual Sue, who is acutely aware of the power her body holds. Qualley portrays Sue as alarmingly cold and calculating, aware that her youth and sexuality can be exploited for fame, a reflection of the troubling modern reality show culture.

The heart of The Substance lies in Elisabeth, played brilliancy by Moore, capturing a woman spiralling into self-hatred and desperation as she tries to cling to relevance in a world that has abandoned her. Elisabeth’s life is hollow; her fame and fortune have brought her material wealth, but she’s isolated herself as her entire existence revolves around her image, and her willingness to destroy herself in pursuit of eternal youth is both tragic and terrifying.

Throughout the film, the mantra ‘Remember You Are One’ serves as a haunting reminder to Elisabeth, and by extension, the audience, that she and Sue are not separate entities, but rather two aspects of the same person. The film manipulates that idea, leading viewers to perceive the two women at odds with each other, when in fact they are parts of a single, self-destructive whole.

Though Elisabeth technically has control over The Substance, the deeper she delves into its use, the more out of control she feels. Even when she recognises the impending danger, she struggles to give up the perfect, youthful version of herself.

The ending is a chilling homage to classic horror films, such as Carrie, showing the horrifying lengths women will go to in pursuit of perfection. The film is not for the faint-hearted and its use of gore heightens the horror of the physical and psychological transformations between Elisabeth and Sue.

The Substance is more than just a sci-fi horror; it is a brilliantly grotesque and visually stunning exploration of ageing, self-hatred, and the toxic culture of youth obsession. Through its bold narrative and unflinching portrayal of the lengths one will go to stay relevant, The Substance solidifies itself as a film that truly is a work of substance.

Samantha McKenna is a member of Inklings Writing Group, who meet on Tuesdays at 11am in the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar.