Banner image: Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle in Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance. Courtesy of Mubi.
Body horror film, The Substance, received a 13-minute standing ovation after premiering at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. It also went on to win the Award for Best Screenplay. Yet, with intense gore, frequent nudity, and disturbing imagery throughout, it’s sure to spark controversy amongst viewers.
In The Substance, we’re introduced to Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a once-famous celebrity who now films a daytime aerobic fitness TV show. On the day of her 50th birthday, Elisabeth’s life begins crumbling around her when she’s fired by her boss, Harvey (Dennis Quaid), who plans to replace her with a younger woman. In a bid to get back on top, Elisabeth turns to a black market drug which promises to create a “new, younger, more beautiful, more perfect, you.”
Enter Sue (Margaret Qualley): a hypersexualised, glossy, 20-something-year-old, who represents everything Elisabeth feels like she’s lost. But there’s a catch. For the drug to work, Elisabeth and Sue must switch back and forth every seven days, and, naturally, this is where the problems begin…
Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle in Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance. Courtesy of Mubi.
The Substance is designed to make you uncomfortable – and, wow, does it succeed. However, it isn’t disturbing simply for the sake of it, and the film’s deeper societal critique is what makes it so captivating.
Over two hours and 20 minutes, the story tackles themes of ageing, the insane and unsustainable standards women are expected to meet in a beauty-obsessed culture, and the dangers of building an identity based on how others perceive you.
Demi Moore describes how “dealing with ageing and our value of self” is “a really important subject matter.” She sums up one of the film’s core messages when she says; “It’s that idea that when we chase perfection, we sometimes lose the very essence of the beauty of what we started with.”
Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat (Revenge, Reality+), the Parisian’s trademark artistic style is plastered across every scene. As with her disquieting 2017 thriller, Revenge, Fargeat uses symbolism, colour, and impressive cinematography to angrily dismantle the status quo – almost everything is a metaphor for something else.
Viewers are on the edge of their seats from the outset, with eerie close-ups, unsettling camera angles, and an unusual use of sound creating a tense atmosphere – pumping music contrasts with shots so quiet you can hear every gulp. While Fargeat consistently shocks with graphic scenes and isn’t afraid to take audiences to the most twisted places, she still finds a way to scatter humour throughout. And even if it’s a nervous and edgy sort of laughter, it’s a welcome relief.
Demi Moore (Ghost, Indecent Proposal, G.I. Jane) is excellent as Elisabeth; Vogue calls it “the performance of her career.” She’s as vulnerable and raw as she is harsh and unsettling, so it’s unsurprising that there’ve been rumblings of award nominations for the role.
Like Moore, Margaret Qualley (Kinds of Kindness, Poor Things, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood) is also completely committed to her portrayal of Sue, as she fearlessly embodies the idealised image of a babydoll sex symbol. Meanwhile, Dennis Quaid (Breaking Away, The Right Stuff, The Big Easy) is impressive as swanky TV exec Harvey – he’s smarmy, misogynistic, and, at points, simply gross.
Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid as Sue and Harvey in Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance. Courtesy of Mubi.
But, be warned, this bloody horror thriller is sinister, unsettling, and truly obscene in parts. Plus, with almost non-stop gore and more crunching, snapping, and tearing than you could ever imagine, it’s profoundly discomforting and emotionally exhausting. At times, it’ll likely make you want to crawl out of your skin and throw up.
Aside from the unease and disorientation you’ll feel after watching, you’ll also certainly be left with questions. Director Fargeat describes how her scripts don’t have backstories. This means some elements are left unclear. Plus, the film lacks depth at points, with long, drawn-out, toe-curling scenes sometimes chosen over opportunities for deeper character development and analysis.
Yet, one thing The Substance never is, is boring. The gripping plot, pacy action, and sense of impending doom make it impossible to look away (even though you’ll want to!). This is a one-of-a-kind watch that’ll stay with you long after the credits roll. Though, if you’re squeamish or have a fear of needles, avoid, avoid, avoid!
The Substance is in cinemas on Friday 20th September 2024.
Are you planning to watch The Substance? If so, we’d love to know what you think in the comments below.