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Terrifying body horror, body image issues, and a mysterious elixir await you in The Substance. Directed by Coralie Fargeat (Revenge), The Substance stars Demi Moore (Ghost), Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), and Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow). Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkles, an aging star who headlines a fitness show, fired after a typical creepy executive named Harvey (Quaid) wants to replace her with a younger model. Just when she needs a savior, Sparkles is slipped the answer she needs in the form of an experimental drug dubbed the Substance.
After some contemplation, Sparkles takes the Substance which splits her into two forms, Elisabeth Sparkles and Sue (Qualley). After some vicious body horror, we follow Sue as she starts to build a new career with her new young body. But, because Elisabeth and Sue are in essence the same person, they need to switch every seven days for the Substance to work effectively. The pair try to live their own lives while adhering to the rules of the drug, but jealousy and ambition get in the way.
The Contents of The Substance
The Substance’s story is fairly simple, but clever writing elevates it into being so much more than your average body horror film. Through the lens of an older woman in Hollywood, we’re seeing depictions of complex body image issues, and an overwhelming need to be relevant or admired. As the two characters deal with their new lives – Elisabeth stress eating to cope while watching Sue’s success, and Sue overworking her young body – we watch them ruin their lives. They can’t rest without being reminded of the other, with Sue’s billboard overlooking the apartment, and Elisabeth’s portrait hanging in the living room.
While The Substance is commenting upon skincare treatments, especially those marketed to older women, it’s also commenting on cosmetic surgery. The themes here aren’t skin-deep, but even if you just want to enjoy the gruesome body horror and call it a day, you can. I couldn’t get through the movie without squirming, and if you’re squeamish, you’ll have a bad time. The practical effects are fantastic, with the more monstrous features looking beautifully over-the-top while more natural effects look terrifically realistic. The Substance doesn’t hold back on the gore, either.
All of the effects are supported by the transformative performances of the main cast. Moore plays Sparkles with depth, she’s kind but desperately wants to keep her life. As she descends further into a self-jealousy spiral, Moore plays up her mania to the point of pity. She’s hamming it up, but you love her for it. Qualley is brilliant as well, with both actresses having their villainous, or at least, more morally ambiguous moments. Quaid is great as Harvey, and the character is as shallow and stereotypically disgusting as he ought to be.
More Style, More Substance
Qualley is distractingly beautiful, too, which results in a sort of guilt. Even though you might like the way she looks, you hate the way she’s gotten there. Of course, this is exaggerated by the extreme close-ups of her body. The close-ups feel intrusive, especially of Sue, which works well because she’s being objectified in the film. Similarly, we have close-ups of Quaid’s face, which exaggerates how disgusted we are by him. Nearly every element of the film is designed to make you feel uncomfortable, but you enjoy it at the same time. It’s a vicious circle because you’ll then feel uncomfortable enjoying it.
The Substance doesn’t just look terrific, with gorgeous close-ups and well-implemented framing, it’s also a feast for the ears. Raffertie’s score is all-encompassing, raising the tension and highlighting moments in the narrative. The score is loud and striking, every bit as striking as the gore. The other music in the film also works well, with Endor’s “Pump It Up” keeping both the audience and the film moving.
There’s also the ASMR-like voice of Yann Bean as the person who talks to Elisabeth about the titular Substance. His voice is sultry and mysterious, and his bluntness is one of the only sources of humor in the film. While we won’t spoil it here, a large part of why The Substance works as well as it does is because of the ending. It doesn’t pull any punches, instead stepping on the gas with torture methods and enough blood to make Carrie look like a paper cut. The last shot bookends with the opening, too, a nice bow on an already fantastic movie.
Keeping It Moving
The only thing that weighs The Substance down a little is that it’s a little slow in the middle section. With a runtime of 140 minutes, The Substance is fairly intense and moves at a brisk pace. But, that dip affects the pacing a touch. Luckily, the film picks back up with a stellar final act.
Not only is The Substance one of the best body horror films ever made, but it also happens to be one of the best movies of the year… if you can handle it. The gore might make this an instant no for some, but those who can stomach it are truly in for a treat. Moore and Qualley are phenomenal, with a tight narrative and plenty of gruesome effects that make it a thoroughly entertaining watch, even if you are disgusted the whole time.
Every horror fan should rush out to see this in theaters. If you do get squeamish easily, maybe prepare yourself and go anyway. Movies are supposed to make you feel something, right?
You can catch The Substance in theaters from September 20, 2024.
The Substance
A devilishly terrific time, The Substance is a body horror thrill ride with brilliant performances and a story that will either make you cheer or run from your theater.
Pros
- Moore is tremendous, showing great range and hamming it up in the final act.
- The practical effects perfectly capture the gruesome horror.
- It has a well-written narrative with equal parts style and substance to keep it enthralling.
Cons
- It might be too gory for some.
- The pacing suffers towards the middle of the film.
