CW for mild references of body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
Ever since I heard about 'The Substance', its premise and its themes, I have been curious to watch it, and even though the hype from the reviews and the reactions was pretty big, it still managed to exceed my expectations. If nothing else, I was surprised with how completely bonkers it becomes, especially in the final act, and how at the same time it manages to deliver a very deep, very real message, if you care to receive it.
The film from start to end is deliberately exaggerated. Every single thing that is shown, and every single thing that happens on camera is on purpose and plays a part in telling the story. The angles used, the bathroom scenes with Demi Moore, the oversexualisation of Margaret Qualley's body that basically weaponises the male gaze against itself, and the antithesis that exists in comparison with the old Hollywood executives who clearly believe that they are exempt from the "it ends at 50" rule they impose on Elizabeth, all work together in building up the plot in an absolutely unnerving and hyperbolic way that actually works in the movie's favour.
On the surface, one could claim that the film is about vanity, but in a world where youth and beauty are so tied to a person's value, where women are told from an early age that they have an expiration date, where eating disorders affect a significant amount of both men and women, and are actually considered the most lethal mental health conditions, and where there are entire industries creating insecurities for people about the most minor things and then selling them the solutions, Sue's choice to take the substance as a last resort to regain some of the social currency she thinks, or she is constantly told that she has lost, is just an exaggerated satirical version of the miracle solutions people are being sold daily for problems that society goes above and beyond to convince them they have.
It's interesting how, with all the out there scenes that the film offers, the one that most people, including myself, remember the most because it resonates and it hits home in a very specific way, is the scene that is also shown in the trailers, where Demi Moore's character is angrily applying and reapplying her makeup, and getting progressively more frustrated with herself for not looking "right". Similarly, the scene at the very beginning where she is standing in front of the mirror, scrutinising every tiny detail on her admittedly gorgeous body, while the camera focuses on her in a way that feels almost invasive.
And I think having someone like Demi Moore, who is objectively an immensely attractive woman, play that part was key in getting the film's message across. Because beyond age and appearance, standing in front of the mirror and nitpicking on every single detail and perceived flaw, while a little spark of self loathing starts gaining ground, is an experience a lot of people, especially women, have had. I guarantee you, there is a big chance that some of the most attractive people you know have gone through something similar.
What is amazing is that, in all its ridiculousness and surrealism, the film manages to offer one of the most accurate depictions of body dysmorphia in two of its simplest scenes. And in a way it becomes nearly heartbreaking seeing Elizabeth miss the date with the sweet, awkward guy who clearly sees her as perfect, and you wish you could tell her to not hate herself out of whatever happiness she can find beyond the shallowness of Hollywood.
Of course being a satire, 'The Substance' takes that "I hate you" self loathing part and turns it up to eleven, and from the middle until the end it starts fully embracing its body horror themes. The final act is unhinged and unpredictable. I certainly didn't see it coming. Offering plenty of gore and moments that will probably make lots of people lose their appetite, and at the same time, in its own unique way delivering a little "fuck you" to the ridiculous beauty standards of society and the industries that have turned youth and human flesh into a commodity, while pushing the narrative that human beings can somehow become expired, or that the only right way to exist is to be young, slim, with a flat belly, and conventionally attractive.
All in all, 'The Substance' is a bonkers horror story that goes places you won't see coming. It's funny, it's disgusting, it's ridiculous, and it's also tragic. The hype and praise are very much deserved, both Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley give it their all in scenes that cannot have been easy to film, and I absolutely want to see more of Coralie Fargeat has to offer.
