Photo from Mubi, Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance
**This article contains spoilers for “The Substance.”
“The Substance,” a new sci-fi horror film starring Demi Moore (playing Elisabeth Sparkle) and Margaret Qualley (Sue), explores the theme of aging as a woman, especially under the spotlight in Hollywood. This satirical thriller crafts an intricate narrative about Hollywood’s obsession with beauty, an industry that values a youthful appearance. Directed by the French writer-director Coralie Fargeat, the film has been a breakthrough, winning Best Screenplay at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
The movie is grim, much like most horror films, with intense visual effects, rapid cuts creating juxtaposition between scenes, a variety of shots including extreme close-ups and it’s packed with gore. As the story progresses, the plot only becomes more chaotic.
The focus of “The Substance” delves into self-destruction and vanity. Elisabeth, an aging fitness TV celebrity, is told by her boss, Harvey (Dennis Quaid), that he wants a younger, more appealing talent to replace her, as she is too old to continue working as a TV fitness personality. He tells her, “after 50, it stops.” Feeling deflated, she turns to a black-market drug, known as “the substance,” a neon green liquid that guarantees users’ transformation into a younger, more perfect version of themselves. However, the substance comes with stern rules: Elisabeth must revert to her original self every seven days, or else she will experience side effects. In her bathroom, her other, more youthful identity, Sue, is created through Elisabeth’s back spine.
The instructions of the substance state that she must inject nutrients into the original body to keep it maintained. The card that comes with the package says, “remember you are one.” Not thinking much of this, Elisabeth fully immerses herself in her new identity, spending more time as Sue without considering how it will affect her original form and ignoring the message, “what happens to one happens to the other.”
As Sue, she manages to land the job she was recently fired from. Harvey hires her and creates her own show, “Pump It Up With Sue,” which becomes very popular. Her boss praises her as her personality, beauty and confidence radiate on television, making her face more recognizable through ads. However, by the end of the week, her life becomes more somber, as she’s no longer in the spotlight and praised. During this time, she is recharged for the following week by tubes and injections of the substance. On the way, she bumps into a high school friend who has always admired her and gives her his number to catch up. Dissatisfied with her appearance as Elisabeth, she glares into the mirror for some time and frustratedly wipes off the layers of makeup, refusing to go out.
When Sue breaks the rule and stays in her body for longer than one week, there are implications for Elisabeth’s body. In an earlier scene, we see how Elisabeth’s finger becomes swollen and dull as a consequence of misusing the substance. The film delves into Elisabeth’s insatiable character and her ego in continuing her career despite setbacks.
Cinematically, the film was compelling, using many inspirations from recognizable works like Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” (1980). A scene where Elisabeth walks down the corridor reflects the offputting atmosphere of the “Here’s Johnny!” scene starring Jack Nicholson. The film also includes long hallways and claustrophobic bathrooms, which heightens the suspense of the film. Additionally, Elisabeth’s transformation draws parallels to “Alien Covenant” (2017), as the birth of Sue from Elisabeth’s spine makes reference to a parasite occupying a body found in both films.
Overall, the film puts emphasis on the unrealistic standards of femininity and self-destructive tendencies under the spotlight. It also shows how far one would go to stay relevant for as long as possible in the entertainment industry.