Directed and written by Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance” is a bold, grotesque and darkly satirical body-horror film that uses its high-concept premise to interrogate ageism, beauty culture and the commodification of female identity.
Plot and Style
The movie starts off like a glossy Hollywood drama but quickly turns into something much darker. It uses body horror, which leads to scenes that are both gross and fascinating, to show how far people will go to stay beautiful. The film feels like a mix of Black Swan and American Psycho with a splash of 1980s neon style. The editing and lighting make it look stylish and unsettling at the same time.
Performances
Demi Moore gives one of her best performances in years. She plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a woman who is both strong and broken, especially terrified of being forgotten. Margaret Qualley is equally great as her younger version, Sue, full of confidence and energy, but also manipulative and cruel. Together, they show how fame and beauty can twist someone’s sense of identity. The chemistry between the two actresses makes their scenes together tense and uncomfortable in the best way.
What Works
The movie’s biggest strength is its message. It’s not just a horror film; it is also a sharp take on how society treats aging women, especially in Hollywood. It asks tough questions: Why do we fear aging so much? Why do we measure worth by looks? Fargeat doesn’t give easy answers, but she makes us think while keeping us on the edge of our seats.
The special effects are also impressive. The transformation scenes are gross but creative, and the film never looks cheap. Even when it goes over the top, it stays visually stunning. The music and sound design make everything feel intense and dramatic.
What Doesn’t Work
With the positives come the negatives; the movie isn’t perfect. The last act gets pretty crazy, it is one full of chaos, blood and screaming. Some people might find it exciting, but others will think it goes too far. The story also feels stretched out at times, and a few scenes could have been shorter. It is definitely not a film for people who dislike gore or extreme visuals.
Final Thoughts
¨The Substance¨ is bold, weird and unforgettable. It’s part horror movie, part social commentary, and part feminist revenge fantasy. Some viewers will love its wild energy and fearless storytelling, while others will find it too disturbing. But one thing’s for sure — it’s a movie that makes you think and squirm at the same time. If you’re into movies like ¨Jennifer’s Body¨ or ¨The Neon Demon¨, you’ll probably enjoy ¨The Substance¨. It’s not perfect, but it’s daring, stylish, and unforgettable.
Opinions around CHS
Junior Aylen Lizuna says ¨I really liked the movie. I thought that the special effects were really cool, but also grossed me out at times. The message was really important to me because it shows that just because you are getting older, that doesn´t mean that you are worthless; you just have to embrace your true beauty.¨ Another junior, Nick Milone, said, ¨The movie really was not my thing. I am definitely not a fan of horror movies, so if you aren´t a fan of gore and horror, this is not the movie for you. The effects are the type of real where it makes you uncomfortable, but overall the movie was good, just definitely not for me!¨
Where to watch
¨The Substance¨ rated R, was released on September 20, 2024, and has a run time of 2 hours and 20 minutes. You can watch the movie on HBO Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Fandango at Home, YouTube, Sling TV, YouTube TV and Apple TV.
