Not your typical thriller film
‘The Substance’ is a breath of fresh air, a rarity in horror films turned Oscar contender. Unlike typical horror films, where the female lead often emerges as the ultimate victim, in this take the villain and the victim are infact the same.
Demi Moore stars as Elizabeth Sparkle, a fading Hollywood star who hosts a workout show. As her show loses ratings due to an aging fanbase and image, Elizabeth is unknowingly led to place an order for a mysterious product known only as the substance, promising a “fountain of youth.”
When ordering, a mysterious male voice provides the instructions: the user will not relive their youth, but rather split into two distinct personas—one youthful and vibrant, and the other the original host body.
The catch is that the user must alternate between these identities every seven days, living as both the original and the reborn persona. As Elizabeth injects the substance, she literally splits open and emerges as Sue, her new, youthful self. Sue’s body is in peak form, and she begins to mirror Elizabeth’s career, replacing her in the workout show, now rebranded as Pump It Up.
As Sue’s career skyrockets, the need for more time as Sue becomes tempting.
Despite the maker’s warning to switch between identities every seven days, Sue chooses to take more of the substance. In doing so, she consumes more of Elizabeth, accelerating Elizabeth’s physical decline and transforming her into a grotesque, Frankenstein-like figure. Elizabeth’s attempts to contact the maker of the substance are met with the reminder that Sue and Elizabeth are not separate entities—they are one.
This revelation highlights the true meaning of the film: how much are we willing to sacrifice of ourselves, physically and mentally, to remain relevant in a world that demands perfection?
And how our biggest life-sucking enemy is in fact ourselves.
The film has fun easter eggs of classic horror films, with references to The ‘Shining’ in its visual design, ‘The Exorcis’t in its ominous fog imagery, and ‘Psycho’ in a chilling shower scene. As the story progresses, the conflict between the two identities deepens, leading to Sue’s eventual destruction of Elizabeth’s body.
The film’s themes are not just about women—though told through a female lens—but also reflect broader social issues. A man is the one who introduces Elizabeth to the substance, a victim of the false youth he himself craved. The ending, not for the faint of heart, features a bloodbath reminiscent of Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’, a disturbing yet necessary look in the mirror. It forces viewers to confront the uncomfortable truth about beauty standards and body dysmorphia, particularly in the age of social media, AI-enhanced images, and the horrific pursuit of perfection measured by likes and followers.
‘The Substance’ offers an artistic, yet gory take on the myth of the fountain of youth, wrapped in a pop-glam aesthetic.
It’s a smart critique of our current society’s obsession with physical beauty, while serving us a reminder that we are, indeed, as beautiful as we are, just the way we are.
Despite its grotesque gore, the film’s vibrant style and striking visuals have earned it five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Demi Moore, and Best Director for Coralie Fargeat. The film’s unsettling tone and vivid portrayal of societal pressures are what make it both a disturbing and essential film you can’t miss.