The Substance Review: A Bold and Unflinching Allegory
The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat, is a fearless, provocative tale that explores the dark side of ageism and beauty standards in the entertainment industry. Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth Sparkle, a popular morning show host who, at 50, finds herself dismissed by her boss Harvey, played with a venomous flair by Dennis Quaid. On her birthday, Harvey bluntly informs Elisabeth that her time is up, asserting that “renewal is inevitable” in a way that reflects a deep-seated disdain for aging women in show business.
Faced with rejection, Elisabeth seeks a radical solution—a cell-regenerating serum that promises to restore youth. However, as the film’s audience quickly realizes, her quest for renewal comes with devastating consequences. The experimental treatment creates a younger, perfected version of herself, named Sue (Margaret Qualley), and ignites a chaotic struggle between the two.
Fargeat’s film is visually striking, using a bold palette to emphasize Elisabeth’s fading stardom against the bright, flawless allure of her double. The Substance is both thrilling and disturbing, critiquing the entertainment industry’s obsession with youth and beauty, often at the cost of its aging stars.
Demi Moore’s performance as Elisabeth is fearless, conveying a woman fighting to regain control even as her world spins into surreal chaos. Margaret Qualley complements her with a chilling portrayal of Sue, embodying the very perfection that Elisabeth, and society, seem to desire.
Fargeat’s direction, paired with the eerie cinematography by Benjamin Kracun, captures the psychological horror of Elisabeth’s transformation. The editing team, led by Fargeat along with Jerome Eltabet and Valentin Feron, adds intensity to the unfolding horror, while Raffertie’s music and Perre-Olivier Persin’s makeup effects enhance the grotesque journey.
In essence, The Substance is an audacious film, as thought-provoking as it is visually unsettling. It’s an intense critique of the industry’s fixation on youth, underlined by powerful performances from Moore and Qualley. This inventive and wildly imaginative narrative won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes, cementing Fargeat’s place as a visionary in modern cinema.
Star Cast:
- Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle
- Margaret Qualley as Sue
- Dennis Quaid as Harvey
- Edward Hamilton-Clark
Director
- Coralie Fargeat