Currently on general release in UK and US cinemas is the satirical body horror, The Substance. Written, directed, and co-produced by Coralie Fargeat, the film stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid, and tells the story of an ageing celebrity who uses a drug to create a younger version of herself.
In the movie, Elisabeth Sparkle is an Academy Award-winning actress and the star of a long-running aerobics show. She keeps in shape and looks great, but Elisabeth faces a challenge she can’t overcome: Ageing.
As far as the media is concerned, ageing stars have a shelf life, and this is something Elisabeth’s boss also prescribes to. He believes Elisabeth’s time in the spotlight has come to an end and is keen to replace her with a younger star.
One day, while driving home from work, Elisabeth becomes distracted and has a car accident. She walks away unscathed, but while being checked over at the hospital, a young male nurse hands her a note and a flash drive.
Back at home, Elisabeth checks out the contents of the flash drive, only to be greeted with a commercial for a new wonder drug known as The Substance. The drug promises to help generate a younger, more youthful counterpart for those who use it.
Keen to try it out, Elisabeth obtains The Substance and injects herself with it. Within moments, a new version of Elisabeth emerges from her body.
This new version – calling herself Sue – takes over, while Elisabeth becomes inactive. From here the two form a symbiotic relationship, with one always inactive while the other is active, but it’s a relationship Elisabeth comes to regret bringing into existence.
If you’re fed up with the majority of the blockbuster movies on offer at the moment, and you’ve certainly had enough of the endless dross served up on Netflix, then The Substance could be the movie for you. I can tell you now, it won’t be for everyone, and your Nan is going to find it all a bit weird (which it is), but it’s certainly a very different kind of film which could tickle your pickle.
Of course, if you want maximum pickle tickling then it would help if you are a fan of the likes of David Cronenberg, Brian Yuzna, Stuart Gordon, Troma, or anything else which is odd, whacky, or off-the-wall. The Substance is a bizarre and often bonkers little movie, which combines beauty and the grotesque in one unique tale, throwing a spotlight on the female body and how it is objectified.
The Substance also tackles sexism, sexualisation, exploitation, addiction, and obsession with youth, as well as the aforementioned ageism. In fact, it chucks a lot at the screen, while keeping body horror at the forefront of the action.
Leading The Substance is Demi Moore who gives a terrific turn as Elisabeth, in a role which appears to have been tailor-made for the actress. Moore has faced her own battles with the youth-focused media in the past, as well as the trials and tribulations that actresses over a certain age have to contend with, and yet she doesn’t shy away from showcasing her talents or parodying her own image.
The role of Elisabeth isn’t directly about Moore, but it almost feels as if it could be. During her younger years, Moore was a huge star and it’s fair to say in more recent times she has struggled to maintain that same glory, so it certainly feels like this movie sticks close to home.
Either way, with this film Moore throws herself into the part with gusto, never shying away from exposing herself on screen in one way or another. Her performance is outstanding, especially during the latter half of the picture, when everything begins to descend into madness and Elisabeth is faced with the consequences of her actions.
Joining Moore on screen is Margaret Qualley as Sue – Elisabeth’s young counterpart. Coming at this from a different end of the age spectrum, Qualley is the perfect on-screen companion, and her take on Sue is equally as interesting.
Sue is ballsy and hedonistic, and benefits from all the opportunities that are presented to someone who is young and beautiful. The world views Sue in a way which is very different to how it now views Elisabeth, and the film highlights the sad fact that aesthetics matter.
And speaking of aesthetics, visuals play a huge part in this picture, with writer/director Coralie Fargeat making this film a visual treat. No matter if it’s an aerobics workout or an overabundance of bodily fluids, Fargeat gives the audience so much to look at it is easy to get lost in the imagery.
It’s worth pointing out there isn’t a great deal of dialogue in The Substance, so the visuals do the lion’s share of the work here. However, this is perfectly fine and the film never fails to convey the essence of its story, or its desire to satirise where necessary.
While not everyone will be completely entranced by The Substance, and some will most definitely see this as a one-time watch, there’s no denying this is a very different, very absorbing picture. Moore delivers a fantastic performance and then some, and the movie is equal parts thought-provoking and utterly mad.
Those who like unusual pictures should give it a go. The Substance is definitely one of the more memorable movies of the year.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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