“The Substance” (2024)

Horror

Running Time: 141 minutes

Written and directed by: Coralie Fargeat

Featuring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid

The Substance: “Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect. One single injection unlocks your DNA, starting a new cellular division, that will release another version of yourself. This is the Substance. You are the matrix. Everything comes from you. Everything is you. This is simply a better version of yourself. You just have to share. One week for one and one week for the other. A perfect balance of seven days each. The one and only thing not to forget: You. Are. One. You can’t escape from yourself.”

Critical Commentary

Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance is a provocative and unsettling exploration of aging, celebrity culture, and the lengths to which we’ll go to maintain youth and relevance. This body horror-tinged satire offers a biting critique of Hollywood’s obsession with appearance and the exploitation of women in the entertainment industry.

The film centers around Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a once-beloved aerobics star whose career has faded with time.Feeling discarded and undervalued, she encounters a mysterious substance that promises to rejuvenate her. Initially hesitant, Elizabeth succumbs to the temptation and soon finds herself transformed, but the changes are far from superficial. As the substance takes hold, Elizabeth’s body undergoes a disturbing metamorphosis, accompanied by a growing sense of unease and a loss of control.

The Substance is a visually arresting film, with Fargeat’s direction showcasing a flair for the grotesque and the surreal.The cinematography is both beautiful and disturbing, capturing the film’s unsettling atmosphere and the grotesque transformations that Elizabeth undergoes. The film’s score is equally unsettling, adding to the tension and unease.

Moore delivers a powerful performance as Elizabeth, capturing the character’s desperation, fear, and growing madness.Her transformation is both physical and emotional, as she struggles to reconcile her newfound youth with the loss of her identity. Margaret Qualley is equally impressive as Emma, Elizabeth’s estranged daughter, who becomes embroiled in her mother’s dangerous obsession.

Beyond its surface-level critique of Hollywood’s obsession with youth and beauty, The Substance also explores themes of identity, motherhood, and the complexities of female aging. Elizabeth’s transformation is not merely a physical one but a profound exploration of the ways in which women are defined by their appearance and their societal roles.

The film’s portrayal of motherhood is particularly poignant. Elizabeth’s relationship with her daughter, Emma, is strained,and her desperate pursuit of youth can be seen as a reflection of her own unfulfilled maternal desires. The film suggests that the pressure on women to be both successful and nurturing can be overwhelming, and that the pursuit of perfection can lead to self-destruction.

The Substance also offers a chilling commentary on the exploitation of women in the entertainment industry. The mysterious substance that Elizabeth encounters can be seen as a metaphor for the promises of fame and fortune that are often dangled in front of aspiring actresses. The film suggests that these promises are often empty, and that women are frequently treated as disposable commodities.

The Substance is a thought-provoking and disturbing film that offers a scathing critique of Hollywood’s obsession with youth and beauty. It’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing after unattainable ideals and the consequences of sacrificing one’s identity for fleeting fame. While the film’s tone may be dark and disturbing, it’s ultimately a powerful and unforgettable cinematic experience.

Technical Commentary

Video

Presented in native 2160p with gorgeous Dolby Vision color expansion, the film looks every bit as striking as it did in theaters. Saturation borders on overdone on occasion, with sun-blasted flesh tones, but is only remaining faithful to the original photography and the director’s intentions at every turn. Beauty is presented with hyper-realistic oranges, pinks and fuschias, madness with clinical whites and splashes of vivid yellow and green, and the culmination of Elisabeth’s healthcare regiment with garish reds and blues. It’s a cavalcade of tones, handled masterfully and without incident by MUBI’s 4K presentation.

Audio

 The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track doesn’t disappoint in that regard. From the opening minutes there is a growing ferocity lurking within the film’s soundscape; one that only gains in intensity and volume as the story barrels along. LFE output is brash and assertive, making its presence known at every turn whether by way of the score or the thick, meaty chewing, tearing, rending or squelching that requires weight and heft. The rear speakers are also teeming with activity.