♣♣♣♣♣/♣♣♣♣♣
Now in her 50’s, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) has been the face of her long-time TV aerobics program, not to mention she has just received a star at Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Despite all her achievements, her age becomes a crucial factor as TV exec Harvey (Dennis Quaid) decides to fire her so he can hire somebody to cater to a much younger audience. After a car accident that sends her to the ER, Elisabeth receives an anonymous business card with a number that she reluctantly dials after a while. The offer from the other end of the line is a new wonder drug called The Substance, made available to her in locker 503 housed in a white walled cube of a room in a decrepit building. Once she follows all instructions and administers the serum on herself, a younger version of herself literally emerges from her back, who later calls herself Sue (Margaret Qualley). The catch? They are one and must regularly switch every seven days, or else…
The Substance is an extremely visual film, from production design all the way to make-up/costumes, director Coralie Fargeat doesn’t hold back in her showcase of the human body’s beauty and ugliness. “Body Horror” is an apt description of this subgenre. A movie that focuses more on form runs the risk of whatever substance it is offering to drown in all those aesthetic distractions. Luckily, The Substance is no case of form over substance. Instead, it offers both. This is one of a few films I’ve seen recently that gave a surplus of interpretations as I exited the cinema. It is as visually appealing as it is thought provoking. A rare cinematic gem.
The most obvious interpretation is that of a critique of the beauty industry. The substance can be each and every wonder drug or cosmetic procedure in the market that offers a solution for aging, as if this normal human process of getting old were some sort of disease in need of a cure. Ozempic. Botox. Bangkok Pills. The names change over time, yet the promise stays the same. Eternal youth! In this regard, monstro Elisasue is a not so subtle representation of the unrecognizable self one becomes after all the pills have been popped and procedures have been done. You need not veer far away from Hollywood if you require living examples.
From a more philosophical perspective, having two versions of yourself but of differing ages existing in one place and time is just a silly and quite literal take on the man versus himself type of conflict. Thanks to the plot device allowing Elisabeth to have two versions of herself beating the shit out of each other, the constant everyday battle that we have with ourselves is highlighted to comedic effect. Sue’s abuse of Elisabeth by not switching places when it is due is a simple metaphor for the detrimental effects your bad habits during your younger years tend to have on your body as you get older, like some sort of borrowed time/health.
Moore wasn’t even in the Oscar Lead Actress conversation when awards season started. However, her campaign gained considerable traction after becoming a constant nominee at regional critics’ circles. Her Critics Choice, SAG, and BAFTA nominations solidify her status as this year’s dark horse, while her Golden Globes win and the moving speech she gave further cement her narrative as the overlooked veteran seeking redemption and validation from her peers. Considering how the last two winners starred in wacky comedies that defied typical Oscar-bait role expectations, Moore winning over Anora’s Mikey Madison is no longer that far-fetched at his point.
Overall, The Substance is a visually stimulating piece of cinema that is not for the faint of heart. Staying true to its classification under the broad umbrella of horror, its own twisted brand of humor also qualifies as dark comedy. More than this, however, what makes The Substance the rare gem of modern cinema that it is is its blunt critique of ageism. Primarily used as a tool for discrediting women, this social phenomenon is most obvious in the entertainment industry, but actually just as pervasive everywhere else. Demi Moore mentioned in her speech that taking on this role was a big risk. It’s evident that that risk has paid off. Phenomenal comeback!
0 creature(s) gave a damn:
Post a Comment