Film review: The Substance

Rating: A

The Substance stressed me out! True body horror! True satire! Truly fucked up!

I kept reading from different critics how this is Demi Moore’s career best performance, and I have to agree. Granted, that ain’t really saying much because I never saw her as an acting powerhouse. She single-handedly became one in The Substance.

Maggie Qualley was also amazing playing the young alter ego of Moore’s character, and Dennis Quaid’s a little too-spot-on portrayal as the creepy misogynistic and ageist TV executive was solid (though was he really acting?).

I love how the director Coralie Fargeat shot this film. It was grotesque in some scenes but it was absolutely necessary. The great lengths some women go to maintain their youth and a certain beauty standard is beyond horrific.

Remember that one quick shot from TLC’s music video “Unpretty,” where they show a close-up of a woman getting silicone surgically removed from her breast? I know I never forgot it. I was 15 when that video came out. I remember watching an interview of them explaining why they shared that: because they wanted us to know, especially young teenage girls who are just learning to embrace our pubescent bodies, how truly scary and gruesome cosmetic surgery is.

That was the message Fargeat conveyed throughout the movie.

Also let’s get into those color palettes and homages to previous classics such as Citizen Kane, Carrie, and The Shining —especially this one. It was very clear Fargeat was influenced by Stanley Kubrick, as shown here:

I was so into these parallels. I also liked that this was under the female gaze, not the typical male’s. Whenever we saw close-ups of Qualley and the men ogling them, it’s meant to be seen as repulsive. But whenever Fargeat zoomed in on the male naked body, it’s looked at as a role reversal: now they know what it’s like to be objectified, deduced to just being a physically attractive being.

I definitely had to turn my head away from some of the gory scenes, but it didn’t take away from the film. The only thing keeping it from being an A+ is the film being a little too long, like there was a struggle to tie up the loose ends of the plot. That’s a small critique though. It’s worth another watch, for sure, so I highly recommend this film.

I also recommend reading this well-written piece about it.