REVIEW: The Substance
Here’s my review for the film The Substance starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and directed by Coralie Fargeat
The Substance (2024) tells the story of washed-up actress Elisabeth Sparkles (Demi Moore) as she spirals downward in her career and her life while finding a second chance of sorts with a mysterious drug simply called “The Substance”. The drug creates a younger version of herself who takes over her Hollywood gigs and propels her further.
The film is littered with these ultra close up shots of different stuff to make you feel uncomfortable. There’s this extreme close up of Dennis Quaid including one where he’s eating shrimp, and an extremely close POV shot of Demi Moore’s Elisabeth Sparkles figuring into an accident. It works to build up the scare or creepy factor. Plus it could also be a reflection of Elisabeth’s warped perception. And as we progress through the movie, it gets worse and worse and we are desensitized by the film’s ending although that’s no assurance that you’ll be OK after watching.
Newcomer Margaret Qualley is a perfect version for “Sue” and a younger version of Demi Moore. She nailed down the cocky newcomer down pat. She did a great job here playing the younger and “new” version of Demi Moore’s Elisabeth. And those close ups I mentioned that’s littered throughout the film, it works wonders for this.
But despite that, Demi Moore not only looked amazing in this film, she’s also still pretty good when it comes to acting. And the kind of acting here isn’t the one where you have to be so dramatic. You need subtlety like those scenes where Elisabeth is fired from her TV show but she couldn’t lash out. Or that moment in the hospital where she is given good news but she still breaks down.
Not only does “The Substance” creep you up by the time you reach the third act, but it’s also already a full on body horror feast, something horror and gore movie fans can sink their teeth into.
I also liked the whole scientific horror of the substance. We get enough to understand what it does then through that neatly made presentation, we also understand how it works and how when used right can change people’s lives. The way I see it though is its also a nice way to talk about weapons and guns and responsibilities. It’s pretty easy to get these things but are the people handed these opportunities responsible enough to handle them or do they go the deep end or abuse its use after some time.
Props too for the musical score because it kept things alive even when there’s barely anything said in most scenes. Those hair-raising sirens, blares and even those echoes (including the one in the bathroom) is guaranteed to get creep factor up. There’s also those nice techno beats that come and go especially when Sue’s around that you just can’t help but vibe too.
I like that you can “enjoy” the film in several levels whether its face value, or being a reflection of media and the entertainment industry or even a reflection of society in general. Coralie Fargeat has a masterpiece in her hand right here.
10/10
