Coralie Fargeat’s latest film, “The Substance“, takes body horror to new extremes, offering a biting commentary on society’s obsession with youth and beauty. Set for release in Canadian cinemas on September 20, 2024, this provocative thriller stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid in a tale that’s equal parts disturbing and thought-provoking.
Plot and Themes
At its core, “The Substance” follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore), a fading TV personality desperate to reclaim her former glory. After being unceremoniously fired from her fitness show, Elisabeth turns to a mysterious black market drug called “The Substance.” This wonder drug promises the ultimate transformation – a chance to inhabit a younger, more beautiful version of herself.
The catch? Elisabeth can only exist in this rejuvenated form (played by Qualley) for one week at a time before switching back. As the two versions of Elisabeth struggle for dominance, the film explores the dark consequences of chasing eternal youth.
Body Horror with a Message
Fargeat, known for her 2017 debut “Revenge,” doesn’t shy away from graphic imagery. The transformation process involves syringes, bodily fluids, and even Elisabeth’s own spine opening up to give birth to her younger self. When the delicate balance between the two versions is disrupted, things get even gorier – think chicken wings emerging from navels and rapidly decaying limbs.
While these scenes might turn some stomachs, they serve a purpose beyond shock value. Fargeat explained to CNN, “I wanted the movie to express the violence in how society treats and depicts women… This is how gross it is, this is how extreme it is.”
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Technical Mastery
To bring this visceral vision to life, Fargeat collaborated with prosthetics and makeup effects designer Pierre-Olivier Persin. His team at POP FX created five distinct stages of Elisabeth’s transformation, lovingly dubbed “Requiem,” “The Finger,” “Gollum,” “Monstro,” and “Gremlin.”
Persin, drawing inspiration from classic horror films like “The Fly,” prioritized practical effects over CGI. This old-school approach lends a tangible, stomach-churning quality to Elisabeth’s metamorphosis.
Stellar Performances
Demi Moore delivers what many are calling a career-best performance as Elisabeth. The role required immense vulnerability, both emotionally and physically. Moore reflected on the experience, stating, “Going into it, it was really spelled out…the level of vulnerability and rawness that was really required to tell the story.”
Margaret Qualley, taking on the challenging role of Elisabeth’s younger self (Sue), found herself pushed outside of her comfort zone. Qualley shared with People magazine, “I think I’ve intentionally gone the other direction throughout my career. It’s a road you have to go down in order to bring this to life. And I was excited about that challenge.”
Dennis Quaid rounds out the main cast as Harvey, the repugnant studio executive who sets Elisabeth’s desperate journey in motion.
Critical Reception
“The Substance” made waves at its Cannes Film Festival premiere, winning the Best Screenplay award. It continued to garner praise at the Toronto International Film Festival, taking home the Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award.
Critics have lauded the film for its bold storytelling, striking visuals, and unflinching exploration of societal beauty standards. While some viewers might find the gore excessive, many argue that it’s essential to convey the film’s message about the violence inherent in our culture’s obsession with youth.
A Deeper Look at Beauty Standards
“The Substance” arrives at a time when conversations about ageing and beauty in Hollywood are reaching a fever pitch. Moore herself has spoken candidly about past experiences with body shaming in the industry. “There was a more extreme standard of beauty that existed, and I did … personally experience being told to lose weight on quite a few films before I ever even had my children,” she recalled.
The film’s premise – a magic drug promising eternal youth – feels eerily prescient in an era of social media filters and trending cosmetic procedures. It calls to mind the current fascination with drugs like Ozempic, marketed for weight loss but gaining popularity for their “youthful” side effects.
Fargeat’s Personal Connection
For Fargeat, the inspiration for “The Substance” came from a deeply personal place. She shared, “As I myself aged into my 40s, I started to have these crazy, violent thoughts that my life was going to be over, that no one would be interested in me anymore, that I wouldn’t have any value. And I really realized how violent and powerful those thoughts were.”
This internal struggle is reflected in the film’s depiction of Elisabeth and Sue as warring aspects of the same psyche. Fargeat elaborated, “I wanted the two characters to represent for real all the voices that we have in ourselves that can be super violent and conflictual and whispering all the time, ‘You’re not good enough, you’re not beautiful enough, you’re not sexy enough,’ because that’s what we hear all day, and see all day all around in society.”
A Feminist Take on Horror
While “The Substance” fits squarely within the body horror genre, it stands out for its distinctly feminist perspective. By focusing on female characters and their experiences with ageing and beauty standards, Fargeat subverts traditional horror tropes and offers a fresh take on the genre.
The film doesn’t simply critique external pressures; it also examines the ways women internalize and perpetuate harmful beauty standards. As Moore noted, “The true violence was what I was doing to myself, the way in which I tortured myself, did extreme crazy exercise, weighed and measured my food because I was putting all of my value of who I was into how my body was, how it looked, and giving other people’s opinion more power than myself.”
Cultural Context and Comparisons
“The Substance” joins a lineage of films exploring similar themes. It echoes elements of the 1992 dark comedy “Death Becomes Her” (soon to be a Broadway musical) and draws comparisons to classics like “All About Eve” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” However, Fargeat’s unique vision and the film’s graphic practical effects set it apart from its predecessors.
As body modification becomes increasingly normalized and accessible, “The Substance” serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked vanity and the pursuit of impossible beauty standards. It challenges viewers to confront their own biases and insecurities about ageing and physical appearance.
In conclusion, “The Substance” is a visceral, thought-provoking film that uses body horror as a vehicle to explore deeply ingrained societal issues. While its graphic content may not be for everyone, those who can stomach the gore will find a nuanced examination of beauty, ageing, and self-worth in modern society. As it prepares for wider release, “The Substance” is poised to spark important conversations about the pressures we face – and the ones we put on ourselves – in the pursuit of eternal youth.
