The Substance

Film: The Substance

Year: 2024

Director: Coralie Fargeat

Writer: Coralie Fargeat

Starring: Margaret Qualley, Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid

Review:

This was a movie that caught my attention when the trailer played at the Gateway Film Center. They've been showing it for a while and the music caught my attention. The bits of the trailer I saw intrigued me. Seeing that this featured Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid was part of it. I could also tell that this was going to be an arthouse film. The parts I saw were stylized which when managed correctly, I'm a fan. I did catch this on the opening weekend, the positive buzz I heard across the board sparked that.

Synopsis: a fading celebrity decides to use an underground drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of yourself.

We start this off in an interesting way. There's a cracked egg. Someone injects a needle into it, depresses the plunger and then we see the egg separate into another yolk. We then see the creation of a Hollywood Star on the Walk of Fame being put in for Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore). There is then the progression of time until it is cracked, dirtied and ignored.

Elisabeth is an actor that won an Oscar. She's approaching the end of her career where she does a morning aerobics show. She overhears a producer, Harvey (Dennis Quaid) saying unfavorable things about her when she uses the Men's Room as the Women's restroom is out of order. She is let go as the studio wants someone who is younger and prettier to take over her show.

Our lead gets in a car accident that day, which just happens to be her birthday. Luckily, she's fine. There is a young doctor who comforts her and then does an odd exam. She's confused as the other doctor cleared her. What she didn't realize was that he snuck a note into the pocket of her coat. It has a flash-drive about the drug from the synopsis, The Substance. She ignores it until she sees an ad in the newspaper, looking for her replacement. She calls the number and they give her an address. In the mail the next morning, there's a keycard. She goes to the location and it looks suspicious. She goes inside to find a box with her number on it. There's a kit inside. She takes this home.

The premise here is that you inject yourself with an activator. This creates a different version of yourself, the better version. The catch is that you have seven days in this new body and then you must shift back. It provides food for the body that is in the suspended animation. There is only oneself. These rules are strict, with no exceptions. There are injections that are needed, which are stabilizers. A small price to pay. Elisabeth does this, creating Sue (Margaret Qualley). We get to see what the effects are by not playing by the rules as both sides are punishing the other.

That is where I want to leave my recap and introduction to the characters. Now this is a newer movie and one that I don't want to spoil. To be honest though, this is more about the visuals and the acting performances than what the actual story is. What I'll say here is that we have an interesting blend of The Portrait of Dorian Grey with The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, plus a bit of Society mixed in there as well.

Now that I've set that up, let me delve more into what we're getting. I know that I alluded to the story not being deep, but there's social commentary throughout. It was managed well in my opinion. It is in the forefront and not all that veiled, I just don't think anyone watching this will disagree. The most obvious one is showing how Hollywood is constantly wanting new and younger performers. It is crazy how long Elisabeth was in the spotlight, but her time has come to an end. This version is also sexier and more provocative as well. It is also fitting that Harvey and all the shareholders are white males. This is a representation of not only industry, but just people in power. Not necessarily 100% like we're seeing here, but still a high number. Since this is a dark comedy, they’re going over the top to make their point.

Where I want to go then is bringing back up something that I've said. This is a fascinating blend of Dorian Grey with Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. For the former, there is a large portrait in the apartment of Elisabeth of herself. She gets angry and throws a snow globe at it. It strategically hits it in the eye, spider webbing the glass. Once Sue separates, we see that her selfishness is reflected on Elizabeth in an interesting way. I liked how that was used as it makes her more monstrous. The other comparison is clearer. She isn't the doctor that created this, but we're seeing two versions of the same person. There is also the monster aspect. It is repeated throughout this that Elisabeth and Sue are one. They blame the other for things that they do, but the truth here is that both are selfish. We are also seeing their true inner self reflected physically by the end. That was a good touch.

The one last thing I wanted to bring up is that there's a commentary here on addiction. Not necessarily in the traditional sense. Elisabeth is addicted to becoming Sue since she has reached heights that Elisabeth hadn't for a long time. She never had a show as successful as this other version. The former did win an academy award though. Sue is addicted to her success. She is selfish in what she does by not adhering to the rules of The Substance. Even if this isn't drugs, alcohol or gambling, it is still in the same vein.

Since I've leaned into the characters and this is a study of them, let's discuss the acting. Moore is great here. It is great that we have an older actor like her who has been successful in her past. Then coupling this with an actor like Qualley who is up and coming. I've seen her in a few things, but she isn't a household name. They do look quite like the point where it could be passed off as one as the younger/older versions of the same person. Along with them, Quaid is great in his role. He's just gross in multiple ways. First his look at Elisabeth and her age. That also bleeds into his look at women in general. Plus, we see him use the restroom without washing his hands and a disgusting scene where he eats prawns. I was well played though for sure. Other than that, the rest of the cast rounded this out for what was needed.

All that is left then is filmmaking. This is where it excels as well. The cinematography from the framing to the angles is just amazing. I didn't realize this filmmaker, Coralie Fargeat, also did Revenge. That is another movie that is visually stunning. This can just look great from the colors to going trippy as a character is struggling to keep their hold on reality. Great across the board. The practical effects here are as well. This is from things like watching people eat in the grossest way possible. It also becomes brutal. It is bloody and just wild what we get here. There is also CGI, but it was used where it was needed. The framing helps here to hide the seams as well. The last bit would be the soundtrack. This has a techno/dubstep song used throughout that is great. It fits the vibe. This is one the best soundtracks I've heard all year. The sound design is on point as well. The only gripe that I have is that this goes too far into the comedy for its conclusion. After seeing it on, I see why but it still didn't fully work.

In conclusion, this is one of the best movies I've seen this year. It has social commentary that is relative while not being too in your face. I love the combination of Dorian Grey and Jekyll/Hyde. The acting from Moore and Qualley is great. The filmmaking is on point from the framing, effects, cinematography to the soundtrack. My only gripe here is that the comedy at the end brought it down ever so slightly. This is a contender for the top of my end of the year list. I want to give this another watch before finishing.

My Rating: 9 out of 10