The Substance: Demi Moore's Triumphant Body Horror Masterpiece
Coralie Fargeat delivers a savagely satirical meditation on aging and beauty standards that earns every drop of its fake blood.
Coralie Fargeat's The Substance is not a subtle film. It doesn't want to be. From its opening shot of a Hollywood star on the Walk of Fame being literally cracked and forgotten to its blood-drenched finale, Fargeat screams her thesis: society devours women who dare to age.
Demi Moore has never been better than she is here as Elisabeth Sparkle. Moore commits fully to Elisabeth's desperation, humiliation, and eventual dissolution. Margaret Qualley is equally impressive as Sue, the younger version.
Fargeat pays homage to Cronenberg, Lynch, and De Palma while creating something distinctly her own. The practical effects—21,000 liters of fake blood—achieve a visceral impact that CGI could never match.
Winner of Best Screenplay at Cannes, Best Makeup at the Oscars, and earning Moore a Golden Globe, this is body horror as feminist manifesto.
Pros
- + Demi Moore's career-defining performance
- + Stunning practical effects
- + Bold feminist commentary
Cons
- - Nearly two and a half hour runtime
- - Third act may overwhelm some viewers
Verdict
A visionary feminist horror that will be studied and celebrated for decades.