Coralie Fargeat delivers the most shocking film of the year with Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley giving career defining performances.
If there is one thing Hollywood is known for, it’s hypocrisy. Society is filled with contradictions fundamentally rooted in long standing problems. One of those being women subjected to objectification by a patriarchal state. Beauty standards demand perfection. A woman is defined by a /10 rating system and gets thrown out into the trash. So what better way to criticise the beauty and ageing standards than to make a film exposing how easily Hollywood cast aside women once the industry believes they are past their expiry date.
The Substance directed by Coralie Fargeat starts off with the widely known Hollywood Walk of Fame. We observe Elizabeth Sparkles (Demi Moore) star on the ground. Standing the test of time through the highs and lows of Elizabeth’s career. We see how worshipped she was by the public which corresponds to the star being treated so carefully, and slowly see the present day where Elizabeth is seen as a fading star, with that her star also faces the wrath of public carelessness. Whether it is people stepping on the star, dropping food or drinks, rain damaging it and so forth. But the key part is the star doesn’t completely crumble but it’s no longer treasured.
Elizabeth has been a star for many years and one time she sneaks into the male restroom only to overhear the network representative Harvey (Dennis Quaid) on the phone showing his disdain for Elizabeth’s age and wanting new blood to raise the network views. Elizabeth is then let go by the company on her 50th birthday since they don’t want her anymore. No longer of use or value to her besides being a nostalgic memory of past glory. This is when she receives a mysterious proposal by a business man promoting a new drug on the black market.
“Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself”.
The Substance is a serum that promises a perfect you. Elizabeth who is on low spirits falls prey to this offer. Highlighting how people can get easily exploited at their lowest. She then contacts the man and goes to a warehouse to find a locker with her package. It’s at this point where she decides to take on the drug with all the specific conditions. Ranging from changing bodies every 7 days without fail to providing nutritional fluids and blood transfusions. One thing is made clear, you have to abide by the rules or risk consequences that can destroy your body.
In short, whatever Elizabeth does with the drug can become irreversible. That alone should be the warning sign anyone needs to realise the product may not be worth it. Gamblers often fall prey to this rabbit hole of high risk high reward. The temptation is too strong and Elizabeth gives into her own vulnerabilities. But we are not here to judge Elizabeth. As sad as it seems, many people go through these situations in their lives. It’s not our place to put them down for wanting a change that promises something better. Society led them to that path so the responsibility lies with the people around to be more considerate with how body confidence and insecurities are talked about. Coralie excels in building empathy and relatability through these heightened yet believable scenarios.
Body Horror Mayhem
This is where we see the first sights of the film tapping into horror. With Elizabeth taking on the drug and exposing her body to The Substance, a new version of herself is made. The back of her body splits open to make way for a fresh, younger body who has all the attractive qualities Hollywood looks for. Going by the name of Sue (Margaret Qualley), we see her take over Elizabeth’s role, differentiating herself while still keeping aware of the fact Elizabeth is still her. So she auditions and easily gets accepted to the role of the network that Elizabeth used to hold. Viewership figures start skyrocketing and Harvey is head over heels for Sue. Elizabeth through her other form is finally living the ideal life again that she used to live when she was younger. But is it really ideal when you’re not the one living it?
What raises the stakes of this film is how Sue and Elizabeth start to fight over control of their body. Once you get a taste of the world you dreamed of, it’s hard to let it go. Sue has many contracts lining up and even big opportunities like attending the late night show. But it clashes with her schedule where she is required to be absent every 2nd week for 7 days. When you become famous it is easy to forget what got you there. Humans have the tendency to be selfish when they feel threatened. Sue decides to abuse the agreement and use up Elizabeth’s fluids to grant her more days of access. Which Elizabeth ends up paying for as her limbs get distorted and decayed after every misuse.
The battle for control of one’s self ensues and by switching between these povs, Coralie creates a riveting film that constantly escalates in stakes. With the consequences only getting worse each time, to the point both Elizabeth and Sue fall apart completely. And what’s left are bodies broken and malformed beyond belief. It’s quite ironic how their final form that looks like an unrecognisable monster made in a lab can be ignored as the poster of their beautiful face seems to conceal it to the audience. As soon as it falls off, everyone is suddenly horrified and running for their lives, unable to fathom what they are seeing live on tv. It makes for a bloody mess but an amusing one as we see how shallow people are.
Society affects all
Coralie Fargeat has made it clear that she shares the same sentiment and fears over women being given expiry dates and rejects the expectation that they peak in their 20s. Hollywood and society likes to make you believe you are lucky to still be as successful and beautiful once you reach your 30s and onwards. But don’t be mistaken. While Coralie made this film to showcase the ugliness found in the film industry and showbiz with its superficial and disillusioned standards of beauty, it does not only mean women are victims of this problem. Anyone and everyone can suffer from the same virus that fundamentally plagues society. It’s just that some experience it at a much deeper level.
After all, while this film is centred on society’s mistreatment and throw away tendencies of women, it does not exclude other genders who go through similar cyclical struggles. Patriarchy affects us all and we are all a victim of our own insecurities, obsessed with our appearances and too concerned with what others think. So many factors are at play in building this toxic environment. And Coralie encourages us to realise the absurdity of creating these unrealistic expectations in the first place. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ is a common rebuttal that gets taken for granted and this film emphasises that importance through crafting a cautionary tale of epic proportions and disastrous consequences that can make you squirm.
With Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley at the top of their game. We see them both channel the ferocity of women when deprived by society’s negligence and how far their characters are willing to go to retain superstardom. It’s a very committed work both on mind and body and is a testament to Demi and Margarets’s sheer acting abilities and but also their appreciation for the excess. Their love for the craft, even if unusual or bold shines through in this macabre of a film. The Kubrick like cinematography makes every sequence pop and the practical effects for the body horror creates suspense and provokes strong reactions.
The Substance is filled with revolting moments and clearly not for the faint hearted. You may feel inclined to turn away yet you don’t. That’s what makes this different from the genre norm we come to expect. Coralie Fargeat directs with fierce intent and clear passion to make an exhilarating experience that absorbs your attention. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley are unstoppable in anchoring this unforgettable film that is one of the best this year. It is extreme, stylised, in your face but that is why it’s so effective and powerful. By playing it direct, Coralie Fargeat demands your attention and challenges your tolerance as we see women in the spotlight of what they go through everyday.
The Substance releases in theatres on September 20.
