A Reel Review: THE SUBSTANCE

Body Horror is a genre of film that can be difficult to watch. They are horror flicks that violate or deform the human body in grotesque ways. Over the years there have been landmark films in this genre, such as ALIEN (1978), THE THING (1982), and THE FLY (1986). This year, we can add the thrilling, stomach-churning, exquisite and ghastly statement on Hollywood, THE SUBSTANCE. 

 

Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), is a 50-year-old actress whose best days are behind her. After she is fired from her aerobics show by TV executive Harvey (Dennis Quaid), she is given a black-market serum by a mysterious supplier called The Substance, which promises to deliver a younger version of herself. 

 

Written and Directed by Coralle Fargeat, THE SUBSTANCE is an exploration of the human body and how it is perceived by ourselves and those around us. Showing no restraint, the film gets to the younger version of Elisabeth in a shock; the new version (Margaret Qualley), is “birthed” out of her back. Calling herself Sue, she gets her old job back and gets instant fame. But there are hard rules in place. The two have to switch bodies every seven days without exception, but when Sue decides to break the rules, things get gory in a hurry as their bodies begin to deteriorate. 

 

Director Coralle Fargeat is looking at familiar themes of beauty and how mainstream show business treats women after they reach a certain age. Fargeat is heavy on the metaphor, often using mirrors, reflections, billboards, and Walk of Fame stars to help tell her story. There is some excellent filmmaking here, and the contrast between the two women drives the story. 

 

When things get gory, things really get gory. The birthing scene is squeamishly done, and using some great practical effects, the eventual body deteriorations and deformations are stunning. But what really makes it all work is the sound design. Every creak and drip that the human body makes is brought up to the front, and even little things like eating shrimp or using a needle goes right through our ears. Fargeat understands that what we hear is just as important as what we see and blazes some new territory in movie-making. 

 

Acting is tremendous. Demi Moore puts in a career-best, and Margaret Qually is a delight. Dennis Quaid is a pig of a man aptly named Harvey, and chews it up. 

 

THE SUBSTANCE, after a wild third act, doesn’t quite wrap up tightly. The identity of the mysterious supplier or what they were up to is never given, and there is a hanging question if Elisabeth and Sue actually share a conscious; each one acts like they don’t know what the other has been up to, which seems to cheat the experience of using a younger body. Despite that, THE SUBSTANCE is a powerful film that will destroy appetites and change perspectives on show business. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it