I feel conflicted when it comes to my opinion towards writer-director Coralie Fargeat's sci-fi horror blend, "The Substance". A part of me admires its boldness with its sci-fi elements and social commentary on how women view themselves. The same part of me however feels that it's far from subtle, even going too far with some of the choices made within its narrative. It's not the narrative that's complicated as much as it's my reaction towards it.
Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, the star of a popular fitness TV show who's just been sacked on her 50th birthday on account of her boarish boss (Dennis Quaid). She subsequently finds herself in an automobile accident with no injuries. In the ER, Elisabeth is invited by a doctor to access a serum known as "The Substance". This product in question creates a younger version of the person that takes the injection.
The catch to this is that they are still one and the same person. They have to switch bodies every week without exception to keep the two bodies healthy. One person lives normally for a week while the other is in a deep sleep with ration injections. If neither party switches, then both versions are at physical risk of becoming obsolete. As you can imagine, there is increasing tension between the younger version who names herself "Sue" (Margaret Qualley) and Elisabeth.
To reveal any more beyond this point would delve into spoiler territory. However, to say that it goes into dark and grisly territory would be an understatement. The best characteristic about "The Substance" that makes it worthy of a viewing overall centers around its sci-fi elements. Two versions of the same person without being clones opens up multiple possibilities as you'd imagine. You get a clear understanding of how the powers of this serum work and why the rules for using the product are in place.
The relationship between Elisabeth and Sue, without either one of them interacting with each other, is similar to a surrogate parent and their adoptive offspring. It works just as much on that front as it does making a statement on a woman's view of themselves. It's especially potent on showing how a woman's own self-consciousness can destroy everything in their path. This is made crystal clear around the film's midpoint in a memorable scene with Elisabeth putting on makeup.
Naturally, some questions regarding the plot are bound to be raised. My biggest question is: if Elisabeth and Sue are indeed the same person, why would Sue want to work for that crummy boss that screwed over Elisabeth in the first place? Wouldn't she want to consider another career path that would reap more benefits? Maybe run a respectable charity or start up a small side hustle to better enrich the community. I know the current narrative is setup like that for dramatic convenience and creating tension, but I can't help but wonder.
That's because one of my main problems lies in the subplot involving Elizabeth's career in the spotlight. It's cartoonishly over-the-top with its depiction of misogyny and unrealistic standards held by Hollywood moguls. Obviously, the Dennis Quaid character is meant to symbolize the likes of Harvey Weinstein and his terrible treatment of women. It's commentary I've already witnessed before and it's frankly not that interesting.
You know where it's going on that front. And no matter how many close-up shots we see of Quaid sloppily eating food with his bare hands, my mind will cease to change on the matter. I'm honestly split on the climax itself when the plot absolutely goes haywire. I admire how it goes all-out with showing how certain characters feel and unleashing their true colors. It's obviously not meant to be subtle. If anything, it gets quite gruesome. However, I'm establishing a new precedent going forward.
Any film that includes the opening music to "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968) will automatically have a whole point or two taken off the final verdict score. I'm so sick and tired of this lazy reference being made in modern movies over and over again. It ruined my ability to get into last year's "Barbie", and it did it again for the climax of this movie. This over dependence on this aggravating trope has got to stop. Seriously, either try something else or let an otherwise quiet scene play out normally.
Going back to positives. Demi Moore shows a lot character in her portrayal of Elisabeth. We witness her character's range of emotion and attitude with the situations presented to her. Another great scene can be found with Elisabeth basically badmouthing everything Sue says in a TV talk show interview. Margaret Qualley enjoys flaunting her youth in her role of Sue, which is fitting considering her actions leading up to the climax.
As I've expressed earlier, this isn't an easy film to score for me. It's competently assembled for the most part, but I'm personally not as thrilled with "The Substance" as much as I should be. Some of the choices did throw me off at the beginning and end. I doubt I'll go out of my way for a repeat viewing, but I'm glad to have given this a shot for a single viewing. If you're into gory or over-the-top fare, this film will give you what you're looking for. If not, then maybe read the fine print and think on it, just like Elisabeth did.
Final Verdict: 7/10
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