Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance is a striking, mind-bending modern horror that challenges viewers from the first frame to the last. With standout performances by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, this intense body-horror piece marries rich, bold visuals with psychological horror, leading up to an extreme, unforgettable finale that leaves audiences reeling. The story revolves around a mysterious substance and its terrifying effects on those who encounter it. What begins as a slow-burn psychological thriller escalates into a visceral journey with an ending that cements Fargeat’s genius.
Elisabeth Sparkle, renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself.
Demi Moore, in particular, delivers a raw and compelling performance, while Margaret Qualley shines with layered vulnerability. Both actors are prime Oscar contenders, with roles that allow them to explore the depths of fear, power, and obsession. Dennis Quaid, in a supporting role, brings gravity to the film, balancing the growing tension with nuanced charisma. With 4-star performances across the board, The Substance is a powerful showcase of acting prowess.
Visually, the film is breathtaking. Fargeat uses bold colors and striking visuals to create an atmosphere that’s both alluring and terrifying. The cinematography feels like an extension of the plot itself, immersing audiences in a world that is as beautiful as it is horrifying. The film’s soundtrack by Raffertie intensifies this experience, with haunting compositions that ebb and flow with the narrative’s escalating tension.
The Substance delves deep into themes of beauty, body image, and the psychological toll of societal expectations around age and appearance. Fargeat uses her protagonists, especially Demi Moore’s character, as a canvas to explore the demands of maintaining “body beautiful” standards and the creeping anxieties around aging. The narrative lays bare the fragility of beauty, suggesting that this obsession with perfection is ultimately destructive, a metaphor heightened by the horror elements that depict the body in surreal, disturbing ways. The film raises questions about what it means to remain “beautiful” and at what cost.
Moore and Qualley deliver no-holds-barred performances that are as raw and intense as they are physically revealing, stripping down to emphasize vulnerability and challenge the viewer’s comfort zones. Their uninhibited portrayal of characters grappling with identity, beauty, and self-worth not only amplifies these themes but also gives the story an unfiltered intensity. This fearlessness in their performances underscores the haunting premise that beauty, and the lengths we go to attain it, can become an obsession with dire consequences.
The Substance is as much a psychological journey as it is a visual one, thanks to Moore’s and Qualley’s powerhouse portrayals that touch on timeless questions about age, beauty, and self-identity. In Fargeat’s hands, these performances reinforce the film’s status as a complex, awards-worthy exploration of modern insecurities through the lens of horror and surrealism.
The final act takes a shocking turn into extreme body horror, pushing boundaries with its audacious, almost surreal approach. It’s the type of finale that will have people talking long after the credits roll, adding to The Substance’s lasting impact.
In every way, The Substance is a 4-star triumph. With its exceptional performances, stunning cinematography, bold direction, and a gripping soundtrack, this film is one to watch come awards season.
The Substance is available to stream now on MUBI
