‘The Substance’ takes body horror to new depths as a woman’s attempts to recapture her youth has disastrous results. Media in general and social media in particular have done significant damage to perceptions of beauty and body types. Everywhere, people are bombarded with someone’s concept of the ideal, which usually excludes the majority of the population, whether it’s a matter of height, weight, age or proportions.
This has led to the prominence of eating disorders, body dysmorphia and other mental health issues. Hollywood has specifically been a major contributor to these issues, historically aging out actresses when their physical appearances begin to change — a predicament men rarely encountered. The Substance presents a solution to the problem, but with unimaginable consequences.
Elisabeth Sparkle ( Demi Moore ) was America’s sweetheart, earning a star on the Walk of Fame and the love of her adoring fans. When the acting roles became scarce, she shifted to television, hosting a fitness program. But when an executive ( Dennis Quaid ) decides it’s time to pull the plug, Elisabeth makes one last desperate attempt to save her career.
The Substance is a self-administered drug that clones the user, only using the best parts of them to create an other — younger, firmer and more attractive. The birth of Sue ( Margaret Qualley ) is the resurrection of Elisabeth’s heyday that she experiences from afar. However, the catch is only one of them can be active at on.