The Substance
- By AC REMLER
The Substance, a new body horror thriller starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid, examines the harsh reality of ageism in Hollywood and societal norms of beauty that devalue older women.
Moore is Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading star who feels the weight of rejection after her boss Harvey—played by Quaid–replaces her with a younger face as the host of her long-running fitness show “Sparkle Your Life.” With her dreams crumbling, Elisabeth turns to a black-market treatment promising youth and vitality. The harrowing procedure results in a clone named Sue (Qualley)—a vibrant and stunning version of the aging actress. The catch is that they must share an existence, alternating a weekly schedule while their other half is unconscious. Soon tension builds as Elisabeth seems to wither away into obscurity as Sue basks in her newfound fame. But how will another horrifying twist of fate alter their course?
The Substance premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and launched in U.S. theaters in September. Helmed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat (Revenge), the film morphed out of Fargeat’s own experiences with aging, feeling that it would be “the end of her life” because she wouldn’t be valued as a young, attractive woman anymore. She created the film to address the “violence and absurdity” of these feelings, which she felt were powerful and vivid for many aging women.
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