‘The Substance’ review: a daring feminist take on the body horror genre

A daring feminist take on the body horror genre, The Substance will get you thinking, talking and squirming. In a film that veers from stylish to grotesque, Demi Moore puts in a game-changing turn as Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress whose fame is dwindling. This is neatly demonstrated by an inspired opening sequence focusing on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – once celebrated and revered, it’s now carelessly stepped on and spilled upon. The symbolism starts here. 

Sparkle is about to get stepped on hard by Dennis Quaid’s odious studio head, whose name of Harvey is surely a reference to Weinstein by writer-director Coralie Fargeat (Revenge). Despite Elisabeth being a popular host of an aerobics TV show, she’s deemed too old to continue, and desperation strikes. When an eerily handsome young man gives her a card advertising The Substance, Elisabeth is tempted. 

The mysterious, extraordinary new drug splits human cells and creates an alternate, younger version of Elisabeth: Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. There is one rule, though: she must spend one week in the young body, then one week in the older body. But that’s a hard rule to follow as Sue starts living life to the full and reminding Elisabeth of the joys of youth – or more pertinently, the joys of being treated like a young person. The Substance shows ageism and body shaming from the perspective of the person being judged – even if that person is the beautiful Demi Moore, who looks decades younger than her 61 years. Men dismiss her in the street; the bloke next door takes a sudden, unsubtle interest when she’s replaced by Sue. 

You could argue that by casting Moore, Fargeat is highlighting the absurdity of ageism both in everyday life and Hollywood – The Substance shows that Moore is an actor with teeth and guts, in her most challenging role yet. This is a character at the centre of her own, very personal horror story, one she dare not share with a soul (Elisabeth is clearly very lonely, too). To describe the visceral specifics would both be a spoiler, and deeply unpleasant – Fargeat pushes body horror to the limit, daring the viewer to keep looking rather than hide, wretch or even vomit – all reactions are entirely feasible. But all this is necessary to make a point about the grotesque lengths that people go to under pressure of prejudice – whether out of vanity, insecurity or a bid for financial stability. Sample The Substance if you dare.

‘The Substance’ has its UK premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 21 and is on general release in cinemas on September 20.