The Substance

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2 (out of 5)

Demi Moore plays former Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle, now relegated to presenting a workout show, though at least it’s a stable job. But ratings are everything, and when sleazy TV exec Harvey (Dennis Quaid) decides that new blood – or fresh meat – is needed, Elisabeth turns to a mysterious medical procedure involving The Substance. Soon, a young and beautiful version of Elisabeth is called Sue (Margaret Qualley). All that is needed for both to co-exist is careful maintenance of the equilibrium – time has to be shared equally: Elisabeth gets one week, and then Sue gets one. But when the balance is disrespected, the repercussions are grave and irreversible.

The Substance is a feminist body horror that takes creature inspiration from Jekyll & Hyde, The Fly, The Thing and even Tony Shalhoub’s Minion from Spy Kids and style cues from Cronenberg, Tarantino and Edgar Wright. The film was recently screened at the Cannes Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival, where people cheered, threw up, left throughout, clapped spontaneously, laughed, gasped, and more. It’s a sharp, sexy, stylish, blood-splattered, gory, grotesque, shocking sci-fi satire that pokes exactingly at our media and cultural obsession with beauty and sex appeal that descends into utter chaos in the final 30 minutes in some of the most crazy Cronenbergian body horror ever seen. Demi Moore gets to flex some serious muscle, dramatically, comedically and physically, and Margaret Qualley continues to prove she’s a fearless actress open to anything. And then there’s the scene-stealing Dennis Quaid as an egotistical, misogynistic TV producer who’s so over the top it’s mesmerising. Definitely not for everyone, but for people who enjoy horror comedies, body horror, horror satires or feminist satires - this is the film for you!

Reel Dialogue : Where does our beauty come from?

The Substance is a film that delves into the societal expectations of beauty, where aging is stigmatised and youth is idolised. The media's preference for younger stars over their older counterparts serves as a catalyst for Elisabeth Sparkle's decision to undergo the transformative procedure, a poignant reflection of our culture's obsession with youth and beauty.

The Bible is very clear that beauty doesn’t come from external appearances but from within. God cares about and encourages us to admire our inner self and heart. We should not praise outward appearances but encourage those who have gentle spirits and humble, kind hearts.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornments, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. - 1 Peter 3:3-4

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