The Substance is a 2024 satirical body horror directed and co-produced by writer Coralie Fargeat. This movie, while starting off strong, was over ambitious and lead to it’s own decline.
The movie starts with Elizabeth Sparkle, who has reached the end of her career due to reaching fifty years old and no longer viewed as desirable. Their agent states it is due to her age and that it is the reason why they are firing her, though it is clearly because he intends to replace her with a younger woman like she's expired milk. Later in the movie we hear that the channel was not gaining enough viewers until they hired Sue and the numbers suddenly skyrocketed.
The Substance started off strong, taking it’s time to dissect Elizabeth Sparkle’s downfall and acceptance of aging and no longer being in the spotlight. After reaching fifty it seems everything she has worked so hard for is being taken away from her in an instant. This movie delves into the commentary that in society that when women get old the world starts to treat them as if they were invisible.
During the climax point, Sue’s deterioration, things begin to feel frantic and sloppy. While the cinematography and casting were well done, the ending brings the movie to a mediocre close. Full of quick paced shots and panning keep you engaged throughout the movie and the tone of the film is well done, giving an eerie fell as well as depressing.
The first half was enjoyable but nearing the end it started steering towards cheesy 80’s slasher flick.
I was really looking forward to this movie and am sorry to see that The Substance did not meet my expectations. I think I would watch it with a friend, but I would not watch it again on my own. Overall, I give it three and a half stars.
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