I had only just heard of this movie a few days ago and decided to check it out. I won’t give too much away and just say that the premise is that Demi Moore plays a has been actress who makes some questionable decisions in an effort to reclaim her youth.
It starts off with a Black Mirror/Twilight Zone vibe and descends into craziness and body horror. It is really something.
I was very impressed by the direction. Never has food looked so simultaneously well photographed and disgusting looking. It’s a very strange and interesting movie worth seeking out. Anyone else see it?
Yeah without spoiling I will say that the last bit of the film is definitely a big swing. I am not sure it fully worked but I appreciated their bravery in going for it.
Just watched this movie and really enjoyed it on a number of fronts. The cinematography is just gorgeous. I’ve never much paid attention to Demi Moore’s career but I thought her performance was really quite good. The last 15 minutes or so are BONKERS but I can appreciate that, too. What I don’t understand, and maybe I’m overthinking it, is like… what’s the point of The Substance? If you are apparently not fully conscious of what happens while the “other” is in control, then what is the appeal for Demi Moore’s character? Or maybe more explicitly, she makes the decision to continue the treatment even after she’s aware of … really not getting anything out of it? It seems like a pretty big plot hole. But overall still enjoyed this flick quite a bit.
Just got a free rental from the library and watched this over the weekend. Can you say 'body horror"? Somebody’s a Cronenberg disciple!
My wife pointed this out as well. I had originally assumed that the Elizabeth character was conscious within, and shared the memories of, the ‘other’. Because, as you and my wife point out, what’s the point otherwise? I mean, clearly when the ‘other’ is first created she has a full set of memories and knowledge that presumably she inherited from Elizabeth. When each of them get increasingly angry at the other for what they did in their active times, I figured it was kind of like how when I suddenly remember late at night I forgot to take out the trash, and think “eh, I’ll do it first thing in the morning”. Then the next morning when I have to deal with the trash in addition to getting ready for work, I’m angry at my lazy-ass ‘night before self’. But as the ‘other’, Sue, gets increasingly shocked and angry at the crazy messes Elizabeth leaves for her, it becomes pretty apparent that they don’t share consciousness or memories. Also I thought it was odd that Sue was slagging Elizabeth’s reputation on the talk show. Wouldn’t she, having once been Elizabeth, want to support her legacy, even if she’s no longer consciously Elizabeth?
I was interested in seeing this ever since a New Yorker columnist wrote about it as one of her favourites at the last Cannes film festival. It did not disappoint. When my son was over for movie night some time ago we watched The Substance followed by Poor Things – it was an inspired double feature!
I would say the story is meant to be more a modern day fable rather than science fiction so the details are purposely kept sketchy so the audience can fill in the details.
I agree, it was a dark parable, not meant to be anything approaching hard sci-fi. It had a surreal fairy tale quality to it.
That is a good, complementary double feature. Both movies have a fable-like, surreal quality to them, and are chock-full of body horror and black humor.
You must have a pretty enlightened, mature relationship with your son to watch those back-to-back with him. My sons are both adults now, but I think I’d be pretty embarrassed to watch those movies with them, and even more so for them watching with me.
I didn’t know anything about it going in, but I really liked it. It helps that I tend to enjoy body horror movies (maybe “enjoy” is a little strong since they tend to disturb me more than other kinds of horror movies). It was well shot with some really good performances. Demi certainly deserves the accolades she has been receiving.
My take on it was that when Sue was first created she had all of Elizabeth’s memories, but after that point, they are two separate people with different consciousnesses. That’s why they don’t know what the other person is doing when they are the one asleep, like when Sue woke up and was shocked and angry at Elizabeth trashing the apartment.