Spoilers might need therapy after this one.

I think one of the horror subgenres that has the potential to scare you most is body horror. When the most vile thing that a film conjures comes from within, you can’t help but consider the possibility that it could happen. Of course this isn’t a particularly new subject, but the quality of the performances plus a fabulous cinematography do elevate a rather familiar premise into one of the best horror films to experience.

(Credit: Mubi)

The Substance (2024) is written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) was once a star. Now time has passed and the network executives are looking for something new. Rather than fade into the limelight, Elisabeth gets tempted by a mysterious offer. An underground drug, marketed to the select few, promises to create “a younger, better version of herself”. Enter The Substance, an at home kit capable of replicating your cells into a new body. There are rules and limits to obey and time-sensitive processes that cannot be trifled with. If all goes as planned, Elisabeth will soon find her conscience transformed into the young and beautiful Sue (Margaret Qualley), which the industry will accept with open arms.

The film is very straightforward to the point of satire about the screwed-up standards that allow Sue to simply walk in and have a contract just served at her in a silver platter by Elisabeth’s former manager, Harvey (Dennis Quaid). The extremes that Elisabeth goes through to sacrifice herself in the name of being Sue. Every instruction of The Substance forebodes a horrible outcome. Every slight Elisabeth suffers is a warning that she’s going down a horrible path, and yet she can’t stop.

In the same vein, I found myself uncomfortably wincing but unable to stop at what becomes an unstoppable roller coaster of self destruction in the name of an impossible beauty standard. The director also makes sure to frame the most surreal scenes using a fisheye lens. And yet, some of the most unrealistic scenarios feel truly honest to the times and the standards that we all live in. The quality is definitely raised by the outstanding performance of Demi Moore in a role that portraits both her strength and vulnerability with excellence.

Extremely recommended for body horror aficionados with a warning. This is one of those films that can get so deep under your skin that if you need to screen which of your friends (or yourself) will not be able to stand it. Demi Moore’s performance alone is worthy of praise. Very much worth a watch, even if you’re going to find yourself scared to look in the mirror.

That will do for now.