As the great feminist activist Mary Wollstonecraft once said, “I do not wish [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” These themes of self-autonomy and freedom from the male gaze are exemplified outstandingly in the 2024 film directed by Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance.” This movie covers the story of a “washed-up” aerobics instructor, Elizabeth Sparkle, and her struggles with succumbing to society’s pressure on women in the industry. “The Substance” not only left viewers stunned by the plethora of motifs regarding feminism/misogyny displayed throughout the entire film but also wowed critics and The Academy.
Set in Los Angeles, California, “The Substance” follows Elizabeth Sparkle’s endeavors to attempt to relive her glory days as a young woman. To achieve this, Elizabeth utilizes the substance, which turns her into a younger, more perfect version of herself. This flawless version is named Sue (played by Margaret Qualley), and she immediately becomes a breakout star. However, there is one catch: Elizabeth and Sue are still one individual, and they must switch consciousness every week without exception. Over time, however, Sue becomes enveloped in her new life and begins draining Elizabeth of her life essence to make the most of her newfound fame. Ultimately, this backfires, and Elizabeth and Sue suffer a gruesome fate. For the movie’s duration, symbols are hidden throughout, meant to emphasize themes of sexism and unfair treatment of women, which are executed wonderfully.
“The Substance” conveys its most prevalent themes through small yet intricate details, one of its most admirable aspects. For instance, whenever antagonistic men are on camera, they are depicted in a grotesque/unsightly way. This is exemplified through a dinner scene with Demi Moore and Dennis Quaid’s characters, in which Quaid is distastefully devouring a pile of shrimp. The vulgar way in which the men in this movie are portrayed is meant to represent how men in the industry will never be required to hold up to the exact expectations that are forced upon women. This advantage that the men in the film have is shown in many instances, like how Quaid’s character cruelly excludes Elizabeth from the company without a moment’s notice, and Elizabeth is forced to sit and take it with grace. Another case where the movie’s subject matter is portrayed through seemingly insignificant specifics is in a scene where Elizabeth walks down an aisle displaying photographs throughout her career. While strolling down this hallway, Elizabeth is bombarded with happy birthday wishes from coworkers. The combined nostalgia from the pictures of her glory days lining the hallway and the reminders of her aging are overwhelming, and she breaks down in tears after one too many birthday wishes. This is a metaphor for how a woman’s value in the industry decreases as she ages, and society shuns them after they reach a certain age. This concept is more bluntly represented in the movie by Elizabeth being thrown out of her company just for getting “too old.” A third very prominent example of this subtlety of themes is through the selective nudity in the film. Throughout the movie, Elizabeth and Sue’s bare bodies are exposed to the camera multiple times, and no angles are spared. However, in the case of men, there is only 1 scene in which a man is naked, and even so, this is shown through a more respectful shot from behind. This contrast demonstrates how women who want to make it big in the industry are expected to exploit themselves far more than men are, even if it strips them of their dignity. Overall, “The Substance” does a phenomenal job of slyly sneaking in the movie’s most prominent motifs into light details. It’s evident that critics also enjoyed the film since it saved an 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 78/100 on Metacritic.
“The Substance” has been nominated for numerous awards along with rave reviews. It has been nominated for 5 Golden Globes and even won Demi Moore the award for “Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy.” This is incredible news for Moore since this is her first ever Golden Globe, despite her presence in cinema for around 4 decades. Many would deem her win well deserved, considering the raw, emotional, and gut-wrenching performance that she gave. Besides Golden Globes, “The Substance” has drawn the attention of the Academy and has been nominated for 5 Oscars, including “Best Actress” for Demi Moore, “Best Director” for Coralie Fargeat, and “Best Makeup and Hairstyling,” which is probably aided by the extraordinary prosthetics used throughout the movie. These accolades are astounding steps forward for the feminist film genre and pave the way for future films of a similar nature to gain mainstream attention as well. In closing, “The Substance” is a highly thought-provoking film, supported by a dynamic cast of actors and actresses, a very astute and perceptive director, and sensational visuals. Hopefully, this review will encourage others to try this film, and, as Elizabeth Sparkle herself said, “In the meantime, take care of yourself.”