THE SUBSTANCE (2024) 🧪 Movie Review + SPOILERS

[@Louise-wk5yf]

The scene where Elizabeth was preparing for a date was incredibly sad.

[@Girlygirlemc]

I literally sobbed during that scene. Too relatable for so many women 😭

[@sus4nah]

I was shaking my head because she literally looked stunning. Absolutely beautiful. And her date would have made her believe it. Poor guy.

[@DaydreamAllday]

💔

[@xgoohx]

I know! I was like man why did I have a glimmer of hope for a second 😂

[@Slyther649]

@@Girlygirlemcthat scene was relatable for everyone

[@special_summon]

the bathroom mirror scene when she couldn’t leave her place, still makes me so sad

[@jaypeerogel]

It was heartbreaking.

[@looney1023]

@@special_summon That scene was absolutely brilliant, and I think it's pretty much the most important scene in the movie in terms of demonstrating the consequences of the unrealistic beauty standards that are placed on us. It's also the most emotional scene by far in a film that's otherwise very funny and absurd. Also the way it's edited with the clock ticking and the various warped reflections is so brilliant

[@angelacompres7947]

Best scene!!!! It broke me!

[@eduardaguidugli1386]

Out of everything in this movie, this is the thing I keep going back to. It's deeply sad and it sticks with you. Because it's also so realistic. Elisabeth is stunning, but she can't see it. I watched it with a friend and when she put on her red dress he turned to me and said "Demi Moore is so beautiful" and I agreed. Then, she starts questioning herself, questioning how she looks, trying to make herself look more like Sue and then giving it all up. Man, that broke me. (I really like, though, that the ElisaSue Monster is by far the most confident version out of all of them)

[@thetythompson]

That scene has stuck with me days after! It’s such a human reaction that I think most of us have felt at some point! Brilliant scene / acting!

[@interdimensionalsteve8172]

(spoiler) I liked the detail that the only time we see Elizabeth happy and smiling is at the very end when she's shed her physical body and is just a disembodied goo-head on her star.

[@aligmal5031]

i would say she was happy when fred gave her attention not talking about her age or anything but telling her she is still good looking imagine if she went with fred instead of ordering the substance :/

[@GZP1023]

She was happy when she was employed and when she remembered the man saying she was still the most beautiful woman. Pay attention

[@daniburns6369]

@@GZP1023 She was using his comment to distract herself from her pain. That's external validation, not happiness

[@gayfield420]

@@GZP1023 media illiteracy spotted

[@wildtriceratops1643]

@@GZP1023 You obviously missed the entire point of the movie. PAY ATTENTION

[@moses9647]

I wonder if the "she's you" message meant if you actually started loving yourself there wouldn't be an imbalance. Elizabeth would use her 7 days to actually go out and enjoy the world and Sue wouldn't resent her. And Sue would see Elizabeth/herself as a human being and not a spinal fluid bag so Elizabeth wouldn't resent her. As it is though she hates herself and only values external validation. Its a bit self fulfilling because what other motivation would there be to do something so drastic other than self hatred.

[@Allgloss312]

I agree completely. And so much of this movie isnt commentary on beauty standards and society, but rather the ramifications of living in a world that imposes those standards on you, taken to the absolute extreme and portrayed in an allegorical fashion. The movie actually really doesnt implicitly criticize anything about society, which was a smart choice because i think its clear the film was intended to explore the ramifications of superficial standards on a personal level, specifically exploring self hatred. When elisabeth gets killed by sue, thats what makes it so impactful. Because it’s basically the most primal part of Elisabeth (expressed as sue) killing off what she hates most about herself. In another comment to someone else i posited that sue is the id and elisabeth is the ego. Which makes sense looking at how primal and uninhibited sue is presented as being.

[@Muffintree14]

Yes I like this

[@aligmal5031]

that's the thing tho if elizabeth will go out and enjoy the world why use the substance in the first place :./ that's the whole point

[@Khenfu_Cake]

​​​@@aligmal5031 Exactly. I feel there's also a commentary on drug and... well, substance abuse, here with how the purveyor of The Substance tries to hide behind essentially disclaimers such as telling their clients they can always just stop (if addiction was that simple it wouldn't exist). Or that they just need to love themselves, which is basically counterintuitive for them because people who don't suffer from any body image issues or self-loathing probably wouldn't be interested in purchasing The Substance in the first place. I have literally seen people who use and/or push (notice how it was another user of The Substance who introduced Elisabeth to the drug in the movie) PED's in the fitness community use very similar defensive arguments. Such as they only promote their usage in moderation or they don't support unhealthy body images. Imagine if a tobacco company claimed they don't support people ruining their lungs. It would absolutely make them look like hypocrites and I basically got that same feeling with whoever sold The Substance to Elisabeth.

[@rachelvickers9545]

I kept thinking that a huge message of this was "love yourself and take care of yourself in all stages".

[@freyja-lestrange]

Sue being "birthed" or "born" from Elizabeth's back was so Alien, I loved it!!

[@glamdawling]

My thoughts exactly while watching the movie! I binged the Alien movies before Alien Romulus came out so they are top of mind right now.

[@FilumPodcast-o1u]

I didn't think of that connection. That's awesome

[@SMBiggestFan]

I’m thinking same concept from The Outer Limits or Tales from the Crypt.? 🤔

[@looney1023]

The consciousness thing confused me too, but I think it makes sense if you start to think of Sue as the "high" caused by The Substance. When an addict gets high, they can still be "conscious" of their actions, but their actions may be completely unrecognizable to the people that know them, and to their sober self. Elisabeth knows that the balance needs to be respected, or else she'll rot, but when she's Sue, all she cares about is keeping that supposedly "better" version of herself alive for as long as possible. It's also similar to the idea of a young people partying like crazy with no concern as to the long term effects they may experience.

[@daltoncollette164]

Me and my friend were also left debating on the consciousness logic. I just kind of rolled with they are the same entities but the memories and motivations are seperate. I think Sue has much more confidence than someone her age, shown in the scene of the initial audition where the faceless girl before her is begging for a callback, while Sue has a confidence that only comes with age. I also think that Sue shows an immaturity that is also in Elizabeth, this obsession with an aspect of herself she cannot control (others peoples perception of her beauty) and they both deal with it in appropriate ways for someone of their age unfortunately.

[@s11j02]

Yeah I agree, and even on Elizabeth's end when she's binge eating and Sue is disgusted by finding that, I saw it as the very human tendency to think "whatever, that's a problem for _tomorrow_ me", or "what was drunk/high/etc. me _thinking_ ??"

[@chernobyljacuzzi]

it didn’t confuse me at all, it’s literally me tonight saying “i’ll do my homework tomorrow” and then me tomorrow cursing myself for procrastinating 😭

[@UrbanDecayLova247]

Good way to think of it! I just felt like as many times as it was stated they are one, they did share consciousness but they were dissociating from the other.

[@KevLavigne-qp5sx]

That’s reasonable. I thought of it more as you could take extreme measures to alter your physicality/appearance and you may not even get to enjoy it. Or I think of like all the time someone like Gwen Stefani is hiding away to recover from more surgeries.

[@Johnny-ci8mw]

I was genuinely expecting it to be like Freaky Friday where she takes the substance, goes to bed, and wakes up a different person. My jaw was on the floor in the best way when the reveal happened.

[@SMBiggestFan]

The writer is so smart, like how did I not think of this idea?😅

[@mehdigeek]

I think Elizabeth and Sue did share consciousness, the guy on the phone kept saying that, it was just that Elizabeth didn't want to admit that she was the one doing and saying those things on the other side

[@amirrhodesve791]

I feel like the other her gained her traits and talents and no so much consciousness. If this was the case I don't think she wouldn't consciously destroyed her original body.

[@lalaland7603]

I think it was a metaphore of hating yourself, of fighting your own body and having conflicting interests: going on extreme diets that'll make you both thin and sick, undergoing dangerous beauty procedures that can damage your health, isolating because of shame and knowing that is going to damage your mental health, etc.

[@mehdigeek]

@@amirrhodesve791 if Elizabeth wasn't conscious when she was Sue then she wouldn't be begging to stay Sue or hesitate to kill her, it was Elizabeth even in Sue's body, she just refused to take responsibility for her bad actions

[@xgoohx]

I think it’s supposed to be a narrative on addiction. She got so addicted to using the substance that she was doing things that she didn’t realize.

[@yungn4]

@@amirrhodesve791 youd be surprised at what people do to feel and look young again

[@sighbatsu]

Saw this opening night with old high school classmates and after we left the theater my friend asked: "are we okay with getting older?" we all nodded.

[@Purplecrocodiles]

Hahahha that’s amazing

[@neilwilliams4420]

😂

[@jmz2144]

Y'all need the substance 😂

[@reesepasquarello1355]

i was also getting a nod to fairy tales. like with sues blue dress being a nod to cinderella and the “spell breaking at midnight” motif as she decomposes

[@Model_Roe]

I also got Tarantino vibes and "Requiem for a Dream" with the close up shots I don't know what or Coralie was influenced by personally but those are the vibes I was getting

[@juanam735]

11:30 The way I read that was like a metaphor of how we sometimes feel like we "split" when we do self-destructing behaviors and we can't stop, like disassociating, only to feel guilty and disgusted when we "come out of the trance". I feel like the movie is very literal about the idea that we have versions of ourselves that feel like different people even though they're all us, and how destructive it is to set them against each other.

[@emmakara8907]

Exactly. Obsessing over beauty and youth can definitely be an addiction and I think the binging scene was an obvious nod eating disorders and drug binges, and how during the time frame that the binge takes place you're almost a passenger seat to your own body and the disorder has taken the wheel. Only for you to wake up the next day not even able to comprehend how you could done such a thing, and spiral into more intense restriction... and the cycle of addiction repeats

[@AndrewandShelbyNagy]

That's exactly what I got from it too. Also, since it is somewhat a metaphor for addiction- I think it's partly commenting on how you almost literally become another person when an addiction takes hold.

[@RGsDevilship]

It's not that they share a direct consciousness, it's that they are two halves of a whole, conscious and subconscious. I think Sue was meant to look like the best version of two but she was actually just the physical embodiment of Elisabeth's self hatred, and in the end we saw that play out.

[@morganarenewed]

This movie changed my life. It reached out of the screen and slapped me in the face. Nobody has ever made a movie like The Substance. I LOVE IT.

[@jffry24]

This movie changed your life ? Grow up.

[@morganarenewed]

@@jffry24 life is more enjoyable if you approach it with a spirit of openness, acceptance and positivity.

[@Jusdepommerose]

Maybe you'd like Helter Skelter, it's a japanese movie from 2012!

[@Coco81218]

Have you seen Kaboom yet?

[@Lilnugget_96]

Maybe you would also like Tusk!

[@robk.6591]

Anyone else think the carpet in the television studio hallway looked like the carpeting in the Overlook Hotel in The Shining (1980)?

[@katrinamack444]

oh absolutely it had to be a reference, the bathroom was similar too

[@robk.6591]

@@katrinamack444 Ahh, right. The bathroom did have a really vacant and empty look to it. Nice observation!

[@babymariobrother3793]

Yeah, I got that vibe. With The Shining and Twin Peaks in mind, I thought "ooh, new horror carpet just dropped."

[@robk.6591]

@@babymariobrother3793 Hahaha

[@chasenixonmusic]

Defintely was intentional

[@jamesk.2308]

Didn't expect this movie to go super campy at the end. I LOVE IT

[@bugginonthewall]

same 😂 myself and the couple next to me were cracking up to the point we both looked over and laughed during the bloodbath!🤣

[@nonchellent]

Same! That’s one of my favorite parts and it was so unexpected.

[@mars7612]

I hated it so much, ngl lol I totally respect people for enjoying it but, for the last half hour of the movie, I was completely checked out 😂

[@aligmal5031]

it went full on carrie 1976

[@whenallelsfails21]

​@@mars7612 whatever man.

[@Nyctm91]

What id like to see is police finding a dead Sue in Elizabeth’s bathroom, an extremely old dead Elizabeth in the living room, and the chaos that would ensue on the public

[@MisterKS7643]

I feel like if they decide to make a sequel, I would love a neo-noir, investigative take behind the substance itself and the other users while leaving it somehow ambiguous of where it really came from, making the reveal even more terrifying

[@tracyalexandrayeager4405]

@Nyctm91 I thought the same thing....perfect setup for a sequel. I hope Fargeat makes a sequel to expose the other victims of The Substance. The old man that was in the diner....I thought to myself that he probably was a lot younger until his younger self abused the 7 day period balance.

[@tracyalexandrayeager4405]

@@MisterKS7643 I had the same thought! Why was this drug handed with no payment? It was in an abandoned building, hidden on purpose. My thought is that it was an experimental drug that they were testing out. My other thought was, how did they target their potential users? There were only about 10-12 boxes in that building that were other users. I'd love a sequel to expose the other users & who is this nefarious company targeting them??

[@yara-um6tx]

@@MisterKS7643very unlikely to happen imo

[@batguy39]

Yeeeeah. Would definitely fit better

[@GusAlmostDied]

The shrimp scene desecrated my soul. 🍤💐🪦💐🍤

[@PossessedbyHorror]

The most disturbing scene of them all

[@kallias.3503]

Wasnt it symbolic? I could be wrong

[@Muffintree14]

I was possibly most disgusted by the shrimp 😭

[@bookshelfhoney]

Why does the director hate food?! 😭 I thought it was just because that guy is the worst and gross, but then later when she's cooking that's also disgusting

[@GusAlmostDied]

@@bookshelfhoney I agree. ‘Revenge’ had mouth chewing too. Ugh!

[@Chadschapters]

This movie was just a constant wtf…. With my jaw on the floor. A+ lol

[@Model_Roe]

To me it was a masterpiece 10/10 I definitely plan on watching it again but I agree it's super gross and disgusting so if you're squeamish and can't stand gore or needles don't watch it

[@societycrumbles]

It's so funny to me how Elizabeth just went for it, and how vague the instructions for The Substance were. Maybe it's just me being neurodivergent, but I would have like 100 questions and clarifications before I used it, lol

[@PossessedbyHorror]

I thought the same thing like that’s all?? I have so many follow up questions

[@kaylakoroma7621]

I was thinking this. The instructions were not intuitive at all.

[@geraldmartin7703]

If you're desperate you don't ask too many questions.

[@Girlygirlemc]

I had the same thought at first but now reflecting I think it’s actually really realistic. Think about how many untested or dangerous beauty trends/treatments that people try just to feel a little more beautiful. Or people getting botched surgeries from unethical practitioners despite the red flags. Kind of a sad look at society today and what unrealistic beauty standards can do!

[@societycrumbles]

@@Girlygirlemc Yeah, it totally makes sense in the context of the story, I think it's great symbolism, but I just found it funny as someone who needs a million clarifications for everything, haha

[@Skaddiart]

I loved it. It was a deep dive into todays obsession with beauty and youth. Obsession with social media, plastic surgery.. The voice on the phone says ”You can stop anytime.” and Elisabeth says ”I can’t” that was so impactful in my opinion. And I’m so happy that a gorgeous star like Demi did this movie. That was so awesome!

[@Model_Roe]

Exactly 😂 personally that's why I didn't find Elisabeth all that sympathetic and I just saw the movie as more of a cautionary tale because both Elisabeth and Sue are equally soulless and vacant lol I mean Elisabeth has no other value outside of her looks so that's why when her show gets canned she becomes a drug addict to relive that experience of being the hot sexy girl that everyone wanted when in reality she could have developed and cultivated other aspects of her life where her career and attention wasn't the only thing that gave her gratification like you can see Elisabeth when she has to spend the week as herself and not Sue all she does is stay at home watching TV and stuffing her face lol like she has no life no aspirations nothing when she's Sue all of a sudden she has a social life is dating out on the town she becomes interesting like it's sad that the only time she feels like she can "live" is when she's Sue and not herself

[@crumblebee6728]

It's requiem for a dream meet the fly. It's fucking fantastic

[@hayitsashlay]

That’s a great description actually wow lmao

[@alexxx5749]

ABSOLUTELY OMGGGGGG!!!! I was saying the same thing there was such a requiem for a dream vibe here and the elements of the rapid fire scenes. So happy to see your comment!

[@shinichisan6789]

this

[@jmz2144]

Big requiem of a dream vibes

[@salviahunden]

what a fantastic description of it

[@litttlemissmae]

I kind of interpreted their consciousness to be mostly shared, but they felt so disconnected from the other and so wrapped up in the different life that they repressed some things or that their new memories were based on whose body they were currently inhabiting.

[@xgoohx]

Somebody had pointed it out and it makes so much sense to me that it almost kinda is similar to addiction. While being on a substance, not realizing what you’re doing

[@litttlemissmae]

@@xgoohx wait that’s such a good observation!! It makes so much sense

[@outsidesounds]

@@litttlemissmae they didn’t really make anything clear that they had any shared experiences. each time they woke up they were surprised to find out about each others behavior. the drug addiction analogy is valid, however with drug addiction there is some kind of high or escape. elizabeth didn’t experience any momentary high. she did escape into unconsciousness but seems like that could be much more easily achieved with sleeping pills or wine without the consequence of your body getting mutilated.

[@jmz2144]

Couldn't Sue tell what Elisabeth was eating when it was her 7 days?

[@die-isabelle]

they definitely shared their consciousness. both Sue and Elizabeth hated Elizabeth. so much so that Elizabeth did not enjoy her seven days and had autodestructive behaviors like binge eating and living in the dirty, because deep inside she did not feel like she deserved such a good life as when she was Sue. everything Sue did she could also do, and she tried, but she hated Elizabeth (herself) so much that she could not follow up with it, hence the mirror scene. Sue basically reminded her of the life she could have but that she saw as unattainable as Elizabeth.

[@mollyflinchum3098]

Did I have a panic attack in the theater? Yes. Will it make my top 10 for this year? Absolutely

[@bo2720]

A panic attack? What for?

[@DaydreamAllday]

​@@bo2720probably from how insane it was

[@sierrathebarbie]

@@bo2720The whole movie is panic attack worthy wym, it was pure shock value 😂

[@marians.morales365]

​@@bo2720 take a guess 🫢

[@diezuckerbackerin5112]

​@@bo2720what a stupid question. Any kind of stress can cause panic attacks.

[@MarinaAndTheDevil]

I love how at some point in her workout program she said something like: "you don't wanna look like a f*t starfish on the beach"... and in the end she's basically... a fing starfish 😭😭😭😭

[@moomin2833]

she said jellyfish instead in that scene actually but yeah

[@MarinaAndTheDevil]

@@moomin2833 that’s even more accurate

[@angelacuebasmercado4036]

Is the word “fat” a slur? 😂😂 why are you censoring that?

[@MarinaAndTheDevil]

@@angelacuebasmercado4036 bcs KZbin would remove the comment

[@_Alimm]

I believe Elizabeth and Sue share the same consciousness in the way a person can be on drugs or sober but still themselves. Sue once under the drug of beauty and validation has a whole different perspective and set of morals than Elizabeth. Also, there's so many elements of Requiem for a Dream in this film. The flash shots, closeups of eyes, needles, wounds and slow spiraling. The Substance does such a great job in incorporating the classics but still being so original.

[@annastimac6357]

The point of them not understanding each others actions was because she was so into whichever body she was in at the time that she couldn’t fathom how the other could act the way they did. For example sue was so into herself and loved the way she was that she couldn’t comprehend how Elisabeth could just rot away all the time. It really shows how much she valued her outside persona and how it effected her actions so much. I really liked that

[@sueorosz8886]

I am turning 60 this year and found this movie not gross at all…the horror part is so contextual to the story so I loved it. The body horror in this movie represents the absolute true feeling of aging 100 percent! The cost of getting older and how you battle aging in society…The visuals represent that so well…the pain, fear, anger, frustration, loneliness, loathing and cost of living as an older person is an aggressive feeling for sure! I think every visual in this movie was purposeful to millionth degree! I loved ❤ the cinematic experience from the beginning to the end! It was 🪄 and the cast and writer French 💋..but that’s just my opinion as someone that is feeling the tug of aging. The mirror scene reminds me of what it feels like to look at our younger self compared to our older self and battling that urge to hate what we’ve become…like older people are monsters in society or maybe we are our worst critics and think we are monsters.

[@whos_laurel]

I watched so much of this movie between my hands and just the sound design alone was enough to tell me what was going on. The foley artists deserve an award

[@MoonShadow333]

As someone who grew up watching films like Scanners and Hellraiser, I'm glad we're finally seeing more mainstream, female-centered body horror. I love those classics to death, but I’ve always felt it made sense for women to portray the experience of our bodies turning against us or being objectified to the point where they no longer feel like our own. By the way, regarding Elizabeth and Sue's consciousness, I always felt they were one (as the voice told them), but they felt so different and disconnected that they almost dissociated. Also, when Elizabeth was Sue, it seemed like her self-loathing was so intense that she berated herself to the point of forgetting she was attacking her own psyche.

[@tammye7299]

So let me ask you a question. To this day I can't make it through hellraiser. Will I be able to make it through this one?

[@MoonShadow333]

@@tammye7299 the last 20 minutes of The Substance are way worse than Hellraiser so be careful.

[@tammye7299]

@@MoonShadow333 Thank you, I'm not going to watch!

[@simplyrowen]

@@tammye7299Or watch and skip the last 20 minutes. Because that’s when it goes off the rails and it gets into the heaviest part of the movie. That’s the part that everyone keeps talking about.

[@maskofsanity2021]

No because I was trying not to laugh when she was using the blender thing on the eggs and it just kept going everywhere because of how it was edited I was dy!ng inside from trying not to laugh. I've also never wanted to hug a character as much as Elisabeth. The message and her pain really got me in the soul.

[@Angelb-dj1od]

that scene was definitely meant to be funny the way it was contrasted with Sue's interview

[@hunter12555]

I think her being birthed is one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. Which is crazy to say with how crazy this film goes.

[@BrandonJames2016]

This movie was insane and having the reactions of people being disgusted/horrified with the body horror shown on screen made this movie even more entertaining. Like holy crap I haven’t seen body horror like this in a while and it’s amazing. Such great commentary and acting. The third act was crazy but I loved every moment of it. The ppl giving this movie negative reviews are crazy.

[@GlynDwr-d4h]

This is one is totally a modern body horror classic. It has a place in the top 10 body horror lists from here on out, imo.

[@shawn1428]

It was so good. I could see some influences from Carrie, The Neon Demon, Reanimator to Toxic Avenger and The Thing. But it was done very differently. Cuckoo, Long Legs, Alien Romulus, Maxxxine (although not really horror), Immaculate, The First Omen, Oddity, I didn't even mind The Strangers Chapter 1. now we get The Substance. Looking forward to Terrifier 3.

[@stuartburns8657]

Really? Wow it was truly dreadful!

[@ourladyofperpetualskepticism]

Had to be pulling some inspiration from Society too.

[@emilymurdoch6713]

I also saw influences from Requiem for a Dream

[@tobias_cooper]

It also reminded me a bit of Mulholland Drive, which Coralie actually said it was one of her favorites

[@DaydreamAllday]

​@@emilymurdoch6713yes!! So much!

[@sorosspy]

I think the consciousness being kinda split was commentary on how u start to lose yourself and your true nature by doing extreme plastic surgeries

[@sorosspy]

Because the older version had full control of the young version at the start, but by wanting more and more time spending young, she started to lose herself

[@sorosspy]

Also both versions how the time past had such a different lifes (one getting uglier and other prettier) that it makes sense that personalities started to split too and they both stop recognizing that they are one (the man on the telephone and the instructions also said: don't forget you are one and same person

[@chi11ary]

I’m considering that yellow coat its own character, it’s an icon in its own right. This was my favorite film of the year.

[@tupa24]

I agree!! I loved the coat

[@anitacawk4935]

The last 30 minutes was exactly everything I wanted to see, I'm so glad the director took it there.

[@aaronslauter1722]

The nod to the shining with the hallway, the printed carpet, and the blood was amazing❤

[@kerry53421]

Thank you for the spoiler review portion. No other KZbinr delved into it and I needed reconfirmation that I saw everything that I saw

[@jennifersparks5939]

I went in blind and watched this yesterday randomly. The practical effects are INCREDIBLE. And it absolutely didn't feel like a long movie. It was never boring. It was beautiful and totally sickening. And at times really sad and relatable. Loved it.

[@isaintrovert]

I interpreted the consciousness part as exactly how the person on the phone kept stating “there is no you or her, you are one” the reason why she spiraled is because she became jealous of her younger self while the younger self felt tethered/imprisoned by her older self. They both are the same person but since she hated herself so much already before taking the substance, it showed her hatred of herself more through her younger self because to her, that’s the better version. It’s all about the mindset, but she was always one person whether she was in the younger body or her original body.

[@jaypeerogel]

Elisabeth could have just terminated Sue completely, but even in her decrepit state, she still craved for that adulation, which led to her downfall.

[@CrystalCat99]

I saw the consciousness thing as like our young selves being reckless and not taking good care of our bodies and our older selves getting angry at our young selves for not taking better care of ourselves because now we have to live with the consequences, they are the same person at different life stages

[@MariLou-fv8wt]

The scene where monstro elisasue put a cut out picture of her older self smiling “pretty girls should always smile” show how women will go through great length for validation. That scene said so many words, it was so powerful.

[@theDuckysaurus]

I’m obsessed with this movie but can absolutely see how people could call it gratuitous. I was glad to see it was a female director because otherwise it might come across as exploitative…

[@KevLavigne-qp5sx]

those people are secretly in love with their body dysmorphia, because this film cures it.

[@ripley2995]

I think it’s super exploitative despite being satirical too.. toes the line for sure. I think someone could watch this and not think critically and just enjoy the butts and boobs.. at least for the first half anyway haha

[@Kelfieb]

I felt the same way a few minutes in but as the movie progresses it’s all perfect. The bloody butts at the end sealed it for me lol

[@rebitv6158]

It’s definitely toeing the line because it is trying to be exploitative in some sense. It’s portraying exploitation in a very exaggerated, heightened way. It’s definitely satirizing that exploitation by showing it, but it’s definitely there. I think it worked great for the movie, but I can see how it might not work for everyone. Definitely helps that the director is a woman tho!

[@ruisenor8993]

As a bisexual femme person, I knew from the get-go what this movie was going for and I loved the themes but also... I am no better than a man if you focus on Margaret Qualley's bouncing ass and boobs right in front of me in bright pink. 😅

[@Coco81218]

Morale of the story is to surround yourself with friends who can cheer you up at your lowest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone visit Elisabeth or have some friends in her life.

[@Teddy-q1s]

TIFF described the film as a crossing of The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Nutty Professor and Showgirls. Having seen all three of those films prior it is the most apt description.

[@kcrosley]

This is entirely correct if you add The Fly, Rabid, and From Beyond. (More than anything the story here is “Picture of Dorian Gray… but the portrait is just, like, also you…”)

[@anthonyduran7553]

Most definitely learned a valuable lesson on beauty standards from this movie. Based on the presentation from the trailer automatically sold, hints why I watched it. Practical effects, sound, music, and visual scenes blend well with the story.

[@robk.6591]

This one was insane! It was constantly one-upping itself with creepier and more shocking imagery and scenes. Just when I thought it couldnt get any more disturbing they follow it up with something even more disturbing. I think this is Demi Moore's best film, imo. *SPOILERS* Originally I thought Sue was going to try and murder Elisabeth. Like a parasite killing its host. But that ending...wow! The practical effects were old school David Cronenberg level. Cant wait to see it again!

[@toyosibee.mp3]

This is my fave film of the year...Fargeat's ability to balance all the different tones while also still managing to SAY something was masterful. The tragedy of it all is that Elisabeth Sparkle, based on what we see in the opening scenes pre-Activator, is a genuinely sweet and beautiful woman with a lot of self-esteem issues that are essentially forced upon her by the society she lives in. The fact she smiles at the beginning (at the end of her show's taping) and then again at the end (when she's a blood puddle on top of her Hollywood star) makes the circularness of the story sooooooooo satisfying, despite the tragedy.

[@jaysonpida5379]

About the 'shared' consciousness...the stories are that people who met Marilyn Monroe were disappointed because they were meeting normal-ol Norma Jean and she (depressingly) could feel that they wanted 'Marilyn' so she would literally transform into Marilyn for them... Not acting or a mask but two people of the same person...of course which drove her depression and self-hatred even more.

[@pixelzgmd]

I think Marylin was very much in the director's mind. Especially with Sue saying, basically, "I come from a town you've probably never heard of"

[@marianaavilal]

Yeah I was also confused about the shared consciousness but I settled on: they did have shared consciousness cause otherwise I don't believe Elisabeth would've made the decision she makes in the third act, however they were both so deeply in denial that they were ONE that they purposefully discarded the others' memories/experiences, maybe if she'd been kinder to herself and embraced all sides to herself she could've had full shared consciousness throughout.

[@SMBiggestFan]

I believe it was like a cloning process except not creating an identical body. I guess they split into two persons so both was able to move and fight each other physically. At the end maybe the blob monster can split into two monsters.

[@rociomiranda5684]

It caught my attention that there are no other older women in Elizabeth's world. No friends, no family. Only these lecherous, grotesque old men. Fred was the only person who seemed able to like and love her for who she was. He was comfortable with his own age, too. I'm 62. This movie reminds me of people addicted to plastic surgery, who disfigure themselves because they can't stop.

[@sarahhkennedyy]

The last 30 minutes had my jaw on the floor and I didn’t pick it up until 30 minutes after the credits rolled. Just kinda sat there in the moment , what an incredible movie that actually made me feel all types of ways

[@now_andthen_]

as someone who is not squeamish of needles towards myself but is towards others that was what got me the most. also the chicken leg 💀

[@Adam_Le-Roi_Davis.]

A good review of, "The Substance", by you. I feel that the part about the consciousness of Elizabeth and Sue was akin to Jekyll and Hyde in "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, as two sides or two personalities of the same person. I really enjoyed this film, the hallway very much reminded me of "The Shining".

[@sisterseeth]

I loved the overarching and persistent reminder that there are no external solutions for internal conflict and the more external things you try to feed the black hole inside, the more it mutates your external interface with reality, and the hungrier it becomes.

[@themischief420]

i love that everything was practical effects with a cheeky bit of stopmotion at the end scene. i absolutely adore practical over computer generated fx

[@eduardaguidugli1386]

I love that you mentioned The Picture of Dorian Gray, because I'm a literature nerd and have been telling everyone that this is the best modern adaptation of the book. If I may, I would also compare this movie to the Brazilian classic The Hour Of The Star. This thought occurred to me at the very end of the movie, but I watched it a second time and the idea kept popping in my head as the movie progressed. I'm not going to spoil either The Substance or The Hour Of The Star, but the protagonists of both have a similar end - as in, they now have what they want, but it's not a good thing. Maybe I'm just tripping, but I do highly recommend this book. Clarice Lispector is a great author and more people should read her.

[@ididgt4259]

I was talking to my friend about Lispector on the way home from this today, glad I'm not the only one

[@kaiquew7312]

Um brasileiro!!

[@nileshollowthorn]

I thought of it as a person split into two halves and those halves are separate but still part of the same person. So, the divide represents the self-hatred of Elisabeth at the loss of her younger self and Sue represents the hatred of aging and losing the vindication she gets from others. So, they don’t share the same memories or anything, but they are the same person and that’s why their actions affect one another. One of my favorite horror movies I think I’ve ever seen. Jaw-dropping cinema!

[@gleesinnpiano2653]

Yes!! You reviewed it! Personally, it was the best theater experience I’ve had so far this DECADE. When it ended my body felt like it was on fire

[@deafasabat]

So the ending also reminded me of the ending of Late Night with the Devil! As much as I loved that flick, The Substance amped up the chaos!

[@brendonslife4584]

idk why people missed the fact she used the switch tool straight into her heart, which combined with the termination woke them both up. we saw it in the first switch at the beginging!

[@elle_aye112]

I intentionally spoiled myself because i was honestly so nervous going in to this. But absolutely nothing could have prepared me for how it played out. My god, it was incredible!

[@katerinakirilova4307]

My theorie about the "consciousness" is that because Elisabeth hates herself so much and saw Sue as something perfect and separated they couldn't "communicate subconsciously". I think that the way it's supposed to work is that they have some form of subconscious connection and that's how they're supposed to communicate. However being Elisabeth hated herself so much and basically didn't want to spend time with her body, Sue didn't as well. And because Elisabeth never saw herself and Sue being on person like they're supposed to be they couldn't communicate subconsciously, because they never saw eachother as one being. That's my personal interpretation at least, i loved the video, and the movie was awesome!🫀

[@hoaxheaux]

Best movie of the year 👌🏻 This movie gave me everything I was promised but didn't get from Longlegs.

[@CarrieArt7]

I really loved the message of the movie, hearing the director talk about her own emotions & how they inspired this movie really hit me. And I'm glad you brought up the shared consciousness question. After watching the movie, I don't understand what Elizabeth gets out of this if she's isn't experiencing what Sue is doing.

[@solbenitez3553]

I understand the confusion on the "are they the same person or not", but I do think they made it pretty clear in the movie with the phone calls "there is no "other" its just you, you are one." When elizabeth throws away the newspaper, then transforms, Sue goes to the trash can and grabs the article about hiring a young woman to replace elizabeth, if they are not the same consciousness, how could she know?? I was also confused at first, but a friend of mine pitched me this idea, and honestly, it makes total sense for me. She is an addict, being young and praised is her addiction, so when she is "sober" aka Elizabeth she despises the desicions made by Sue, and vice versa. She has very high highs and incredible low lows. When she is in elizabeth´s body she is basically depressed, she doesnt leave her house at all, she feels like life is not worth living as HERSELF. But when she is in Sue´s body she is at the top of the world, people kissing the floor she walks on, getting to re-live her greatest days, she is high on dopamine...sooo... she makes some selfish and "irrational" decisions to maintain this feeling, like drug addicts usually do. Is like when you get drunk and the next day you are like "wtf, whyyyyyy did i do that yesterday????" with the additional body change and the extreme addiction, that makes it easier for someone to be like "that wasnt me, I dont know what happened", because when they look in the mirror a different face is staring back.

[@StrongerThanYsterday]

Exactly! Horror genre is THRIVING this year and I’m here for it 👏🏽👏🏽❤

[@ayoyani]

when leaving the theater, the top two movies on my mind were The Thing and Carrie so I squealed a little bit when you mentioned them hahaha

[@madzness19]

The bathroom at the studio is so shining coded it’s crazy. Same with the carpet in the hallway

[@longshot291981]

My interpretation of why they didn't remember what each other were doing is because when Sue first came out of her back, they were a perfect copy of memories and personality and all of that. But from that point on, I don't think she was transferring her consciousness between the two bodies. I think she was transferring just her life force and then each woman was living from that point on as their own person. Yes they were both the same person but they were experiencing totally different lives and situations and experiences at that point.

[@dogseasgod6013]

I’ll never forget the feeling of randomly seeing the teaser of this movie like never even hearing of it before I knew my life was bout to change

[@abstergo06]

saw it today because it came out this week in France (which doesn't make sense that it came out so late here since it's a french film) and i loooooved it so much, FINALLY some good body horror like in the 90s that goes all the way and doesn't "stop" too soon in its ideas and what is shows (with an exception for the great Antiviral from 2011), i'm so happy it's from my country as well of course, and also, everyone clapped at the end cause everyone loved it and it was such a beautiful moment, it was the first time something like that happened and kinda made me emotional in a way since i love going to the theatre so much

[@adririvera]

omg ive been waiting for your review for this for a week plus now!!! i was OBSESSED W THIS

[@devinharwood6010]

I feel like the end really brought it full circle of the impacts of the cosmetics industry and its predatory gaze. Just as the doctor’s assistant gave Elizabeth the information to acquire “The Substance,” so would this cycle continue to onto its next victim; I feel like the blood being cleaned up from her star was a very good way of showing this - or that’s how I interpreted it. I also kept thinking about Ozempic watching this movie. A bit too gory for my taste but I agree, the visual effects and prosthetics were incredible. This was such a good movie.

[@kizzyisdead5545]

Of all the movies mentioned, nobody has said Videodrome. I don't want people to forget that that movie exists. I love that The Substance was a pastiche on so many of my favourite films😊

[@firesatmidnight]

I watched this yesterday and I’m still reeling and thinking about the details of it. Just wow! That last half hour is unforgettable. Made me think of the movie Society (1989) I liked the commentary about when we’re young, we steal from our older selves selfishly, bad food, alcohol, etc and our older self suffers. Of course she would steal her stabilizer fluid. We all knew that was coming! 😂

[@Shinigami344]

This movie reminded me so much of Helter Skelter but more unhinged, and that movie is pretty unhinged. Also I heard it's a light remake of the movie Rejuvenator

[@funkyfemmefinds]

YES i called it a mix of david cronenberg, junji ito, and helter skelter

[@biguy617]

I love this movie. One of the best horror movies of the year. Give Demi an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

[@KevLavigne-qp5sx]

they should’ve already announced her win. I was thinking about the era of like Charlize winning for going “ugly” for Monster. this is that exponentially and in a far more impactful film.

[@TheBrookeJ]

They are the same person! Every time she called they were like “there’s no her, it’s you, you’re one.” I think the concept is when she was Sue her ego loved the admiration and attention so bad she was so okay with sacrificing her old body like it was trash. Like how far we would go and how much you sacrifice your body or self for outside circumstances even when you know it’s not good for you and there’s consequences.

[@gntletulip]

i find it a little surprising how people haven’t felt as shocked and affected by the beauty standards message in this movie . and the binging elizabeth started to do , too . these affected me so hard , not even in a bad way , but i did ultimately end up sobbing by the end of the movie because it was just . . . so *perfectly* portrayed .

[@aFreakingSpongebobReference]

It is 1000% the same consciousness in both bodies, every time there's a phone call, we are sternly reminded that it is always her. She has major dismorphia in her real body, and each time she switches, it causes a severe change in her outlook. When she is Sue, she is so elated to have the body and career she wants that she feels like it's worth it to hurt her other self, she's not REALLY thinking about the consequences. It's like a drug addiction. When she switches back to Elisabeth, she is horrified by the damage she's done and feels intense anger about her appearance increasingly becoming far worse than she could have imagined. The whole reason she pursued the substance is because she was depressed about her aging body so it makes her horribly depressed and furious each time it gets worse. But she can't face the fact that she did it to herself because she couldn't help it. As Sue, her craving for life in her ideal body is uncontrollable and insatiable. It was her the whole time but the time but she wasn't mentally strong enough to put a stop to it so she couldn't accept responsibility.

[@spookyshadows303]

absolutely loved this one. it changed my life!

[@keikobabetoo1]

Just when I thought Oddity was my favorite movie of the year, THIS is my favorite…for now 😂. What is happening in 2024 in Horror, what an amazing year!!!! So many favorites. This movie is just perfect. I think it resonated with me on so many levels, as with many others’. If Demi Moore isn’t nominated for an Oscar, I don’t know what’s wrong with this world!!! 😩😂 So happy you enjoyed it, it’s going to be a classic!!! ❤

[@evermoreisamasterpiece]

I couldn't stop crying after the movie was finished. Top three movies I've ever seen, and the best horror movie I've watched.

[@aligmal5031]

16:25 they cleaned her up because at the start of the movie a guy dropped his food there so no one would notice the second time that she was there (symbolism no one care they are walking/dropping on a star of someone who used to be a star)

[@andrewchristie118]

my two biggest takeaways after the film: - there NEEDS to be some sort of psych eval before people can take the substance - the dreaded knee scene happens, and not much later she is running down the street no problem great movie, not much of a horror buff but the artistic vision did not disappoint

[@priqq1]

As I have told others, the 3rd act of this movie had me so enthralled and constantly smiling and cackling like a madman, and I haven't had that experience during a horror movie since the 3rd act of Malignant. 11/10😂😂😂😂

[@Angelb-dj1od]

Yes I gleefully lost my mind -- Screaming cackling and almost throwing my popcorn in the air

[@abinotabbey]

(SPOILER) I don’t know if anyone else has said this but when Elizabeth is on her star at the end she kind of looks jellyfish like to me and at the beginning when Elizabeth was filming her show she said something about making sure you do the exercises so you don’t end up looking like a jellyfish. Idk if this was just a coincidence but I’m assuming it was purposeful

[@SMBiggestFan]

More like an blob monster 😅

[@SleepFan771]

Just saw The Substance. Coralie Fargeat is a genius. Demi Moore & Margaret Qualley are phenomenal. It goes from hilarious, to deeply sad, then insanely grotesque body horror. I'm floored.

[@Muffintree14]

The way I interpreted their consciousness’s, was that they’re both her, she’s aware of everything in both bodies. But when she’s Sue, she wants nothing to do with her original self, so much so that she thinks of herself as a different person. Then when she’s back to Elisabeth, and suffering the consequences for the choices she made as Sue, she blames Sue as if it was someone else making those bad choices, even though it’s herself. I saw someone compare it to the cycle of addiction, where as Elisabeth she tries to beat it into her head (hitting her head on the shower floor) to remember they’re one person and she needs to stop abusing the substance, but when she’s Sue she just can’t stop. Elisabeth’s anger at Sue is anger at herself, and Sue’s disgust with Elisabeth is disgust with herself. I felt like when they tell her she has to switch back after 3 months and she gags and says “I can’t go back in her”, it implied she was aware of both sides the whole time. Otherwise, why would she bother keeping Sue around if she can’t enjoy the benefits. Eventually, her self hatred and thinking of herself as two different people becomes so strong that they literally split apart and wake up at the same time, and the battling sides of herself physically fight. We lose track of the real Elisabeth because she loses her sense of self throughout the process, until she finally re-emerges after burning herself out and having literally nothing else left at the end.

[@moselaw2]

My roommate and I debated the consciousness question and we concluded that they do share a consciousness, but Elizabeth consistently "others" Sue throughout the film as if she is a separate entity as a way to avoid accountability. I also think there is probably a bit of a haze between the two where the memories aren't crystal clear. But the voice on the phone consistently tells her that they are the same. They are not separate. She is doing it to herself.

[@Model_Roe]

Sue was the monster Elisabeth birthed it kinda reminded me of Frankenstein because Elisabeth and Sue were equally soulless and vacuous lol both very empty shallow people

[@GameFreak4Ever]

Subconscious thing I totally agree. I left confused how Sue was surprised with all the binged eating.

[@Joleenzy]

I loveeee campy Movies and the last 20 Minutes were straight up camp! I giggled with my friend and everyone else who watched it with us was straight up shocked 😂

[@Allgloss312]

Same lmao i cant relate to those who hated the ending and thought it was absurd and ridiculous. Im like yes it was absurd and ridiculous and is that supposed to be a bad thing? Lol its the point and thats what made the ending so great for me

[@Joleenzy]

@@Allgloss312 Absolutely and it took the heaviness of the subject of the whole movie a little. It was very camp! 🙈

[@Allgloss312]

@@Joleenzy lol i also find it so funny that the ending is where people draw the line of too far, too ridiculous. I feel like this movie is one of those love it or hate it things. Its hard for me to wrap my head around someone seeing this and being fine with all the mutations, fine with seeing margaret qualley crawl out of demi moores back, fine with seeing a drum stick get pulled out of a belly button but oh no, the ending is simply just too out there and weird they went too far this time lol. But hey to each their own 🤣

[@KevLavigne-qp5sx]

I knew I loved this movie after the prettiest/coolest car crash scene I’ve ever seen early on, I didn’t need the ending but my body dysmorphia was already cured by the film by then so it was all gravy

[@Celiné25078]

The Substance should get an Oscar, one of the best movies I have watched and Demi Moore's best role of her life, brilliant!

[@hallowedclaret]

I LOVED this movie 🍿 My favorite 2024 horror movie, personally 🤩 Thank you for the review! Was waiting for it!

[@nick-elodeon9919]

Maaaan, this year is so great for horror. I could list so many gems that were released and I'm optimistic for the upcoming ones to potentially join the list too (Hold Your Breath, It's What's Inside, V/H/S/BEYOND, Terrifier 3, Smile 2, Don't Move, Your Monster, Heretic, Nightbitch, and Nosferatu)

[@soph6324]

not the point of the movie at all but i'm curious what happens afterwards. like sue is technically MIA but would her job even care? also what happens if someone enters elisabeth's house and sees their bodies? i can't stop thinking about what conclusions people would come to just with the evidence found in the house. does law enforcement know about the substance? would they be able to figure out what happened or chalk it up to a bad fight? i'm curious about the wrong stuff rn

[@xlunadxll]

Loved the Cinematography of this movie! I remember sitting in the theaters just stunned for how far they really took it. At a certain point I was like okay I get it, but I’m not mad at it. It was such an experience watching this in theaters!