Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Oct 20, 2024
Table of Contents
Being perhaps a candidate for film of the year, ‘The Substance’ (2024) is a recently released body horror film starring Demi Moore and is the second film of Coralie Fargeat. Like other entries in the genre, the film has a good deal of shock value and unnerving sequences that are in perfect tune for this Halloween season. However, ‘The Substance’ transcends this genre as it is not merely a modern attempt at a Cronenberg style body deconstruction, but a compelling look into the struggles of aging actresses and the idea of a double identity. All have been previously seen in cinema, but it is with this film that all are combined to create an experience that is as distressing as it is disturbing. One that is certainly worth checking out in anticipation for awards season.
‘The Substance’ follows the once popular star Elisabeth Sparkle played by Demi Moore who has reached the age in her life where she is no longer a young attractive star. Her producer unceremoniously lets her go and her life quickly turns into a dull and depressing slog. However, she discovers an odd faceless company that distributes a mysterious substance which ends up being a way to create a younger more attractive version of her played by Margaret Qualley who quickly becomes a star in the same sense as Elisabeth. ‘While it still remains a pure horror film throughout, one must note the amount of satirical material found throughout. Particularly in many of the performances. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley are the only two actors who play their roles completely straight while everyone else overacts to an almost cartoonish degree. This is not due to a lack of talent in either actor or director, but it acts as a reflection on this show business world. Everyone over exaggerates their appreciation and love for the character when in reality, they’re putting on a performance of their own. The producer, played by Dennis Quaid, is the best example of this as his overly enthusiastic attitude throughout is merely a facade for the money hungry reality of his character.
A very notable aspect of the film that must be noted is its superb use of sound. The art of sound design is often gone unappreciated because it is something that the audience should not really notice being good or bad. It should feel completely natural to the scene. In ‘The Substance’, the sound design has a noticeable quality to it where it makes the simplest of actions sound and feel incredibly disconcerting. This goes hand in hand with the acting in the film’s exaggerated tone that represents a perfect contrast to Elisabeth’s mundane world outside of stardom, solidifying ‘The Substance’ as a film that simultaneously serves as satire and serious subject matter.
‘The Substance’ is far from the first film to explore the struggles of a once popular Hollywood star having now aged, unable to reclaim any kind of past fame and love. This premise will always remain relevant as it provides insight to how the entertainment industry uses their famous stars more as props for business until they find no more use for them. Demi Moore has been an actress who has gone through a lot in her career where she was a sweetheart star mostly in the 1990s, starring in multiple movies and being singled out for her beauty among peers. This is not implying that Moore has seen the same unceremonious downward turn which Elisabeth Sparkle endures as Moore clearly still has plenty of talent and recognition to continue being in projects. But, it is fair to say that Moore, as well as any actress or actor once at the height of the entertainment circuit, likely feels connection with this premise and if cast in such a role, they are able to bring a certain kind of presence that feels authentic.
Similarly, the films ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950) and ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?’ (1962) are both about aging actresses struggling with the reality of no longer being the famed stars they once were. More importantly, Gloria Swanson and Bette Davis who played these characters were once sought after actors in their glory days. Acting in dozens of films and being noted for their beauty, but at the time of these two films were older and featured in fewer films. Forgotten and discarded by the world that once held them in high esteem. ‘The Substance’ follows these classics with its similarly authentic feel from Moore. As the two aforementioned classics did in their time, ‘The Substance’ asks how actors or stars of any kind should adapt to changing times. Anyone looking for success in show business must go in with the knowledge that what one generation will envelope in praise will not be carried over into the next. Outside of its horror elements, ‘The Substance’ further encourages us to see our favorite Hollywood stars as people who will live and die just like us and will one day cease to have the spark they once had, not due to a lack of talent, but simply the sad reality of a changing world. In fact, we have films like ‘The Substance’ to thank for not only exploring these realities, but by giving work to actors such as Demi Moore.
No spoilers will be given, but all that a curious reader needs to know is that the final 30 minutes of ‘The Substance’ descend into uncontrollable insanity. The body horror aspect of the film is constantly building up throughout. The first sequence that is of prominent terror in body alterations and the following ones of a similar nature are as squeamish and creepy as one expects from the genre. However, it is all contained in the character’s sheltered celebrity world. The climax of the film finally sees the grotesque reality of Elisabeth’s starless life being showcased to all the world in a disturbingly gory fashion. More than being a nerve wracking experience, it connects with the rest of the film in the sense that the story is about more than just showing disturbing images and crazy sequences. This payoff gives a compelling bookend to the washed up actress angle that the film follows. What was once closeted in the confines of Elisabeth’s celebrity apartment is now out in the open for the whole world to see. It is a great insight into our own celebrity culture where what is presented to us about our favorite stars on social media or news outlets is often far from the reality. Obviously, your favorite celebrity likely does not have a secret younger double which ends up becoming a monstrous perversion. But, the film does serve a great reminder that we must not always take things at face value. The entire job of an actor is to put on a show and a facade, both on camera and most often in their own lives.
‘The Substance’ may appeal to an audience of a somewhat niche section in cinematic tastes, but it is worth watching for anyone in need of some great cinema. There is satire, black comedy, anxiety inducing sequences of horrifying body horror, and well realized commentary on celebrity culture. With modern horror films being a genre that most consider digestible and easy to predict, this acts as a fantastic breath of fresh air, hearkening to visual and content influences ranging from David Cronenberg and Terry Gilliam, but still managing to stand on its own in its qualities. Bolstered by great performances and a carefully crafted presentation from director Coralie Fargeat, it is very likely that ‘The Substance’ will not only be recognized as a significant film of the year, but go down as one of the shockingly great horror films in recent memory.
Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid
Director of Photography: Benjamin Kracun | Editors: Coralie Fargeat, Jerome Eltabet, Valentin Feron | Writer: Coralie Fargeat | Producers: Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner | Director: Coralie Fargeat
By Elijah van der Fluit
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
Elijah van der Fluit is a writer for The Hollywood Insider based in California with aspirations to write and direct films for a professional career. In his spare time, Elijah enjoys watching and discussing movies of all genres as well as reading, hiking, spending time with family, and being one with the world. Elijah believes that art, whatever form it may take, has the ability to inspire and broaden people’s perspectives in a positive way and he hopes to use his work in film and writing to do so.
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