An actress at the precipice of her career’s decline is offered the Fountain of Youth and one dose of “The Substance.” This incredible piece of cinema by writer, director, and editor Coralie Fargeat is so much more than you’d expect from a feminist middle finger to aging and the underbelly of Hollywood’s misogyny—or any career, for that matter. The story left me reeling on so many levels—as a woman, a middle-aged woman, a horror/gore lover and writer, and even a philosophy student. The film’s depth and symbolism hit me hard, and even after seeing it three times, I’m still thinking about it.
Writing and Themes
Fargeat’s storytelling is nuanced, particularly in how it portrays women aging and the complexities of their relationships. The dynamic between the two female leads develops beautifully, evolving from compassion and fear to disdain and resentment. It’s not just a case of one being “good” and the other “bad”; both characters are fully fleshed out, showing how they wrestle with wanting to be good while also battling their selfish sides. This film struck a chord with me on a personal level. I couldn’t help but think about icons like Jane Fonda here—how she dominated the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, and whether she faced choices in her career that weren’t fully hers.
The themes of aging, agency, and career relevance were deeply woven into the script, much like Catherine Breillat’s À ma sœur! or the unapologetic violence of Baise-Moi by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi. There’s a rawness here, similar to Julia Ducournau’s work in Raw and Titane, but Fargeat adds her own spin. What really stood out was how the film doesn’t just depict a woman’s body but explores it in all its aging complexities, without glamorizing or sexualizing it.
Cinematography and Art Direction
Visually, this film is stunning. The cinematography embraces extreme close-ups that challenge the viewer, putting the gore and violence right in your face. Whether it’s sutures, shrimp-eating, or characters’ lips, the camera never shies away. This immersive style isn’t about distance—it’s about forcing you to confront the visceral reality. The way Fargeat uses extreme close-ups, particularly with the body horror elements, shows a level of boldness that many filmmakers avoid.
This style reminded me of directors who refuse to flinch, such as Cronenberg. There’s no medium shot to make you feel safe; you’re in the minutiae of it all, and it’s both exhilarating and uncomfortable. The art direction, though set in the present, gives off strong ’80s vibes. It had me thinking that if this film had an “East Coast brother,” it would be American Psycho with Patrick Bateman—those slick wardrobe choices and the stylistic homage to the ’80s were intentional and brilliant.
Sound Design and Music
The soundtrack and sound design are just as crucial as the visuals. From the very first scene, when Sue emerges, there’s a vacuum-like effect that feels like being submerged underwater. It’s as though the film is pulling you into its discomfort. As you watch the gory scenes, especially with Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, the clinical and almost repulsive nature of their nudity is underscored by the sound. There’s no sexy glamour—it’s all stark and unsettling.
Dennis Quaid’s character, the sharp-tongued Hollywood producer, has his own sonic world. The sound shifts with his scenes—harsh, flashy, and aggressive. It’s an extension of his misogynistic and brash personality. The way sound is used to reflect character dynamics is masterful, with sharp zips and slashes that feel just as intentional as the dialogue or visuals. Every element is working in tandem to create this fully immersive experience.
Audience Reactions and Final Thoughts
I’ve seen this film three times, and each experience was so different. The first time, there were only a few men in the theater, and the silence was eerie. The gore hits right from the start, and if you have a weak stomach, it’s definitely not a film to watch while munching on chicken wings. I left that screening completely overwhelmed, texting my friends, “Wow, wow, I don’t know what I just saw.”
The second time, the cinema was packed with both men and women, and the reactions were much louder. People laughed, gasped, and reacted to the film’s wild moments. Some men had this “oh boy” machismo reaction, but mostly, the crowd was in on the film’s humor and feminist undertones. The third time was another packed theater, and I was able to focus more on the technical aspects of the film—how the acts are structured, how the script arcs from start to finish, and how every detail is so intentional.
In the end, this film transcends its genre. It’s not just about gore or horror—it’s a philosophical, artistic exploration of aging, power, and the female body. The third act is an especially bold statement, delivering a huge middle finger to the idea that women lose value as they age. I knew within the first 10 minutes that this film was an instant cult classic. It’s rare to see something this evolved, this provocative, and this unapologetically feminist in mainstream cinema.
This is the kind of film that demands multiple viewings, and each time, you’ll discover something new. The visceral cinematography, immersive sound design, and complex themes all come together to make The Substance a truly groundbreaking piece of art cinema.
Movies That Came to Mind During My Watch
As I watched The Substance, so many films came to mind, reflecting the film’s thematic depth, body horror elements, and stylistic choices. Here’s a list of the movies that surfaced while I watched:
- Looker – The exploration of beauty, control, and manipulation, especially within the Hollywood system.
- American Psycho – The film’s sharp critique of excess and the ‘80s vibe really reminded me of this satirical psychological thriller.
- Feast – For its creature feature horror and unpredictable moments that subvert the genre.
- Titane and Raw – Julia Ducournau’s unapologetic body horror and exploration of visceral, grotesque transformations in her characters.
- Dead Ringers – Cronenberg’s classic, with its focus on identity, control, and the human body as a vessel for horror.
- The “Let’s Get Physical” music video with Olivia Newton-John – This came to mind during the moments of critique on the female body and fitness culture.
- Cronenberg’s The Fly – A natural connection given the exploration of the grotesque changes in the body and the terror that comes with transformation.
- Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool – Another film that dissects identity, pleasure, and violence in surreal and disturbing ways.
- The Stuff – For its critique of consumerism and how substances can control or harm people, paired with some fun body horror.
- L’Interieur – A French horror classic that comes to mind for its intense, personal body horror and shocking violence.
- House (1986) – For its wild, creative take on horror and surreal sequences.
- The Brood – Again, body horror, motherhood, and the grotesque meet perfectly here, aligning with some of the themes in The Substance.
- Rosemary’s Baby – Themes of control over women’s bodies, pregnancy, and male dominance over female agency.
- T is for Torture Porn (from The ABCs of Death) – A short that blends female empowerment and horror, with an unflinching look at objectification in the industry.
These films all swirled in my mind as I watched The Substance, drawing connections between body horror, feminist themes, and cinematic storytelling that challenges the audience. Each of them in some way shares the bold, unflinching, and visceral qualities that make The Substance such an unforgettable experience.
