The minimalist teaser for The Substance danced across our cinema screens then seemingly disappeared with little to no accompanying marketing in the outside world. Not much could be derived from the trailer other than you never want to have to see an extreme close-up of Denis Quaid eating prawns again. And then came the reviews. Spend 10 minutes reading up about this film and you’ll know (for better or worse) it’s like nothing you’ve seen before.
Coralie Fargeat’s latest Directorial endeavour plays in the horror satire world, exploring society’s fixation on youth and beauty through a chilling narrative about an aging Hollywood star. Demi Moore is Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister grappling with diminishing relevance. In a desperate attempt to regain her youth, she tries an experimental treatment known as “The Substance.” The drug creates a younger duplicate of herself, portrayed by Margaret Qualley, who must share her life with Elisabeth on an alternating schedule, igniting a tense battle for control and attention.
Fargeat dives headfirst into metaphor with this, blending reality and imagination so freely that you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a dream you’re only half awake for. It’s clear the film isn’t meant to be taken too literally—this is a visual and emotional maze, a playground for the mind. Themes bubble up like strange, symbolic potions (the nods at witchcraft are a particular highlight), hinting at big questions about control, identity, and fear. That said, the logic sometimes slips through your fingers like smoke, and not every twist connects perfectly. You’ll have moments where you’re scratching your head, wondering if you missed a beat or if the movie just threw logic out the window for the fun of it. But don’t overthink it, just embrace the chaos and enjoy the experience.
The performances in The Substance are a wild ride all on their own. Moore delivers an electrifying mix of intensity and vulnerability, pulling off that rare feat where you’re half in awe and half terrified of what they’ll do next. Alongside Moore, Qualley and Quaid also bought fully into the eerie, mind-bending world they’ve been thrown into, leaving egos at the door and clearly having a great time in the process. Everyone’s all-in here, and it shows—they don’t just carry the story, they fling it right at you like it’s going to explode any second.
Verdict: The Substance is a bold, mind-bending journey that thrives on atmosphere and is as unnerving as it is absurd, even if it sometimes stumbles over its own logic. Fargeat’s bold vision and the cast’s fearless commitment make it an experience that’s hard to forget. If you’re ready to dive into a world where sense and reality are secondary to raw, unapologetic spectacle, The Substance will not disappoint.