How The Substance Highlights That Sometimes Your Own Worst Enemy is Yourself

The Substance offers a powerful critique of rigid beauty standards that define a woman’s worth through youth and appearance. It explores the emotional and psychological toll of ageism and self-hatred, showing how these societal pressures lead to internalized violence. Through its portrayal of a woman grappling with these norms, the film challenges these destructive expectations and offers a profound exploration of how they shape a woman’s identity and sense of autonomy.

 

Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film follows Elizabeth Sparkle, an actress whose career seems to have plateaued by the time she turns 50. When she learns that her popular aerobics show is being replaced by a younger woman, a mysterious serum called The Substance unexpectedly comes into her life, offering her a chance to reclaim her youth.

 

While societal pressures have long impacted women, The Substance effectively highlights how self-hatred can be the most destructive force of all. In a movie filled with disgusting body horror, buckets of blood, and a clear intent to shock audiences at every turn, it’s this understated scene that becomes the most terrifying — and the most relatable. Elizabeth prepares for a date while already in distress, having just been fired from her aerobics show and resorting to taking The Substance. As she stares at her reflection in the mirror, she starts to question what she’s seeing. It’s when she’s about to head out the door and notices her distorted image in the doorknob that she stops in her tracks, with the realization pushing her over the edge. In a breakdown, she aggressively wipes the makeup off her face, allowing the self-hatred to take over. This all-too familiar scene was painfully relatable for many of us who have grappled with body issues, turning even the simplest tasks — like getting ready — into daunting challenges.

 

 

Demi Moore’s role in The Substance is deeply meta, reflecting her own struggles with ageism in Hollywood. Much like her character, Elizabeth Sparkle, Moore has faced the industry’s harsh standards, where women are often defined by their youth and appearance. Additionally, Moore has been open about her battles with an eating disorder during her younger years, shedding light on the intense pressure to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. Recently, in her Golden Globes speech, Moore candidly addressed these pressures, calling out Hollywood’s obsession with youth and its tendency to sideline women as they age. Her casting in The Substance adds a profound layer of authenticity, making the film’s critique of beauty standards and ageism feel both deeply personal and powerfully resonant.

 

The Substance shines a light on the self-saboteur within — a woman’s own worst enemy — fueled by constant comparisons to others and relentless reminders from society that ageing diminishes her value. This unyielding pressure, equating ageing with “ageing out,” is powerfully critiqued in the film. Coralie Fargeat’s direction, shaped by her own perspective as a woman, brings a level of authenticity and relatability that allows the story to deeply connect with female audiences, capturing emotions and experiences that often feel overlooked or misunderstood.

 

Watch The Substance, playing at TIFF Bell Lightbox on February 13th

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