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Overview
Directed by Coralie Fargeat and released in 2024, The Substance is a body horror film about society's obsession with youth and beauty
. The narrative centers on Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a fading Hollywood star who, after being dismissed by her producer due to her age, resorts to a black-market drug that manifests a younger, “better” version of herself, Sue (Margaret Qualley). As Elisabeth is forced to deal with the growing cost of her hunger for beauty and self-preservation, the film explores ideas of externally-dictated identity, the heavy toll of self-hatred, and the societal pressures imposed on aging women. The film has been both praised and criticized for its grotesque, hyperrealistic imagery and use of satire; some critics believe it’s the first in a new future of body horror movies, and others are skeptical of its narratives on aging and women in the workplace. The film premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where Fargeat won Best Screenplay, and was nominated for five Academy Awards (including Best Actress and Best Picture) in 2025.Read a full plot summary of the movie, and in-depth analysis of Elisabeth Sparkle, and an essay about what the movie's ending means.
