“The Substance”: The old woman, a monster (cinema release 19.9.)
Published: Friday, Sep 13th 2024, 12:00
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Dripping body cavities, slippery intestines and Margaret Qualley crawling out of Demi Moore's back. "The Substance" is by far the most bizarre movie of the year.
As with the eponymous substance, it is difficult to recommend the feminist horror film, which will be released in Swiss cinemas next Thursday, without mentioning a number of side effects (a lot of blood).
In a scene in Coralie Fargeat's new film, Demi Moore's character gets ready for a date and keeps going to the mirror for fear of looking old. More blush, more mascara, more eye shadow. Cover up, touch up, sculpt. Repeat.
None of it helps. For a woman, body horror means registering a wrinkle, and Fargeat's lens zooms deep into the Hollywood actress's facial bulges and crow's feet. Discouraged, she wipes off her red lipstick. She will stay at home that evening.
It's one of the most heartbreaking moments in a stylish movie full of body splatter, played by a 61-year-old actress who - to put it bluntly - is acting out her own story (she may have a better fate than her character).
Fear of ageing
In the 90s, she was one of the biggest female movie stars and sex symbols of her time. Robert Redford's billionaire shelled out a fortune for a night of love with her in "An Immoral Offer".
But in recent years she has repeatedly made headlines for her youthful appearance, almost as if she had replaced herself with a younger version of herself. In "The Substance", this is exactly what is dealt with in order to say something about the role of women and the fear and disgust of age.
She plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading Hollywood actress turned television aerobics instructor - much to the chagrin of her producer, played by a smarmy Dennis Quaid ("The Day After Tomorrow"), who would like to replace her with a "young whippersnapper".
Complete rejuvenation
By chance, Elisabeth learns of a miracle cure that promises a completely different kind of rejuvenation. She doesn't hesitate for long. She injects the green poison into her arm and a "better version of herself" bursts out of her back like the creature in "Alien".
This is Sue, played by Margaret Qualley ("Kinds of Kindness"), who deliberately looks like a horny, male teenage fantasy. There is only one rule: the young counterpart is only allowed to walk the earth for seven days at a time - while Elizabeth is basically hibernating - before they swap places again.
But Sue simply enjoys the attention too much, while Demi Moore's character shrivels into an old woman in fast motion. This leads to a grand guignol finale that does credit to Fargeat's influences, from Brian De Palma to David Cronenberg and John Carpenter.
Award for best screenplay in Cannes
It seemed impossible to top the legendary bloodbath in her debut film "Revenge" (2017), but that's exactly what the French director and screenwriter does here. Despite its title, "The Substance", which was honored with the screenplay prize in Cannes, has more style than substance, but it is grotesque body horror in a class of its own.
The film makes the aged female body monstrous, and Demi Moore, who slips into her best movie role in decades, parodies her public image with verve. To quote another unforgettable, soul-mate movie from the 90s: death suits her.
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