The Substanceexplores issues of ageism, misogyny, and the pursuit of youth through blunt force. It delves into the profound consequences of societal expectations and the objectification of women. At the heart of the story is the concept of a serum that allows individuals inThe Substanceto go too far to look youngand“better”. The protagonist, Elisabeth, and her younger self, Sue, grapple with the profound implications of their split existence. The result is a daring satire that challenges multiple aspects of modern society.
Demi Moore’s controversial body horrorrole highlights the ageist attitudes prevalent in today’s culture. The younger self, Sue, is often favored over the older Elisabeth, demonstrating the societal preference for youth and beauty. Thisage-based discriminationcreates a competitive dynamic between the two, further straining their cooperation with the serum’s rules. However, the movie’s story is much more complex than a straightforward battle between two competing personalities. In fact, just as important as the internal psychology of the story is how external perceptions shape our actions.
The Substance’s Split Self Is Based On Ageism
Age-Old Archetypes Of Maiden And Crone Divide Elisabeth
Vitally, the key principle the protagonist must remember aboutThe Substance’s serumis“REMEMBER YOU ARE ONE,” written in bold typography on the instruction cards. Both Elisabeth and Sue forget this principle and call to raise their concerns about each other’s behavior, and are reminded by the voice on the phone,“there is no her and you,”causing frustration for them both. This is important becausethe pair supposedly share consciousness. Sue could do anything but she chooses to retrace the path of Elisabeth’s career, creating a competitive dynamic and another public perception trap.
The two do not merely split into physically different selves. They cannot relate to each other and fail to share the same values and goals. This is partly due to being in different phases of life. The younger self is more selfish and narcissistic than the older self. However, it is important to note that this violent divide of self is alsocaused by external factors. Their integration is made impossible because of societal messaging. Harvey’s discard of Elisabeth, cruelly calling her an“old b**ch”on the phone, is contrasted with the casting of her“young”and“vivacious”replacement.
The Substance’s Harvey Represents The Male Gaze
Quaid’s Character Is Designed To Objectify And Reduce Elisabeth To Her Appearance
Dennis Quaid’s brilliantly odious performance as Harvey is a deliberately cartoonish representation of the male gaze. From pointedly glancing at a waitress as she turns her back to demanding“pretty girls should always smile,”Harvey’s executive decisions are influenced by this behavior. He makes both Elisabeth and Sue thevictims of the same system. Harvey’s role is critical to understanding the meaning ofThe Subtance.The satirical body horror sometimes makes it easy to believe it is designed to ridicule women’s aesthetic extremes in the pursuit of youth. However, that is a fundamental misreading.
…the serum is an abomination of creation by the spinal birth of a younger self, which is Elisabeth’s choice, but this is made possible by a more powerful creator pulling the strings.
Focusing too much on plastic surgery and Ozempic allegoriesignores the catalyst. This is never more clear than in theending ofThe Substance. Harvey is in the audience waiting for the New Year’s Eve show, sitting amongst several other suits. Hetakes credit for Sue being his“creation”and says he has“molded”her. This gives the movie a sick irony – the serum is an abomination of creation by the spinal birth of a younger self, which is Elisabeth’s choice, but this is made possible by a more powerful creator pulling the strings.
Another important consideration is Harvey’s (and, more poignantly, the audience’s) role as a consumer. His hideous meal of prawns at the start of the movie positions him (and the male gaze more broadly) as something with a ravenous and destructive appetite. His desire to be satiated is ultimately what will compel Elizabeth to seek out the Substance. While she still has autonomy (and notably could stop whenever she likes), Harvey’s hunger is a crucial contributing factor.
The Substance Subverts Creation To Demonstrate Consequences Of Misogyny
The Extreme Events Of The Third Act Are Rooted In The First
The Substancenever loses sight of themisogyny underpinning the eventsof the story.Demi Moore toldThe Guardian“We can be violent to ourselves,”and undoubtedly the extreme body horror and conflict between the selves highlights this point. However, the external gaze of society is used just as much as Elisabeth’s mirror image. For example, Elisabeth’s neighbor knocks angrily at the door believing her to be in the apartment doing DIY. When Sue comes to the door, his attitude about the noise completely changes, demonstrating pretty privilege.
The motorcyclist who has previously slept with Sue looks at Elisabeth as she stands in front of his bike, but asSue does not look like Elisabeth inThe Substance,he does not recognize her. This echoes the experience of feeling invisible as an older woman. In a way, the stereotypical crone form of Elisabeth is freer than both Sue and Elisabeth, able to tell the neighbor to“f*** off.”Theconsequences of both the objectifying and dismissive forms of misogynyplay out inThe Subtance’s climax – it is telling that Sue’s smile is the first thing to go.
