Review: The Substance

Let me start by saying that I really, really can't stand body horror. In spite of that, The Substance is an impressive debut feature that successfully marries hyper‑stylized nightmare aesthetics with a satirical horror narrative.

The central premise really works . Demi Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading TV star who agrees to inject a mysterious liquid — “the Substance” — that births a radiantly youthful clone, Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. They must alternate consciousness every seven days to maintain the balance. The premise, part Faust, part Jekyll, sets the stage for a supremely grotesque but emotionally resonant dive into self-hatred, aging, and public erasure.

Qualley stuns as Sue: an incandescent, almost otherworldly presence whose magnetic confidence belies a deep instability. Moore delivers a career‑defining portrayal as Elisabeth, embodying a volatile blend of vulnerability, rage, and desperation. Their performances lift the film to become something more than grotesque spectacle.

Visually, Coralie Fargeat leans into a pop‑dystopian design language: fluorescent leotards, ultra‑modern architecture, and cold symmetrical corridors. The contrast between pastel dreamscapes and erupting gore is especially effective. Prosthetic effects, practical makeup, and nearly 5,500 gallons of fake blood deliver a tactile punch.

Where the film falters is in its thematic depth. The transformation scenes are unforgettable — but the emotional or psychological roots of Elisabeth’s crisis remain under-explored. The allegory of aging and vanity repeats itself without deeper insight, as the satire occasionally greys into superficial spectacle.

Still, it’s an impressive first feature. It dares and shocks in equal measure. If you can stomach the gore, the performances and design alone mark The Substance as a striking modern horror. Just be warned, you'd better be able to tolerate some squelching.