The substance ( 2024)

[Pink ranger]

This is my favourite movie this year. It is completely batshit but with a strong message and heart throughout.

Summary: Demi Moore is the lead and plays Elizabeth Sparkle, an Oscar winning actress who transitioned to a fitness tv host in her later years and gets fired on her 50th birthday for daring to be 50 as a women in showbiz. She later gets offered “ the substance “ that essentially clones a younger 20 something version of her. The catch is that the consciousnesses has to swap between the two every 7 days. But the rule isn’t followed and havoc ensures 

It’s been out a month and I put spoiler tags so … watching the systemic degeneration of Elizabeth’s body after Sue got the NYE gig and kept extending her fair share was a wild ride. The only part that went too far for me that I could not watch was when Sue beat Elizabeth to death, too much like ( was) elder abuse. The full on Carrie moment at the NYE party was absurd enough for me to enjoy. The best scene was when Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to leave her apartment for her date because she was too self critical of her looks. That was heartbreaking and relatable.  

In summary: go run to see this movie- yesterday- it’s fabulous and utterly original! But don’t eat anything while watching it. You will regret it 🤢.

 

[hypnotoad]

I really loved this movie and I agree, it's probably the best one I've seen this year. I've never been a big Demi Moore fan, but she is terrific in this. I'm sure she brought some of her experiences of daring to age in Hollywood into this role.

My sister saw this too and recommended it. Though she isn't really into horror or body horror! I have a feeling she was covering her eyes a few times. Even a horror hound like myself gets a bit squeamish with the body horror stuff.

The Sue beating Elizabeth to death was probably the toughest scene for me. I agree the elder abuse was hard to watch. The ending was bonkers and I loved it.

Pink Ranger have you seen the directors first movie Revenge? Overall it is beyond ridiculous, but I don't care I absolutely enjoyed it too!

[Pink ranger]

No, I haven’t seen Revenge but I will keep a look out for it. Thanks.

[Helena Dax]

Some people left the cinema throughout the movie. I'm pretty tough when it comes to gore, but I had to close my eyes when Harvey was eating prawns: those close shots of his mouth were disgusting!

I really loved the movie. The story isn't exactly brand new, but I liked the way it was told. It vas visually stunning and disturbing at the same time and the story also had a lot of layers: for example, I like the fact that Elizabeth was at her happiest when she didn't have a body anymore. 

Both actresses did a great job and I'd be surprised if Demi doesn't get an Oscar nomination, Highly recommended unless you have a squeamish stomach!

 

[Spartan Girl]

Well, that gave The Fly a run for its money.

[methodwriter85]

It really bothers me that this is a reflection on aging and why we need to let go all vanity towards aging but then we have Demi Moore playing 50 years old instead of 60. Her character was a famous actress- of course she would have had surgical tweaks.

[EtheltoTillie]

It’s a little too long but well done. It reminds me of three movies. The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Fly, and Seconds, starring Rock Hudson, directed by John Frankenheimer. 

I wish I had an explanation for how they recruit the young member of the pair to be in the experiment. 

Or is it another version of the original self?

[Helena Dax]

22 hours ago, EtheltoTillie said:

It’s a little too long but well done. It reminds me of three movies. The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Fly, and Seconds, starring Rock Hudson, directed by John Frankenheimer. 

I wish I had an explanation for how they recruit the young member of the pair to be in the experiment. 

Or is it another version of the original self?

Do you mean the younger version? I'd say he or she is created thanks to the substance, based on the genes of the older person. 

[EtheltoTillie]

3 hours ago, Helena Dax said:

Do you mean the younger version? I'd say he or she is created thanks to the substance, based on the genes of the older person. 

Thanks!  That sounds like my second guess. 

[slowpoked]

Saw this while on a plane ride, and it’s a really amazing movie, except, I still don’t know how to process that batshit third act. Maybe this would have been a stronger movie had it ended differently? It really perked me up when they were able to “hack” the process and co-exist as two separate humans. But everything that happened after that kind of baffled me.

Demi was really great in this. I haven’t seen her in anything for awhile, and this was a great comeback (if this is what it is). Some were arguing that Mikey edged out Demi on Oscars night due to being in the movie more than Demi (which I guess is a fair argument, Demi was not on it when it was Sue’s 7 days), but I find Demi’s acting more compelling and interesting than Mikey’s. Especially that scene where she was getting ready for her date, and then kept on coming back to change her appearance, and then eventually just bailing out on the poor guy - all without a single line of dialogue. Very heartbreaking.