The Substance [Movie Review]

The Substance [Movie Review] | Demi Moore as an ugly person? Can she be ugly? This I got to see.

SYNOPSIS

The Substance (2024) Trivia

• Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley & Dennis Quaid

• Director: Coralie Fargeat
• Producer: Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner
• Production Company: Working Title Films & Blacksmith

• Distributed by: Mubi & Metropolitan Filmexport

• Release date: November 6, 2024

• Running time: 141 minutes

• Rating: Mature Adult

• Country: United States, France & United Kingdom

• Language: English

• IMDb: 7.5 / 10
• Tomatometer: 90%
• Metascore: 78%
• Ray Liotta was cast in the film in February 2022 but passed away in May before filming his scenes. Dennis Quaid stepped in to replace him, yet Liotta still receives a heartfelt mention in the director's "Thank You Notes" in the credits.
• Margaret Qualley shared in interviews that her breasts in the movie are actually prosthetics crafted by French makeup artist Pierre Olivier Persin. 
• Demi Moore admitted feeling nervous and vulnerable about filming full nudity at 61. However, she credited her co-star, 29-year-old Margaret Qualley, who also performed nude, for helping her feel at ease. 
• Elisabeth is 50 years old in the movie - Demi is 61 years old.

Elisabeth, once a dazzling, beautiful and energetic Hollywood star, finds herself at a crossroads on her 50th birthday. Fired from her aerobics TV show by producer Harvey, who sees her as too old, Elisabeth spirals into despair. Distracted by the sight of a billboard showing her image being taken down, she crashes her car. At the hospital, a young nurse slips her a flash drive with information on "The Substance"—an illicit serum promising a more youthful and perfect self.

Intrigued and desperate, mostly desperate, Elisabeth orders The Substance. The single-use serum has an astonishing effect: a younger version of herself, Sue, is born from a slit in her back. The two now share a body, swapping consciousness every seven days. When one is active, the other remains unconscious, sustained by intravenous feeding. Sue needs daily injections of stabilizer fluid drawn from Elisabeth's body to prevent decay. The duo follows the rule to the T.

Sue quickly becomes the darling of Hollywood, even landing a prime spot as host of the network’s New Year's Eve Show. Elisabeth, meanwhile, sinks into self-loathing, her body beginning to show signs of neglect whenever Sue delays their scheduled swaps. One night, Sue’s partying causes Elisabeth's index finger to age rapidly. The supplier warns Elisabeth of the irreversible consequences if the routine isn't strictly followed, yet tensions grow. Despite sharing one consciousness, the women see each other as enemies: Elisabeth blames Sue for her increasing physical decay, while Sue scorns Elisabeth's self-pity.

Their animosity boils over when Sue hoards the stabilizer fluid, refusing to switch. Three months later, the night before the New Year's show, Sue runs out of stabilizer. Forced to swap, Elisabeth awakens, now grotesque and deformed. In a desperate bid to end the cycle, Elisabeth attempts to poison Sue but hesitates, still yearning for admiration. Sue, enraged, retaliates and kills Elisabeth.

But Sue’s triumph is short-lived. Her body, now unstable, mutates horrifyingly. Desperate, she misuses the serum, creating a monstrous entity, “Monstro Elisasue.” 

Can she regain her fame?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• OMG! The movie is horrific, gory and engaging too.  
• Don't watch it with your kids - nudity is a lot in the movie.
• Don't watch it if you have a weak stomach.

What I Don't Like:

• None, I would say.

Will I Watch It Again: Yes, I would.  

Overall: 4.6/ 5.0

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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