The trailer
The substance was directed by Coralie Fargeat, and it's a feminist body horror satire. The movie tells the story of an aging Hollywood star who takes a mysterious black market cellular replicating drug. This drug creates a younger ideal version of herself. The only challenge is that these two entities must share time and vital resources.
Elizabeth Sparkle, in the movie, is an academy award-winning actress whose fame has waned, leaving her hosting a long running TV show. On her 50th birthday, her studio executive fires her because of her age, seeking a younger face to drive network ratings. Elizabeth Sparkle, who was devastated and desperate to remain relevant, received a tip about the substance, a serum that causes her body to divide, which births a younger and vibrant alter ego named Sue. This procedure came with three strict, non-negotiable rules: the two bodies must switch consciousness after every seven days; while one body is active, the other would be resting. Secondly, the bodies aren't two different people, but are one mind experiencing both lives, and finally, the balance must be respected.
Sue, the other body, quickly lands Elizabeth's former TV slot, achieving meteoric stardom. Soon Sue, drunk on adoration, began siphoning additional spinal fluid from the dormant Elizabeth Sparkle to extend her active days past the seven-day limit. Soon the consequences came, with each extra day, Sue inflicting rapid, accelerating aging and decay on Elizabeth's original body. As self-hatred, resentment, and vanity drive a wedge between the two halves of the same persona, their feud escalates into horrific physical mutilation and a wild, blood-soaked climax.
The film takes place in a stylized, hypersaturated version of Los Angeles and Hollywood that feels timeless yet artificial, and one of the strengths of the movie is its fearless performance, where both characters deliver great performances based on their roles. The movie also has masterful practical effects, making the physical horror feel tangible.
However, there are always critics of every movie, and in this one, some reviewers noted that its core message which is; how society cannibalizes women as they age is incredibly blunt rather than subtle, making the film feel repetitive before its explosive finale.
What makes the movie a must watch is the ultimate audience experience. The final 30 minutes take the horror, gore, and dark comedy to extreme levels rarely seen in mainstream cinema, leaving a visual impression that lingers long after the credits roll.
Rating: 80/100
