The Substance

Cert - 18,

Run-time - 2 hours 21 minutes,

Director - Coralie Fargeat

Fading celebrity Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) takes a mysterious drug which creates a younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley), however the lives must be balanced or both suffer physical consequences.

Whenever a new body horror comes along the term 'Cronenbergian' is frequently thrown around. It's a go-to term - as Get Out has become for Black horror - for the sub-genre, however for writer-director Coralie Fargeat's sophomore feature the comparison is deserved.The satirical edges of The Substance bring to mind the jabs seen in Crash and Videodrome, with the blood and gore used to amplify the themes at hand.

Taking down age and beauty standards, we follow Sparkle. After being fired from her daytime fitness show she's involved, unscathed, in a car crash. At the hospital a young doctor slips her a note about 'The Substance' - a drug claiming to make a younger, better version of the taker. With this promise, Elisabeth injects and from her emerges Sue (Qualley); a figure who (reminded that they are one) Elisabeth must balance her life with or face the consequences.

As Sue's fame grows, via a much more sexualised fitness show, the 7-days-on 7-days-off routine is quickly broken. In comes some excellent prosthetics work to build-up the growing body horror. There's a sense of fascination as to how Elisabeth will deal with the changes, backed by a subtle dread around whether she'll continue to use The Substance for the sake of 'her' career.

While rarely on-screen when both conscious, sparks fly between the pair as their lives contrast. Elisabeth isolates herself, growing bitter and jealous of Sue's looks and fame. Whilst watching a late-night interview with her double the former conjures in witchlike manner with an array of bubbling and sizzling pots and pans in her kitchen. A moment of comedic spite amongst the concern for her at hand.

Contrasting with one of the film's best scenes which simply involves Moore and a bathroom mirror. Preparing to go out for dinner with an old friend she tries multiple make-up combinations, increasingly losing faith in her looks. Her eyes full of frustration, self-doubt and uncertainty. Self-love and care have vanished as her personal mental and physical battle is enhanced with her conflict with Sue, who looks more like the ideal created by Dennis Quaid's slimy, scene-stealing TV producer Harvey (a name which you can't help but think was chosen specifically).

As the third act approaches the body horror and prosthetics increase without feeling for the sake of mindless gore. Everything is contained in the satire. Leading to greater individual and combined effects for major reveals. Although not afraid to get its hands dirty, for the most part The Substance isn't an all out film, although when it goes for it it does so with strong 18-rated drive. A film that the themes and images of which will stir for a good while after, The Substance is a film with bite. Sinking its teeth in so that the marks remain days after.

Four stars