The Substance. 2024. USA/UK. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. With Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid. DCP courtesy MUBI. 141 min.
Genre mash-up, sharp social satire, practical-effects-heavy body-horror—The Substance is many things all at once, and it all adds up to the buzziest indie film of 2024. Though this is only her second feature, Coralie Fargeat’s unique, audacious style announces her as a new talent on the international film scene, while she also pays homage to filmmakers from Stanley Kubrick and Brian De Palma to Frank Henenlotter. Demi Moore (at her very best) is Elisabeth Sparkle, a TV fitness superstar who is unceremoniously dumped by her network (embodied by a very slimy Dennis Quaid) on her 50th birthday. A chance encounter leads her to try the titular Substance, a mysterious serum that promises a “younger, more beautiful, more perfect” version of herself—quite literally, as it turns out. Soon, she is splitting her consciousness (sort of) and body (in a way) with Sue, an embodiment of physical perfection played by Margaret Qualley. Fargeat’s sharp script (a winner at the Cannes Film Festival) continually ups the ante until exploding into a remarkable finale.