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Buckle up! Demi Moore has made her acting come back with her latest film, The Substance, in an attempt to plunge into the muddy waters of horrifying standards of beauty in Hollywood. After stunning fans with her performance in award-winning psychological movies like Passion of Mind (2000) and Moral Thoughts (1991), Moore returned just to ignite wild controversies with her 2024 new daring horror feature.
Demi Moore in The Substance | image: Mubi Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film is designed as a subtle psychological horror drama that takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride, highlighting the absurd lengths to which a middle-aged actress would go to reclaim her position and visibility in an industry obsessed with youth.
Spoiler Alert !!!
Spoiler Alert for The Substance
Demi Moore’s The Substance Unravels the Toxic Beauty Standards in the Industry
Considering how Demi Moore often returns to the silver screen with a big bang, the actress maintained the trend even with her latest film, The Substance. Going steadfast from the very first frame, Moore’s movie didn’t hold back while blatantly attacking the bizarre and superficial beauty standards of Hollywood.
As we dive into Coralie Fargeat’s movie, within the first 30 seconds alone, we’re taken through the protagonist Elizabeth Sparkle’s (Demi Moore) rapid rise and painful fall within Hollywood. The opening shot itself highlights how Elizabeth was once an A-lister, with admirers flocking to her Walk of Fame plaque, who, unfortunately, lost it all with her growing age and fleeting beauty.
Demi Moore as Elizabeth Sparkle in The Substance | image: Mubi Now, this is where the plot takes a sour turn when Elizabeth overhears her boss, Harvey (a possible nod to the industry’s predatory nature), demanding a younger replacement on her 50th birthday. This particular moment screams the harsh reality faced by women in Hollywood, where age is treated as a flaw rather than an asset.
Surprisingly, right after she realizes that she’s on the brink of losing access to the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle, a mysterious company offers her a “substance” that promises to rejuvenate her. Now this is where Elizabeth’s choice takes a terrifying turn as she literally births a younger and industry-suited version of herself.
Demi Moore’s The Substance thus provides a deep reflection on self-worth. Exploring the absurdities of societal expectations, the film depicts how the quest for unattainable beauty standards can lead to self-destruction. With its unapologetic portrayal of body image and aging, Moore’s movie makes viewers question the cost of perfection.
Fans Rally in Support of Demi Moore’s 2024 Psychological Thriller
Certainly, in a society with differing views on beauty standards, Demi Moore’s The Substance received mixed reviews. However, despite all odds, fans have rallied behind the movie, embracing its underlying message. Highlighting nuances in the film that critics may have overlooked, netizens took to X, to engage in fierce discussions.
Demi Moore in a still from The Substance | image: Mubi Celebrating Demi Moore’s raw performance, viewers quickly pointed out that the movie is more than just a psychological horror—it reflects the internal challenges faced by several women in the spotlight. Although a handful of people wondered why Moore might look for substance in the film, given how ravishing she looks, netizens emphasized the burden of self-doubt and societal pressure.
People being like “Demi Moore is so hot why would she use the substance?” when that’s kinda the point. She’s unbelievably gorgeous but even she can’t escape beauty standards and insecurities. https://t.co/TW3h7bASqH
— Reagan (@Reagans_ratings) October 15, 2024like the whole point of the movie is self hatred and how you cannot believe you’ll ever be good enough, so you self sabotage
— 𝓑𝓐𝓡𝓑𝓘𝓔 𝓓𝓐𝓝𝓖𝓔𝓡𝓞𝓤𝓢 (@crocodile_pvssy) October 15, 2024Especially that scene where she’s getting ready to go out on a date and looks amazing but keeps being haunted by Sue’s face until she breaks down and misses the date – it really captured how comparing distorts your perspective
— 🎃Alicia Blum🎃☮️4🇵🇸🇨🇩🇸🇩 (@MeetAliciaBlum) October 15, 2024Exactly. The whole “she’s too 😍 to struggle with that” mindset just highlights how deeply ingrained beauty standards and insecurities are. No one is immune, not even people society holds up🤝 as ideal. It’s a reminder that external beauty doesn't shield anyone from inner battles…
— Rahul Dhawariya (@rr_dh96) October 16, 2024When people say, "Demi Moore is so beautiful, why would she use substances?" they often forget that even the most beautiful individuals can grapple with insecurities. Beauty doesn't protect anyone from their inner struggles.
— Satyam Dubey (@PixelOne3X) October 15, 2024It's a complex issue that speaks to deeper societal expectations and the lengths people feel they must go to meet them.
— Ramesh Godara (@Ramesh_Bmr4) October 16, 2024Thereafter, social media went abuzz with discussions about important scenes. Emphasizing that The Substance is not just about a woman’s obsession with youth, netizens noted that the film is a commentary on an industry that constantly pushes women to measure their worth against impossible standards. Overall, fans praised the film for addressing the complex issues surrounding beauty, aging, and self-worth.
The Substance is currently running at your nearest theater.
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