The Substance

Elisabeth Sparkle, renowned for an aerobics show, faces a devastating blow on her 50th birthday as her boss fires her. Amid her distress, a laboratory offers her a substance which promises to transform her into an enhanced version of herself. (Google)

We’ve watched The Substance despite our fear to end up with another movie like Smile (which we dislike). And I’m very glad we did! In my many years watching horror and crazy movies of all genres, I’ve never seen something like this.

First, the cinematography is beyond excellent. Each scene is perfectly crafted to fit the vibe of the movie. From the font used for the substance (yes, I love fonts) to the music or the design of each room, everything is impeccable.

Demi Moore redefines what it means to “give it all”. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen anyone committing this much to a role, her performance is fantastic. Dennis Quaid and Margaret Qualley are perfect fits too.

While the movie starts as a satire of how a male dominated showbiz easily discards aging women, it ends up completely out-of-this-world batshit crazy. I must warn people who are easily squeamish, this may not be the right movie for you!

We had a fantastic time watching The Substance. It left us half baffled and half philosophizing about aging gracefully in a world that pushes youth everywhere you look.