As the premiere of our latest “Female Directors” screening series, this week the Film Society presents The Substance (2024), the gory horror by female director Coralie Fargeat.
A grotesque fusion of body horror, dark satire, and feminist commentary, The Substance tells the story of Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading Hollywood celebrity who injects a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself, Sue, only to face catastrophic and surreal consequences. Featuring tour-de-force performances by Demi Moore as the desperate aging star and Margaret Qualley as her ruthless youthful alter ego, the film launches a scathing critique of beauty standards, ageism in the entertainment industry, and the destructive pursuit of eternal youth. Its unapologetically graphic imagery and visceral exploration of identity makes it one of the most provocative and talked-about films of 2024.
