For the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Nerdophiles had the chance to sit down and discuss the profound themes of self-acceptance and the inner battles we all face with Coralie Fargeat (Revenge), writer and director of the profoundly complex horror film The Substance. The film begins when a popular TV star, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore, G.I. Jane) is presented with a mysterious substance that will ‘make her dreams come true’ after a truly horrific 50th birthday. This Substance temporarily creates a younger and more attractive version of herself in the form of Sue (Margaret Qualley, Poor Things), which leads to more problems than rewards. The film’s unique narrative structure allows it to deeply explore the psychological complexity of its characters, with a particular focus on how external appearances, unrealistic beauty standards, and internal conflicts shape our identities.
In Elisabeth and Sue’s shared consciousness, Fargeat emphasizes that while the characters are connected, their consciousnesses are distinct, sharing: “The idea was to suggest a kind of reincarnation. They are the same person, but their minds are different due to their new bodies, which changes their relationship with the world.”
This nuanced perspective challenges the audience to consider how our physical forms influence our thoughts and behaviors, highlighting a deeper commentary on identity and self-perception. As Elisabeth & Sue’s complex feelings towards each other shift and the story unfolds, when self-acceptance does come, it may just be too late. The film’s exploration of identity and self-perception is a thought-provoking journey that will resonate with the audience and encourage them to reflect on their own experiences.
On the battle within and what their journey to self-acceptance teaches audiences, Fargeat told us: “Inside us, there is a big fight. We all have different voices that judge us or make us feel inadequate. The film illustrates how these inner conflicts shape our sense of self, with Elisabeth’s journey reflecting the struggle to reconcile with all parts of herself. The “monster” figure represents Elisabeth’s first moment of genuine tenderness and acceptance toward herself.”
This helps the film underscore the importance of appreciating every single stage and moment of life, not just in our youth and challenges us to celebrate and accept aging as it comes. On the non-linear and continuous path to self-compassion, Fargeat echoed this by saying, “We should live in a state of love and acceptance as much as possible. It’s the most difficult and true fight.”
While Elisabeth and Sue’s path to self-acceptance was hindered in part by the men who controlled their careers, particularly Harvey (Dennis Quaid, The Long Game), Quaid was the perfect actor to portray this villainous character, who embodied the toxic male archetype central to the film’s heightened reality.
On Dennis Quaid’s Role as the “Puppeteer,” Fargeat told us: “He loved the idea of representing all the problematic, toxic male symbols. The world of the movie is pushed to the max, and he understood that every detail in his role was purposeful.”
The Substance works so well due to its stellar cast, led by the incomparable Demi Moore. She has chosen the perfect time in her career to portray this deeply layered character. Moore and Qualley have great chemistry together and play off each other in distinct ways that you’ll just have to watch and see!
The Substance is out in theaters on September 20th!
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