Any film that is “obviously” saying one thing is probably not an interesting watch. Can a movie both exploit and empathize with women?? Bolster and undermine its critique? Contradictions or ambiguities add dimension. Interpretation is the creative part of spectatorship. Some even say it’s fun. I appreciate that whenever The Substance comes up, the conversation gets lively.

Simplicity is its greatest strength. “Remember you are one” is an excellent axiom for self-hatred and disassociation. Elisabeth’s (Demi Moore) nighttime binges demonstrate how our ideal selves steal our joy. So many women restrict themselves only to break apart fantastically.

Beauty standards, cosmetic procedures, and health misinformation are on another level. Women are poorer, sadder, and more exhausted for it. Forgeat doesn’t portray this with compassion, but reveals its horror. Everyone is so numb. Shock might be the only way to uncover the truth—that beauty is monstrosity.

My qualms? Characters were avatars for their ideas, so attempts at pathos drew from an empty well. The formal repetition irritated me.

The characters are hermetically sealed. It’s a Lanthimos-inspired schema, where the universe looks like ours but isn’t. Elisabeth has no friends, family, hobbies, or interests outside her job. Its unreality keeps the tone light enough for the humor to land. However, given the intimate focus on Elisabeth’s psychology, it struck me as underdeveloped.

Repetition can reinforce themes but also cheapen their impact. Forgeat uses the same handful of camera effects ad nauseam. The same goes for images. Often it felt more referential than in service of the story.

If the mean-spiritedness works, it's because of its class satire. Elisabeth, a wealthy Hollywood elite, can’t let go gracefully. She desires success within the system rather than challenging it. We empathize, but not too much. Ugliness is the punch line after all.