The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat, is a 2024 film that blends visceral horror, dark humor, and sharp social commentary to expose the absurdity of modern beauty standards. The Substance earned five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Fargeat, Best Actress for Moore and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film follows Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress who spirals into a personal crisis after her boss fires her from her aerobics show. In a desperate bid to reclaim her youth and beauty, she injects herself with a mysterious serum, only to face horrific consequences.

Elisabeth Sparkle, an aging star in a world obsessed with youth, turns to an experimental serum that promises a “better version” of herself. What follows is a grotesque and darkly comedic journey as her new self, Sue, emerges — a younger, more confident version of Elisabeth. However, the transformation isn’t as perfect as it seems, leading to a horrific yet strangely humorous exploration of societal pressure and the destructive pursuit of unattainable standards.

The film uses several techniques of satire to criticize societal norms. Hyperbole is evident in the extreme measures Elisabeth takes to change herself. The serum is a clear exaggeration of the lengths to which people go to conform to beauty standards. Irony runs throughout the film — Elisabeth becomes her idealized version, Sue, but this version of herself only brings pain and self-loathing. The film’s gore and horror elements also serve as exaggerated metaphors for the physical and psychological toll of chasing perfection. There’s an undercurrent of parody as the movie mocks both the beauty industry and the entertainment industry’s obsession with youth and appearance.

Perhaps the most effective technique is the film’s parody of rivalry between Elisabeth and Sue. While the audience might expect them to be two separate entities, the film blurs the line, showing that the two versions are one and the same. This confusion mimics the way societal standards force individuals to see themselves as fragmented or constantly changing in order to “measure up.”

Though The Substance is undeniably a satire, it is far more than a mere mockery of the beauty and entertainment industries. At its core, the film critiques how mass media, entertainment companies, and societal norms shape our self-image. Elisabeth’s torment isn’t just personal; it reflects the broader pressure women face to conform to ever-changing standards of beauty. Through her constant switching between herself and Sue, the film exposes the emotional and psychological toll that the pursuit of perfection takes on individuals, particularly women.

The film encourages us to consider how these unattainable ideals of beauty are internalized by society, forcing individuals to accept destructive standards. Elisabeth’s eventual acceptance of her new, horrific self highlights the tragedy of self-hatred that comes from constantly striving to be something we’re told we should be, rather than embracing who we are. The Substance forces viewers to confront the devastating lengths to which people go to meet unrealistic expectations, ultimately pushing for a more compassionate, less superficial understanding of beauty.