9 About Elizabeth and Sue are different in substance

in The substanceElisabeth and Sue are considered to be different versions of the same person, but the two women have many differences that make them stand out as their own separate (and flawed) people. Released in 2024, The substance is a body horror movie that follows an aging celebrity named Elizabeth. When Elizabeth is unexpectedly fired from her job due to her age, she seeks the help of a mysterious new procedure That supposedly creates a younger version of himself. Thus, Elizabeth creates Sue. Still, Sue and Elizabeth begin to disagree, and their mutual destruction begins from there.

Part of the greatness of The substance is the outstanding performances by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. As Elizabeth and Sue, respectively, these women manage to play themselves In incredibly interesting ways. They prove that they are deeply connected, but have irrevocable differences that ultimately lead to their undoing. generally, The substance Cast helps boost the movie to fantastic heights that are intriguing, horrifying and absolutely disgusting. There is so much to analyze about this movie, and one great place to start is the distinctions between Elizabeth and Sue.

9

Elizabeth is older than Sue

Elizabeth is smarter than Sue

One of the most obvious and most important differences between Elizabeth and Sue is their age. In real life, Moore is 61, while Qualley is 29. In this way, Sue is half Elizabeth’s age, and is treated differently because of it. Where Elizabeth is considered to be out of style and less attractive to society, Sue is seen as perfect in every way. She is beautiful, energetic, and brings a changeable innocence that makes her irresistible to everyone around her.

However, at the same time, Elizabeth is much smarter than Sue because of her age. Although choosing to use the substance is probably not the best choice for Elizabeth, she seems to be cautious about the process. She follows all the instructions and is determined to keep the rules. Sue doesn’t feel the same, and it ends up being her and Elizabeth’s downfall. Sue’s greed for her own youth leads to Elizabeth’s rapid aging and both of their deaths.

8

Sue looks physically different than Elizabeth does

How Sue and Elizabeth differed physically

The other major difference that audiences notice right off the bat is that Sue and Elizabeth look different. While they both have dark hair and somewhat similar physiques, there are key differences between them. Sue has blue eyes while Elizabeth has green. Sue’s hair tends to curl and bounce, whereas Elizabeth’s is long and straight. Sue has a gap between her teeth that Elizabeth does not. The distinctions are more than just age; They make Sue and Elizabeth feel like completely different people.

There are also differences in what Sue and Elizabeth can physically do with their bodies. Sue is incredibly flexible, but Elizabeth never shows that side of herself. Sue also seems to have more energy than Elizabeth does, and the gap between them only widens as Elizabeth continues to age. in a certain moment, Elizabeth can barely walk normally, while Sue is in great physical health. Elizabeth’s bloody fate proves that Sue is stronger than her.

7

Elizabeth is less provocative and trendy in her style than Sue

Sue & Elizabeth’s style explained

An interesting point of difference between Elizabeth and Sue is their fashion sense. When Sue is born from Elizabeth’s back, she quickly assembles a new wardrobe to fit her personality. This is mostly made up of crop tops, short shorts and skirts, and sneakers. She also wears tight athletic gear and fancy dresses. in this way, Sue is happy to show off her body And her peers seem to love it. She is trendy, sexy, and dressed appropriately for her age.

On the other hand, Elizabeth is much more demure. Her wardrobe typically consists of business attire, including colorful pantsuits, blouses and jackets. Her yellow peacoat often appears in the movie, and is something she seems to hide behind, despite its bright color. Even when she dresses, Elizabeth’s date night dress is not particularly revealing. Unlike Sue, Elizabeth’s fashion is good, but it is used to cover her body more How to show it off. So, no one seems to notice her, even though she is technically a celebrity.

6

Sue’s birthmark is in a different location than Elizabeth’s

Why did the birthmark change places

One very subtle but telling difference between Sue and Elizabeth is their birthmarks. When Elizabeth is preparing to take her first injection of the substance, the audience sees that she has a birthmark on her torso. later, When Sue exits Elizabeth’s body, she is shown to have a similar birthmarkBut in a slightly different area of ​​her torso. The reappearance of the birthmark shows that Sue and Elizabeth are made of the same DNA, but the change in location simultaneously proves that the women are fundamentally different.

one The substance The question the movie never really dives into is the science of how Sue was created from Elizabeth. The birthmark clues audiences into how the process works. Sue is different from ElizabethBut aspects of the two women are very similar, so parts of Elizabeth have transferred to Sue. It seems that the birthmark is a subtle detail that shows the audience how the women are connected. It also sets up the shocking discovery that the old man in the diner is also the young man from the doctor’s office.

5

Elizabeth is more self-conscious than Sue

Elizabeth’s missed opportunity explained

When it comes to personality, one of the biggest distinctions between Elizabeth and Sue is that Elizabeth is very self-conscious while Sue is far from it. The whole reason Elizabeth takes the substance in the first place is because she resents her age and wants to look different. At the same time, Sue puts herself directly in the limelight and eats up the attention. Elizabeth is certainly jealous of all the love Sue is getting, but can’t bring herself to put herself out there in the same way.

One particularly upsetting part of the movie that reflects Elizabeth’s lack of self-confidence is when she has a date with one of her old high school classmates. Elizabeth is apparently excited about the day and is looking forward to the attention he previously showed her. However, when she gets all dressed up, she overthinks how she looks and ends up ghosting her date. Elisabeth could easily get the validation she wantedBut instead, she was overwhelmed by her own self-consciousness.

4

Sue is not disgusted with Harvey but Elizabeth is

What Harvey represents in the substance

Although much of The substance Revolves around Elizabeth and Sue, other characters create obstacles for the two women. One of the obstacles is Harvey. played by Dennis Quaid, Harvey is Elizabeth and Sue’s misogynistic and disgusting boss. From the beginning, it’s clear that Harvey is a horrible person, and Elizabeth doesn’t like him very much. However, Sue does not seem to have any relations with Harvey, even when he objects to her. Harvey is certainly nicer to Sue, but the substance of his character doesn’t really change that much.

Ultimately, it seems like Sue can put up with Harvey better than Elizabeth because Sue is still helpful to Harvey. Harvey needs Sue to make money, and on the other hand, Sue needs Harvey to keep her famous. Elizabeth is completely out of the equation after Harvey fired her, so it’s easier for her to hate him. But at the end of the day, Harvey continues to represent the terrible ideals that society can hold about women and their age, no matter who he talks to.

3

Sue is at the beginning of her career where Elizabeth’s is over

Could Elizabeth have continued her career?

Small details aside, Sue and Elizabeth have very different lives. Where Elizabeth is hidden in her apartment all day, glued to the TV and pressure cooking, Sue is in the city filming her show and doing magazine shoots. Elizabeth is seemingly at the end of her career, Whereas Sue is at the beginning of her. However, it is important to note that Elizabeth was successful in her youth, and earned accolades that Sue never received, again showing that Elizabeth’s experience trumps Sue’s.

One question that persists The substance The bottom line is whether Elizabeth could have revived her career without Sue. Although it is true that Harvey fired her, maybe it was another producer who might have seen something in her. Maybe Elizabeth could have pivoted into more serious acting roles rather than aerobics. Better yet, Elizabeth could have accepted that her career was over and found solace in settling down and forming connections with people. However, Sue’s ambitions never allowed this to happen.

2

Elizabeth wants to stay young but Sue doesn’t care

Why does Sue ignore Elizabeth

A major divide between Elizabeth and Sue The substance is the fact that Sue uses the substance and allows Elizabeth to deteriorate. Elisabeth’s main objective in the movie is to save her career and stay youthful through Sue. This means that she is partly concerned about Sue’s success, and she is also concerned with her own appearance. So when Sue overextends her time, leading Elizabeth’s hand to age quickly, she is horrified. Sue just keeps leaving Elizabeth in the dust, while Elizabeth is desperate to stay young and beautiful.

Overall, Sue’s arrogance is the main reason that Elizabeth’s life is ruined. Sue does not respect Elizabeth’s life or her desires. She simply wants to be famous and focus on her own life. But, as the material warns, their lives are intertwined, so Elizabeth’s downfall will only lead to Sue. This is a huge difference between Sue and Elizabeth. While Elizabeth respects the balance between herself and Sue, Sue ignores the rules For her own benefit. She already has everything and did not care what is happening with Elizabeth at the moment.

1

Sue is more horrified by her transformation than Elizabeth is

Why does Elizabeth accept her transformation

A final subtle but interesting point that separates Elizabeth and Sue The substance is the fact that Sue is far more horrified by her transformation than Elizabeth is. Although Elizabeth is ashamed and disgusted by her aging body, she is forced to accept the changes as simply a part of life. Even when she has completely failed, she does not give up at all. She even thinks about letting Sue live. This ends up being the absolutely wrong decision.

On the other hand, Sue is completely horrified by the changes happening to her body. She is afraid of the chicken bone coming out of her stomach and freaks out when her teeth and nails start falling out. Niha, Sue’s transformation is much bloodier than Elizabeth’sBut again, Sue has a lot more to lose than Elizabeth does. Thus, their reactions in The substance Show how they are at different places in life, and what they are willing to give up for fame and adoration.