What the substance is really about

The substance Explores issues of ageism, misogyny, and the pursuit of youth through blunt force. It delves into the deep consequences of social expectations and the objectification of women. At the heart of the story is the concept of a serum that allows people in The substance To go too far to look young and “better”. The protagonist, Elizabeth, and her younger self, Sue, grapple with the deep implications of their split existence. The result is a daring satire that challenges multiple aspects of modern society.

Demi Moore’s controversial body horror role highlights the ageist attitudes prevalent in today’s culture. The younger self, Sue, is often favored over the older Elizabeth, demonstrating the social preference for youth and beauty. This Age-based discrimination Creates a competitive dynamic between the two, after straining their cooperation with the rules of the serum. However, the story of this movie is much more complicated than a straightforward battle between two competing personalities. In fact, just as important as the internal psychology of the story is how external perceptions shape our actions.

The breakdown of the substance is based on age

Age-old archetypes of maiden and crown share Elizabeth

Vital, the key principle the protagonist must remember about The substances serum is “Remember you are one,” written in bold typography on the instruction cards. Both Elizabeth and Sue forget the principle and call to raise their concerns about each other’s behavior, and are reminded by the voice on the phone, “It’s not you and her,” Causing frustration for both of them. This is important because The pair supposedly share consciousness. Sue could do anything but she chooses to retrace the path of Elizabeth’s career, creating a competitive dynamic and another public perception trap.

The two don’t just split into physically different selves. They cannot relate to each other and fail to share the same values ​​and goals. This is partly due to being in different phases of life. The younger self is more selfish and narcissistic than the older self. However, it is important to note that this violent division of oneself is also Caused by external factors. Their integration is made impossible because of social messaging. Harvey’s rejection of Elizabeth, cruelly calling her Ann “old b**ch” On the phone, is contrasted with the casting of you “young” And “alive” Replacement.

The subject’s Harvey represents the male gaze

Quaid’s character is designed to observe and reduce Elizabeth to her appearance

Dennis Quaid’s brilliantly odious performance as Harvey is a deliberately cartoonish representation of the male gaze. From looking pointedly at a waitress as she turns her back to order “Pretty girls should always smile,” Harvey’s executive decisions are influenced by this behavior. He makes both Elizabeth and Sue Dee Victims of the same system. Harvey’s role is crucial to understanding the meaning of The substance. The satirical body horror sometimes makes it easy to believe it is designed to mock women’s aesthetic extremes in the pursuit of youth. However, this is a fundamental misreading.

Focusing too much on plastic surgery and acne allergies Ignore the catalyst. This is never more clear than at the end of The substance. Harvey is in the audience waiting for the New Year’s Eve show, sitting among several other suits. He Takes credit for being sued “creation” And he says he did “mixed” you. This gives the movie a sick irony – the serum is an abomination of creation by the spinal birth of a younger self, which is Elizabeth’s choice, but it is made possible by a more powerful creator pulling the strings.

Another important consideration is Harvey’s (and, more strongly, the audience’s) role as a consumer. His hideous meal of prawns at the beginning of the film positions him (and the male gaze more broadly) as something with a voracious and destructive appetite. His desire to be satisfied is ultimately what will compel Elizabeth to seek the substance. Although she still has autonomy (and mainly can stop when she likes), Harvey’s hunger is a critical contributing factor.

The material subverts creation to demonstrate the consequences of misogyny

The extreme events of the third act are rooted in the first

The substance Never lose sight of these Misogyny under the events of the story. Demi Moore narrates The Guardian “We can be violent to ourselves,” And undoubtedly the extreme body horror and conflict between them highlights this point. However, the external view of society is used just like the mirror image of Elizabeth. For example, Elizabeth’s neighbor knocks angrily at the door believing her to be in the apartment doing DIY. When Sue comes to the door, his attitude about the noise completely changes, demonstrating beautiful privilege.

The motorcyclist who previously slept with Sue looks at Elizabeth as she stands in front of his bike, but as Sue does not look like Elizabeth in The substance, He doesn’t recognize her. This echoes the experience of feeling invisible as an older woman. In a way, the stereotypical crown shape of Elizabeth is freer than both Sue and Elizabeth, able to tell the neighbor to “F*** off.” The Consequences of both the objectifying and dismissive forms of misogyny Play yourself in The substanceClimax – It’s telling that Sue’s smile is the first thing to go.

Source: The Guardian