The Substance’s best scene is the most painfully relatable

As a woman who has spent countless hours staring at her reflection, trying to find some semblance of perfection in the mirror, I found “The Substance” to be a chilling yet relatable portrayal of the unattainable beauty standards that haunt us daily. The scene where Elisabeth Sparkle breaks down in front of the mirror before her date is a gut-wrenching reminder of the internal struggles we all face, and it resonated deeply with me.

The film titled “The Substance” can now be streamed on MUBI, offering a thrilling, grisly journey. Yet, amidst all its spectacle, the scene that leaves the deepest impact is surprisingly understated.

As a seasoned gamer, I found myself immersed in a captivating narrative penned by the brilliant mind of Coralie Fargeat. This tale follows Demi Moore’s character, Elisabeth Sparkle, an actress who rose to fame with her iconic aerobics show. Now, on the brink of turning 50, she finds herself facing a daunting challenge: being replaced by a fresh, younger talent.

In utter exasperation, I find myself turning to an enigmatic concoction – The Substance. This potion, inexplicably, results in the birth of my younger self, whom I name Sue (Margaret Qualley). However, we only get a week at a time to experience life before it’s time for a switch. But as the days pass, Sue begins to push boundaries, leading to heartrending repercussions.

As a devoted viewer, I must say that “The Shocking Moments” in this film are numerous and intense, ranging from the grisly delivery of Sue to Monstro Elisasue’s gory climax during the New Year’s Eve performance. Yet, the most impactful scene for me, surprisingly, is a subtler moment brimming with terror – a poignant display of self-loathing.

In the given scenario, Elizabeth is preparing for a date with a former high school companion whom she has recently rekindled contact with. Following her dismissal from her television program and under the influence of a troubling situation, the affectionate compliments from this man are the sole source of comfort, boosting her self-esteem.

As a gamer, I’ve decided to don this bold, fiery red gown. I’ve styled my hair, applied some vibrant red lipstick, and slipped into a pair of towering heels. Yet, something feels amiss when I gaze upon the image in the mirror. It’s not quite perfect; it doesn’t resonate with the familiarity of old – it’s not me, it’s not Sue.

Following a couple of nervous glances at the clock due to her delay, and some final touch-ups, she manages to reach the front entrance.

Yet, the twisted reflection of herself in the doorknob brings Elisabeth to a standstill. In this less flattering depiction, we find ourselves walking in Elisabeth’s footsteps and grasping the reality she perceives, as her self-doubts and insecurities overwhelm her.

Hurrying towards the restroom, Elizabeth glances into the mirror once more and finds herself appearing foolish. She swiftly dabs some lipstick diagonally on her cheek, followed by forcefully scrubbing away her makeup by brushing her hands roughly over her face.

She’s not making it to the date. She can’t – self-hatred is a powerful thing.

Watch The Substance on MUBI (via Prime Video)

As I navigated through the gruesome landscape of that gory horror flick, where each frame seemed designed to make me cringe, a seemingly ordinary moment stood out as the scariest – the one that hit home. It was the understated scene, the one that didn’t rely on buckets of blood or jump scares, but still managed to send chills down my spine because it felt all too real.

Throughout most of the film, Elizabeth Sparkle seems like an exaggerated portrayal of a once-prominent Hollywood star who has fallen from grace. Although we may comprehend her fixation on beauty and youth, given the harsh realities of aging and industry pressure, it proves challenging to empathize with her.

In that mirror scene, though, we finally see the woman behind the archetype, Elisabeth at her most vulnerable. This is the ground-level effect that unattainable beauty standards have on women.

Day by day, there’s a persistent sense of self-doubt and intense self-criticism that can surface in the most unexpected moments, often leaving one feeling bruised. Frequently, these feelings might manifest during routine activities such as preparing to go out or at seemingly random instances. This isn’t about vanity, but rather the unfortunate consequences of comparing oneself to others in ways that are both unwarranted and unhelpful.

Elisabeth finds herself reflecting on Sue, who appears younger and more radiant than she does. Essentially, she sees Sue as a youthful and attractive replica of her former self. To her, Sue represents the Elisabeth captured in films, television shows, aerobics videos, and the large portrait that graces her living room – all remnants of her past.

She’s also troubled by Sue’s provocative billboard advertisement, appearing outside the windows of her apartment and seeming to taunt her with its persistent presence.

For many women nowadays, the primary source of comparison often stems from social media, an environment where idealized physical appearances prevail.

Instead of merely admiring attractive individuals seemingly thriving, there’s also a risk in taking digitally enhanced photos and facial filters as genuine representations. A casual swipe through Instagram can often lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.

As a gamer, I can relate when someone mentions Elisabeth’s harrowing ordeal while preparing for a date. Her struggle with her body image hits close to home for me, making me feel like we share a similar battle in the mirror.

In an interview with Variety, Demi Moore opened up about finding it challenging to shoot a particularly emotional scene for the movie, describing it as one of the most poignant moments in the film.

In simpler terms, “She mentioned that many people can understand the struggle of trying to improve one’s appearance, but often ending up making things look even worse. Coralie tends to record multiple takes, and by the end, her face was quite sore. She eventually reached a point where she couldn’t continue anymore.

Looking at your reflection and focusing solely on your flaws is akin to intentionally trying to become less attractive, as if mirroring your inner feelings of unattractiveness.

As a gamer, I find that The Substance truly shines when it mirrors the challenges faced by women in everyday life, and those persistent self-doubts we all grapple with.

Sometimes, staring into my reflection can feel downright chilling, but here’s the crucial lesson I’ve learned from that moment: Always show more kindness towards myself.

The Substance is now available to watch on MUBI.

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2024-10-31 11:19