As the title suggests, The Substance revolves around a strange substance that allows you to obtain a better version of yourself. But things are not that simple, and there are a few rules to follow or risk serious consequences.
In the shocking film The Substancewinner of best screenplay at the last Cannes Film Festival, Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), once a world beauty star, is considered too old to pursue her career as an actress. This was without taking into account the existence of an a priori miracle remedy, which allows you to obtain a better version of yourself. Understand: younger, more beautiful, more irresistible, more perfect.
It is therefore the ideal opportunity for Elisabeth Sparkle – and Demi Moore, by extension – to take revenge on those (because it is exclusively men) who no longer believe in her. His “double” will then appear, played by Margaret Qualley (named Sue), who will take his place in his fitness show and will in turn experience immense success. But everything is not so simple with the famous substance…
The rest of this article contains spoilers for The Substancedirected by Coralie Fargeat.
Everything you need to know about the strange substance
To obtain the mysterious “remedy”, you must first place an order, by calling a number provided with an explanatory USB key (filled with a thousand promises). The interlocutor, not very talkative, will then provide you with some instructions, including an address where to pick up your first package. You will then receive a magnetic card at home, with a number written on it (the number of your mailbox in the famous location to be reached).
The first shipment, very well packaged, contains :
- The substance to be injected and which allows you to give birth to your “double” (single use), called the activator;
- A stabilization syringe;
- Nutrients in the form of an infusion.
These ingredients meet the following rules :
- You activate only once;
- You stabilize every day;
- You switch every seven days without exception.
Because yes, there is a twist: when the substance is injected, you do not become “the best version of you”, you give birth to it – through a process of advanced cell duplication. Then follows the need to respect an alternating life schedule: one week one, one week the other. You become the Matrix, your “double” becomes the other version of you. But we must remember that we are one and the same person, with two different bodies – which is clearly indicated by the after-sales service of the company behind the substance.
During its week of life, the “double” must stabilize, that is to say, take liquid from the spinal cord of the Matrix, to be injected once a day with a strict protocol (the syringe is delivered with seven single-use refills). It must also nourish the Matrix with the appropriate nutrients, so that the body does not die.
After seven days, the “double” must give way to the Matrix, who will have to fetch seven new refills (for the stabilization syringe) and two nutrient bags (one for her, one for the other). The Matrix, of course, does not need to stabilize. After a week, it gives way again to the “double”, and the cycle repeats itself again and again.
When we break the rules, we expose ourselves to very, very big problems. This is precisely what will happen to the Elisabeth/Sue duo: by wanting to extend her week, Sue will little by little sacrifice Elisabeth and transform her into a disgusting monster (through an intense aging effect, in particular). There is a way to go back, which involves killing your “double” using another substance to be requested from the company about which you know nothing. But for Elisabeth, it will unfortunately be too late.
