The Substance also known as Thần Dược is a powerful movie that shows the harsh realities of how society values beauty, especially for women in showbiz. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, it stars Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a TV host who faces the brutal truth of aging in an industry obsessed with youth. The movie takes place in a world similar to the late ’70s or ’80s, which was a time when sexism and objectification of women were very common. Elisabeth, now turning 50, is suddenly fired from her network TV show. Feeling lost and insecure about her fading beauty, she finds herself in a desperate situation.
How Does Elisabeth Find the “Substance”?
Elisabeth’s journey takes a strange turn when a mysterious nurse gives her a thumb drive with a number on it. This leads Elisabeth to a shady downtown locker-room where she discovers the titular “substance.” This green liquid promises to create a “better version” of her. Feeling the pressure to regain her former glory, Elisabeth injects the substance, and her body opens up, giving birth to Sue, a younger, more beautiful version of herself.
Who is Sue?
Sue is the perfect image of what Elisabeth believes she should be—flawless, attractive, and charming. Sue quickly captures the attention of everyone, including Harvey, the obnoxious producer who once rejected Elisabeth. Soon, Sue becomes the new face of a morning show, while Elisabeth is left in the background. Even though Sue is part of Elisabeth, they alternate their lives every week—one week Sue takes the spotlight, and the next week, Elisabeth returns. However, Sue isn’t just a puppet; she has her own desires and begins to crave more time in the limelight.
What Happens When Sue Breaks the Rules?
The balance between Sue and Elisabeth starts to collapse when Sue becomes greedy. She takes more of the stabilizing fluid from Elisabeth’s spine than she should. This causes Elisabeth’s body to deteriorate rapidly, as she is left with less and less strength. Sue’s ambition to stay on top leads her to delay their weekly switches, stealing more of Elisabeth’s life-force.
The substance that Elisabeth injects is a metaphor for the extreme measures people go through to meet society’s beauty standards. Like plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures, the substance promises beauty but comes with a heavy price. Elisabeth’s desperation to look younger shows how the world values women based on their appearance. Sue’s rise to fame represents the cruel reality that in showbiz, youth and beauty are seen as more important than talent or experience.
Does Elisabeth Try to Stop Sue?
Elisabeth tries to find comfort by planning a date, hiding her deformities under gloves, and hoping to feel valued for something other than beauty. But when she sees a huge poster of Sue, she realizes that in her eyes, nothing can compare to Sue’s beauty. This fuels her self-hatred, as Elisabeth’s body continues to decay because of Sue’s greed.
Why Does Sue Turn Against Elisabeth?
As Sue becomes more successful, she distances herself from Elisabeth. Sue even mocks Elisabeth on national TV, calling her outdated. Although Elisabeth feels devastated, she can’t let go of Sue’s success because Sue is still a part of her. Elisabeth could have ended the process at any time, but she keeps going, allowing Sue to drain her life away. Eventually, Sue runs out of the fluid and has no choice but to switch back, but by then, Elisabeth’s body is nearly destroyed.
When Elisabeth finally decides to end the process, she injects Sue with the termination fluid. But before killing her, Elisabeth hesitates. She realizes that Sue is the only part of her that the world still loves, and she can’t bear to lose that. This moment of weakness allows Sue to survive, and during a strange phenomenon where both women are awake during the switch, Sue’s rage takes over, and she beats Elisabeth to death.
What Happens to Sue After Elisabeth’s Death?
After killing Elisabeth, Sue is left to face the consequences of her greed. The serum that once gave her beauty is no longer effective. In a desperate attempt to keep herself perfect, Sue injects herself again, hoping to create a new version of herself. But something goes horribly wrong. Instead of a beautiful new person, a monstrous creature called Monstro Elisasue is born. This creature is a twisted version of both Elisabeth and Sue, with Elisabeth’s face grotesquely attached to its back.
What Does Monstro Elisasue Represent?
Monstro Elisasue is a horrifying symbol of the cycle of trauma and the unrealistic standards of beauty that both Elisabeth and Sue fell victim to. This creature reflects how society’s obsession with beauty can destroy a person’s identity. Despite her monstrous appearance, Monstro Elisasue seeks the spotlight, just as Elisabeth and Sue did. She heads straight to the stage, trying to capture the world’s attention, but the audience is terrified. They don’t see the beauty that Elisabeth once had; they only see a grotesque figure.
Ending Explained
In the final scene, Monstro Elisasue sneaks out of the studio and falls apart on the sidewalk. Sue’s desperate attempt to stay perfect ends in failure. Elisabeth’s face, still alive, detaches from Monstro Elisasue’s back and crawls to her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This moment is symbolic—Elisabeth becomes one with the admiration and fame she once had, but it’s fleeting. Fame and beauty are temporary, and once they’re gone, they leave nothing but emptiness.
The Substance is a dark and thought-provoking commentary on how society values women based on their appearance, especially in the entertainment industry. Elisabeth’s journey shows how damaging it can be to tie one’s self-worth to beauty and fame. The movie highlights the pressures women face to stay young and beautiful, and how these pressures can lead to self-destruction. It’s a brutal look at how the entertainment industry disposes of people once they are no longer seen as useful, replacing them with someone younger and more attractive.
The ending of The Substance reminds us that beauty and fame are fleeting, and basing your self-worth on something so temporary can only lead to tragedy. As long as society continues to uphold these impossible standards, the cycle of trauma will continue, and there will always be someone in line to take your place.