The Substance: the Nightmare of Beauty Standards

Vol 27, Issue 8, 8 November 2024

We all know that nowadays a fashion world is leaning towards the dominance of youth and dozens beauty standards for women. At least once during our lifetime, we all have been judged by our appearance that often does not match the model standards. In fact, people as individuals form their perception of themselves by imagining or asking how others view them. Even though it seems wrong and weird, just ask yourself, and you will find out that it happened to you as well. In other words, we tend to consider other people as mirrors. That is exactly what the movie “The Substance” is about.

The film has been directed by Coralie Fargeat – a French filmmaker. It was released this year and rapidly gained popularity and views. The movie tells us a story of a Hollywood movie star that has faded within her lifetime and old age. In her fifties, she gets fired and being told that “after 50, it stops”. Now she is left all by herself and memories of her popularity and glory. The woman experienced various body insecurities, lack of self-love and acceptance, and ignorance from the society. Feeling awful and broken, she meets a guy who offers her a substance that will produce “a better version of herself.” Helpless ex movie star agrees and tries it. However, the tricky part is that the updated version and the old one must share and switch each week. Could they manage to survive with each other? That is the main question of the movie.

Afterwards, the events emphasize how greatly the society accepts the younger and fresher version of the woman. She seems to be perfect – perfect body, voice, hair, makeup, nails, and all of what women dream. This shows the values of modern society. If you think it over, how much money beauty industries earn just from women insecurities and high standards? And the fact is, it does not happen equally with men. It is believed that with age men become wiser, maturer and more handsome, but for women it is exactly the other way around. That is what the movie tries to show us – how challenging it is to live as a woman in the world of multiple requirements and expectations.

A worth-attention disclaimer is that the movie genre is horror and specifically body horror, which means that there is a lot of blood and disgusting scenes. Please watch it carefully. Nevertheless, for all sick people who enjoy watching bloody mess and experience a crawling feeling of disgust (including, surely, myself) I recommend you watch “The Substance” and experience that awfully brilliant film on your own!