The Substance Stars Discuss the Dark Ending

If you’ve reached this point, congratulations! You’ve endured all 140 intense minutes of The Substance. Unfortunately, the characters played by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, Elisabeth Sparkle and her younger self Sue, do not make it out unscathed. However, as Moore, Qualley, and writer-director Coralie Fargeat discuss, the film's ending carries a deeper significance that goes beyond simple themes of life and death.

The film follows Elisabeth, a fading Hollywood star and Oscar-winning actress whose career is jeopardized by ageism. On her 50th birthday, she is ousted from her role as a fitness video host by a ruthless executive, Harvey. In her desperation, she encounters the mysterious supplier of an experimental drug that promises to create a youthful version of herself, but there’s a troubling catch: the two must switch bodies every seven days and are intertwined in their existence. While Sue, the youthful alter ego, thrives and becomes a superstar, Elisabeth suffers physically due to Sue’s selfish choices.

As the film progresses, Sue’s extended time outside their agreed limit leads to Elisabeth’s deterioration, eventually forcing a confrontation between the two. In a moment of rage, Sue kills Elisabeth but later experiences her own physical collapse. During a climactic New Year’s Eve performance, Sue, transformed into a grotesque version of herself, implores the audience to accept her true identity. The audience’s rejection culminates in her disintegration into a pile of flesh, leaving behind only Elisabeth’s reanimated face, which ultimately melts into the pavement at Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Fargeat explains that this final transformation symbolizes freedom from societal expectations. At last, Elisabeth is liberated from her physical form and the constraints of her appearance. It marks a pivotal moment of self-acceptance for her character, as she no longer feels defined by others’ perceptions or her past star status. Moore echoes this sentiment, describing it as the moment when the soul achieves true liberation from the confines of the body.

Qualley adds that Sue, throughout much of the film, lacks a true identity, but as her body fails, she discovers love and acceptance for herself. This scene, filled with emotional weight, illustrates the theme of self-love in a profound, albeit unconventional way.

Fargeat also emphasizes the violence depicted in the film, symbolizing the collective complicity of society in perpetuating such brutality. The use of fake blood during the climactic scenes serves as a stark reminder of this violence, compelling the audience to confront their own roles in these dynamics.

In essence, The Substance is a complex exploration of identity, self-acceptance, and the societal pressures that shape our perceptions of beauty and worth.