“Audaciously gross” and “wickedly clever” are just two ways that film critics describe The Substance, a psychological horror film starring Demi Moore and directed by Coralie Fargeat. After its release in September 2024, the film received rave reviews and awards, including five Oscar nominations for its nail-biting allegory about one woman’s aging process gone awry.
The movie tells the story of a Hollywood aerobics TV instructor, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who, after a career-altering 50th birthday, uses an experimental substance that produces a younger and more improved version of herself–Sue (Margaret Qualley). However, instead of the desired outcome of prolonging her youth, Sue and Elisabeth begin sabotaging one another, sparking an ongoing battle for consciousness.
Praised for its jaw-dropping visuals and prosthetics, the film — albeit in a gruesome way — uses Sparkle’s internal battle against her own age to relay a message about the societal pressure placed on aging women and the toll it can take on identity and self-worth.
Dr. Rongxiang Tang, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&M University, explained that when it comes to aging, the process for women is already difficult, due to the combination of the physical, hormonal and psychological changes that happen during aging and menopause.
“For women in particular, who go through the phase of menopause, there are a lot of physiological changes that are happening within their bodies that contribute to different outcomes of aging or the development of symptoms that interfere with everyday functioning, hormonal changes and appearances,” Tang said.
These changes require mental frameworks regarding self-perception to constantly adjust, which can be a difficult process. This inner struggle can cause some to turn towards external remedies to cope, such as investing in cosmetic procedures which can slow the physical manifestations of aging. In fact, in 2023, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported a 17% increase in cosmetic surgical procedures for those aged 55-69.
The pressure for women to age a certain way is especially heightened for those whose careers are in the public eye. For example, in the film, Sparkle is dropped by her agent on her 50th birthday, due explicitly to her age. This acts as an instant catalyst to her decision to use the infamous substance, which leads eventually to her demise.
“There is a common expectation from both society and culture surrounding appearance,” Tang said. “If you’re not matching up with that expectation to look younger or prettier as you age, that can definitely have a negative impact on your self-esteem and take a toll on mental health, your psychological well-being and satisfaction with life.”
Dr. Theresa Morris, a professor in the Department of Sociology, believes social media plays a part.“Women in the U.S. have for generations tried to stay young looking,” Morris said. “Think about how much money women spend on coloring their hair, dieting to lose weight, and using ‘substances’ to make themselves look younger. That pressure is only stronger in the age of targeted on-line marketing and the way performance is done on social media.”
Tang notes the differences in how the U.S. treats men and women when it comes to the physical aging process.
“There is an overall societal expectation as to how women should age that differs significantly from men, and I think the movie brings awareness to this,” Tang said. “Even when looking at aging-related diseases, we’re seeing a differential aging trajectory between men and women, with women being more impacted by aging-related diseases like Alzheimer’s.”
Some cultures respect their elders. But we do not see aging as a good thing in the U.S. Hopefully, someday, we will.
Morris believes that both men and women have societal pressures, but very different outcomes.
“For women the pressure is to be economically successful, beautiful, thin, loving and nurturing,” she said. “For men it is to be economically successful, stoic, athletic, strong, and handsome…Beauty is defined for women by looking young. Men are pressured to stifle their emotions except for anger. For example, boys are often chastised for crying or for being ‘too emotional.’ This extends to adulthood.”
Despite the dramatized aging journey seen in The Substance, personal relationships with aging don’t have to be met with resistance.
In order to embrace the process of aging, the first step is to foster a mindset of acceptance. Taking the time to appreciate the life experience that comes with getting older can be achieved through the psychological practices of meditation and mindfulness.
“One of the most important steps toward embracing aging is to increase acceptance,” Tang said. “Accept that you’re going through the aging process and it’s common for everyone. It is a natural process that differs between individuals and lifestyles. Psychological intervention practices like meditation and mindfulness can promote acceptance of everyday experiences, thoughts and emotions to help you gain a positive perspective into your everyday experiences.”
While The Substance ultimately lost the major Academy Awards to Anora, its message may help serve as a win for society.
“Some cultures respect their elders,” Morris adds. “But we do not see aging as a good thing in the U.S. Hopefully, someday, we will.”