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🕑 Added 2024-12-07 18:44:13 +0000 UTC
I finally managed to finish Substance on my second attempt.
Careful! Spoilers!
Yes, it’s gross.
Yes, it’s mundane.
Overall, it left me with mixed emotions. The lead actress was gorgeous and looked amazing for her age, but because her career was entirely dependent on her appearance, she fell into the beauty trap long before the events of Substance. She had already undergone a facelift, breast augmentation, and likely much more. (Yes, I understand she’s just an actress, but they could have cast someone 40+ who hadn’t done these procedures—so clearly, this was part of the concept).
I also don’t quite understand the movie’s repeated emphasis on “You are one and the same.” To me, it felt more like giving birth to a child and watching them live their youth while stealing years from you. Except, in this scenario, you’re not even there to enjoy it with them—you’re in a coma. Alternatively, it’s like dealing with a separate person, your copy, but you don’t share experiences or emotions. You’re not living through them; instead, you’re living a completely separate life.
That’s why this experiment was flawed from the start. People will always prioritize their own interests, especially in a situation of extreme dependency like this. And on top of that, the original subject already struggled with severe self-perception issues.
The entire purpose of this 50-year-old woman’s life revolved around her career and external validation. Her focus was entirely on her appearance and maintaining a "perfect" body. It’s clear she was deeply unhappy and unwell from the very beginning.
At 50, she has no friends, no partner or husband, no children or grandchildren—not even a pet. She has no hobbies apart from her obsession with beauty. She doesn’t even seem to have meaningful connections with colleagues. She’s an empty, lonely, and deeply sad person. That’s why she ends up the way she does.
What’s the takeaway? Live your life. Sooner or later, we all age. Trying to stay perpetually young isn’t always a good idea, and when you’re young
