The Substance is a horror movie, more specifically a body horror movie. I sometimes miss the point of horror movies but this one I definitely get. It’s about how piggish, gross, men expect women to alter themselves to look young and beautiful for the piggish, gross men. Why haven’t we burned down the patriarchy yet?

The Substance is really graphic. Gooey, oozey, pestulant, squelching, slimy, monstrous, horrifyingly graphic. The prosthetics are amazing. This grotesque horror-fest was written and directed by Coralie Fargeat.

Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), an Oscar winning actress, is getting older. She now leads a Jane Fonda like exercise show on television.

Harvey (Dennis Quaid), her network boss, fires her. (Her boss is Harvey – you get it, right?) The men in power want young, perfect women to look at and they think Elisabeth has reached her end employment date.

Elisabeth buys into this bullshit. She hates herself. She hears about something called The Substance that will create another her – but younger and prettier. She’s warned that she and the new clone will be one and the same person and that there are strict protocols for using the substance.

She does it anyway.

Elisabeth gives birth to a complete new human woman – a young human woman. The birth comes from her spine (hey, this isn’t Alien). The new Elisabeth calls herself Sue (Margaret Qualley). Sue has perfect breasts, a derriere that would make a Kardashian proud, flawless skin, and a ready smile for the pigs.

When Sue is up and walking, Elisabeth lays naked on the bathroom floor, an empty hulk. When Elisabeth is up and walking, Sue lays naked on the bathroom floor, an empty hulk.

They are required to trade places after 7 days. That’s when things get dicey. Sue doesn’t want to play by the rules. Or as Elisabeth puts it, “There’s been a slight misuse of the Substance.”

The remainder of the story is yours to discover. Whatever you imagine it might be, it is more gory and grotesque than that. Lots more. So, you know, gag reflex warning here.

This masterpiece of patriarchal misuse of women is out of theaters now. You can stream it on HBO Max, Hulu, or Mubi. Demi Moore was nominated for an Academy Award for this, and she totally earned it.

If you watch it, I’d love to hear what you thought of it. The comments are open.