Why The Substance should win the best picture Oscar
Thinking about it, I wasn't sure which image disturbed me more: the one where an eyeball begets another eyeball and the two of them start jostling for prominence in the same socket hole?; or the one where one eyeball begets four other eyeballs and they, you know, start slamming into each other?
On reflection, it's the first that's worse. As terrifying as the second may be, in a moment that sets off The Substance's super gross-out denouement, it is at least expected. Also, with four eyes (actually it could be six, or eight, it all happens so quickly) you can feel the body horror being ratcheted up to levels of preposterousness that take the edge off. The first instance, by contrast, is simple and pure; it jabs its fingers into your stomach and squeezes away until it takes physical effort to stop yourself from gagging.
So, that's that. Ranked. And a little something I wanted to get out of the way before going further into why Coralie Fargeat's story of a middle-aged woman who will do anything to get a pert butt should win this year's best picture award.
At least that's one way of interpreting the plot of this film. Another is that Demi Moore's Elisabeth Sparkle, the former Hollywood star turned Jane Fonda-esque dancercise queen, accepts an invitation to try a mysterious new treatment because she wants to prolong her career. Or, maybe, she is not sure what she wants at all and tries the substance just to do 'something'. In many reviews of the movie this lack of clarity has been pinned down as a weak spot. If The Substance is an allegory, what is it an allegory of, exactly? But liberating yourself from the quest for intentional meaning, I found, only made The Substance more compelling.
I knew about The Substance many months before I watched it, because the chatter around it found its way into my social feeds. This is not common for me, largely because my social media diet of football analysis and political journalists means nothing original ever comes my way. But here it was, a movie that had not only had a clear visceral impact on its audience, but also led them to ponder on its meaning.
Personally, I'm interested in the angle that says The Substance is a critique on consumer capitalism; the idea that a product can resolve the internal anguish that exists in all of us (or at least encourage it to form a homunculus that bursts from your spine). But I'm even more interested in a film that allows for such speculation at all. Fargeat said she wanted to 'explode the idea of beauty. To show the reality of who we really are and what we're made of', and that allows for a broader reflection on the human condition.
The visual language helps this process along. From the opening shot of a cracked egg giving birth to a more perfect cracked egg, provocative images are contrived consistently and stick in your brain. The lifesize photo of Elisabeth in her exercise gear, hung in the heart of her apartment like a cross between a religious icon and a hunting trophy. Meanwhile, outside gazing in, an even bigger billboard tribute to Elisabeth's more perfect alter ego, Sue, bought and paid for by corporate America. The font and the legend of The Substance itself ('You stabilise every day') that comes over half-health supplement, half-chemical weapon. The corridor of red, patterned linoleum that is just demanding a torrent of blood be unleashed across it. The various pustules of differing colours. The breast in the middle of the face.
I can't think of many other movies I've watched recently that have so many memorable images. I can't think of one that's been so gleefully gory or in such bad taste. The former is a better argument for giving The Substance an Oscar, but the second would work too at a push: good art that is in bad taste? There are not many films like that on at the multiplex, and even less likely on a streamer.
We can go on. The Substance has Moore giving a career-defining performance and Margaret Qualley an internet-breaking one. It has the impetus of history behind it, with the chance to become the first horror movie to win best picture (some people say that was The Silence of the Lambs, I would say no, that was a police procedural). It's also a movie for movie lovers, from The Shining references to the Lynchian distortion of physical space, and one that once again encourages the viewer to think: what does this remind me of? (I was transported back to the 90s, and Peter Jackson's Bad Taste on VHS).
There are umpteen reasons to recommend this film for Hollywood's most important bauble, and it's possible to do so wholeheartedly thanks to the knowledge that, in reality, The Substance has no chance of winning at all. It's a trashy horror film that makes you want to puke, for God's sake, and – get this – it's even made by a woman! Still, it's the Academy's loss. The Substance will probably continue unaffected: bouncing around our various screens and inside our heads, pulling us up short. This meme of a movie has a life of its own.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Bruce Willis' wife reveals how he secretly continued acting amid dementia battle
Bruce Willis ' wife Emma Heming is opening up for the first time about how the action legend continued working on film sets even as his health quietly declined behind the scenes. In her upcoming book The Unexpected Journey, out September 9, 2025, Heming shares intimate details about the extraordinary lengths taken to help Bruce remain in front of the camera as symptoms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) began to take hold. Emma, 46, reveals directors reduced his dialogue, and a close friend was brought in to discreetly feed him lines through an earpiece during filming, per The Daily Beast. These strategies allowed the Die Hard star, now 70, to complete roles in movies like Assassin (2023) and the Detective Knight trilogy (2022–2023) without drawing public attention to his condition. Willis' diagnosis was first revealed in 2022 as aphasia, a language disorder, but by February 2023, his family confirmed it had progressed into frontotemporal dementia (FTD)—a degenerative brain disease that impacts speech, behavior, and cognitive function. Since then, Bruce has stepped out of the spotlight, with rare updates from his wife and daughters. Emma and Bruce have been married since 2009 and share two daughters: Mabel, 12, and Evelyn, 10. He also has three adult daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore — Rumer, 36, Scout, 32, and Tallulah, 30. Earlier this spring, Rumer told Extra that her father is 'doing great,' adding, 'He's really good.' Emma revealed on Instagram that she wrote the book to support others navigating a similar diagnosis, offering guidance to both patients and their loved ones. 'I really wrote the book that I wish someone had handed me the day we got our diagnosis with no hope, no direction … not much. Today life looks different for me and our family because I was able to put support into place,' she said. She added, 'This isn't a memoir, it's a self-help guide for caregivers, written to hold space for our heartbreak and our healing.' It comes after a 2022 report by the Los Angeles Times detailed the cognitive decline Willis displayed on movie sets before his aphasia battle forced him to retire. In the three years leading up to his retirement, Willis appeared in 22 low-budget action films often referred to as 'geezer teasers.' But behind the scenes, crew members began noticing troubling signs. The action icon, once known for his commanding presence, had become increasingly confused on set, frequently requiring an earpiece to have his lines fed to him and sometimes struggling to remember why he was there. 'It was clear that he was not the Bruce I remembered,' said White Elephant director Jesse V. Johnson, who had known Willis since his stuntman days, told the LA Times. During filming, Willis asked crew members, 'I know why you're here, and I know why you're here, but why am I here?' Johnson was told to complete Willis' scenes by lunch to avoid taxing him. Other troubling moments were reported across multiple productions. On the set of Hard Kill, at least two crew members said Willis misfired a gun loaded with blanks, missing his cue and putting castmates at risk. Actress Lala Kent recalled one misfire during a scene where he was supposed to deliver a line before pulling the trigger. 'The first time, it was like, 'No big deal, let's reset,'' she said. But when it happened again, she asked the director to remind him of the timing. Other crew members confirmed the incident and noted they were always cautious to keep people out of the line of fire when Willis handled weapons. Despite this, some close collaborators denied the gun misfires ever occurred. Producer Randall Emmett and the film's armorer both disputed the reports. Still, concern among crews grew. The LA Times reported that nearly two dozen people who worked with Willis raised red flags about his health. Willis' team took significant steps to accommodate his condition. His roles were shortened, his shooting days capped at two, and he often worked only four hours a day. In a June 2020 email, Out of Death director Mike Burns requested a last-minute rewrite: 'We need to knock down Bruce's page count by about five pages… and abbreviate his dialogue so that there are no monologues.' Willis' struggles were visible to many. On the set of American Siege in 2020, he was spotted wearing an earpiece—two years before his family publicly revealed his diagnosis of aphasia, a language disorder that later progressed into FTD. Paradise City, filmed in Maui, was one of his final projects. Director Chuck Russell praised his effort, saying he 'brought his A-game,' but others on previous sets, like White Elephant's production supervisor Terri Martin, painted a more somber picture: 'He just looked so lost… He always tried his best.' Mike Burns, who worked with Willis again on Wrong Place, was told by one associate that Bruce was 'a whole different person' and in better shape than the previous year. Still, the actor increasingly relied on stunt doubles for action sequences and needed extensive off-camera support. Before his diagnosis, Willis had racked up more than 70 film credits since beginning his career in the 1970s. He rose to fame on Moonlighting and became an international star as John McClane in Die Hard. Beyond Die Hard, Willis left his mark with roles in Pulp Fiction, The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, 12 Monkeys, and more—cementing himself as one of Hollywood's most bankable leading men. He is now retired from acting, with his family periodically updating fans on Willis amid his dementia battle.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Demi Moore divides followers after rescuing orphaned ducklings
has three new furry family members - adorable orphaned ducklings. The actress, 62, has rescued baby mallards and is now caring for them with the assistance of her local veterinarian until they are ready to return to the wild. 'Duck, duck... Pilaf!' Demi announced to her followers as she introduced her feathered friends last week. 'We rescued three orphaned baby mallard ducklings! With the help and guidance of my local vet we are working to nurture them until they are old enough to be reintroduced to their natural habitat. It has been a messy joy, but Pilaf is loving her new friends.' The post included an array of photos of the tiny siblings with Demi, including two of the babies hanging out with her ever-present dog Pilaf. The three ducklings have clearly bonded with Demi, as they were even seen lining up and dutifully following her about. While the majority of the comments were positive, a few were critical of Demi's decision to take in the animals, insisting they should be cared for by a professional. has contacted representatives for Demi for comment about the criticism but did not immediately hear back. The ducklings sparked quite a debate amongst a few commenters who were angered by Demi taking in the babies. 'This is not ok . Wild mallards should be rehabbed by wildlife rehabber. Her vet should have known that. Sorry.. cute but imprinted,' one posted. 'Exactly,' another replied in agreement. 'Not a good practice. They won't be successful as wild ducks.' Another said: 'Yeah this is messed up, these ducks need to go to a wildlife rehab.' A Demi defended stepped in: 'Easy tiger, we don't know the exact story, just a few pics...' 'not much more of that story.. its simple these are now imprinted ducks. Just because a celebrity thinks its cute doesn't make it right and like i said her vet should have known better. Find a licensed rehabber end of story.' 'What happened to mom! If they imprint to you- there is no way you should release them. That will work against them in the wild as they follow humans around and then fish and wildlife unalives them for that very reason. Talk to a wildlife rehab facility,' another said. The majority of the comments, however, were positive and besotted by the sight of the tiny ducks. Paris Hilton dropped a heart-eyes emoji to the comments section, while Jennifer Garner shared a few sweet emojis as well. Tom Hanks' wife Rita Wilson gushed, 'Oh my goodness! How sweet is this?' The post also showed her daughter Tallulah getting to know the ducks and her granddaughter Louetta fawning over one in her lap. The ducklings aren't the only animals in Demi's life, as the actress famously has an ever-present companion - her tiny fluffy chihuahua Pilaf. 'The truth is, I am her accessory,' Demi gushed to American TV host Stephen Colbert on The Late Show earlier this year. A few fans defended her from the criticism She explained how she tried to secure her treasured pup a Guinness World Record for her minuscule stature. 'We looked into this because she literally is the size of a guinea pig,' the actress said. Sadly, Pilaf's legs were too long. On top of her fur babies, she also has three children with her ex-husband Bruce Willis - daughters Rumer, 36, Tallulah, 31, and Scout, 33. Demi and Bruce became grandparents in 2023 after Rumer welcomed her first child, daughter Louetta, with her now ex-boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas.
The Sun
31-05-2025
- The Sun
Rumer Willis praises dad Bruce in rare public comment amid his Dementia battle
RUMER Willis has praised her dad Bruce in a rare public comment amid his Dementia battle. Following in her much loved father's footsteps, Rumer is also becoming an action hero. 5 5 5 Bruce Willis had his first three children in the late 80s and 90s, with actress and ex-wife, Demi Moore. The couple split in the late 90s and Bruce went on to have two more children with model Emma Heming who he married in March 2009. The five girls, along with Demi and Emma, released a joint statement in March 2022 sharing that Bruce had been diagnosed with aphasia and would retire from acting. Aphasia is a medical condition resulting in the inability to understand words and communicate clearly, aphasia typically occurs after a stroke or head injury. Then, 10 months later, another statement was shared which revealed that he received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). FTD is "an umbrella term for a group of brain diseases that mainly affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain", according to the Mayo Clinic. The site states: "These areas of the brain are associated with personality, behavior, and language." Born August 16, 1988, in Kentucky, Rumer is the first daughter of Demi and Bruce. She made her film debut in Now And Then (1995), acting alongside her mother, and has also appeared in three films with her father - The Whole Nine Years (2000), Hostage (2005), and Air Strike (2018). In 2015 she made her Broadway debut in the musical Chicago and also won season 20 of Dancing with the Stars. Bruce Willis' daughter shares rare update on dad's health amid tragic dementia battle She also starred in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood as actress Joanna Pettet. In her new movie, out in theatres now, Rumer is playing a widow on the warpath in filmmaker Johnny Remo's Trail of Vengeance. And she has praised her father's career as part of the reason for her own desire to jump into the genre. In a recent interview she said: "My dad is such an action man." She added: "My mom's done her fair share [of action] as well." Mom Demi starred in GI Jane and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle. Speaking to People magazine, mom-of-one Rumer said that she "would love to do an action movie with" Demi, calling the idea "so fun". She added: "I felt like a little kid when I found out I got [this role]" She also shared that she is a huge fan of the Western genre including Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone and 1883. Set in 1875, Trails of Vengeance follows Rumer's character, Katherine Atherton, a widow whose life is upended by her husband's murder, orchestrated by a nefarious colonel. But in her quest for vengeance, she unexpectedly crosses paths with a former Pinkerton agent, a man with a troubled past. 5 5
