Whether you call The Substance (2024) high-art horror, or a seemingly-real story of self-harm that turns into a horror show, one thing is certain: the tragedy that unfolds will leave a mark on you. Demi Moore stars as Elisabeth, an actor, fitness icon, and influencer who faces an abrupt end to her career, until she becomes Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. Has Elisabeth been liberated by this newer, younger version of herself? Because there are rules to living this double life, she soon learns about its limitations, and when rules are broken, a zany nightmare ensues. Guest Miriam Schulman talks about the movie’s depiction of violence against oneself, women under a microscope, treatment of older women, and the Oscar that never went to Demi Moore.
The Substance (2024) with Miriam Schulman
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