Regarding the crude, Showgirls—cum—Zoolander caricature of the entertainment industry and the men within it... is this how women feel when watching 99% of the output of Hollywood? If so, that might be the most (unintentionally) subtle part of the screenplay from a movie whose successes feel limited to the way it manages new ways to undermine its own argument at every turn. Clodhoppingly unsubtle from beginning to end, a number of editing decisions and post-production additions add another level of thudding and condescending explanation for the viewer, cutting off any ability to see this as anything other than what it is on the surface.
When Marek Żydowicz, director of the cinematography festival Camerimage in Poland, recently questioned the process of achieving gender parity — "Can we sacrifice works and artists with outstanding artistic achievements solely to make room for mediocre film production?" — [director] Fargeat replied by withdrawing The Substance from the festival, along with a scheduled appearance by herself and [cinematographer] Kračun. "The Substance" is about the impact of exactly these types of behaviours on our world," she said. "We shouldn't tolerate them any more. We send our support to all involved in the festival and hope this decision will help create a much-needed change.
— Jane Giles (Sight and Sound, Winter 2024)
Synopsis: A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.