The Substance Ending Explained: What Happened to Elisabeth and Sue?
Not many deserve 2024, the name of “film of the year”. The Substance is a credible candidate. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, with Demi Moore is Margaret Qualley, awarded in Cannes 2024 for the Best Screenplay, in Italian theaters he arrives on 30 October 2024 for I Wonder Pictures. Body-horror of the Cronenbergian, satirical, and exuberant staging school, the risk (here the review) is to stop at the surface of the story and miss what’s underneath, the lucid, angry, and mischievously amused way with which Coralie Fargeat speaks to us of identity, femininity, truth and perception, pornography of the gaze and construction and destruction of the body. It is not a little, but the strength of the film is precisely this: to use the genre, the thickness of the interpretations – the very good ones Demi Moore is Margaret Qualley – is an image never shy to combine provocation, reflection, shock, and entertainment. It’s not an easy movie, The Substance. Sharp, never banal, perversely fun. It is not easy. To do a little clarity amid a very stimulating complexity, here is the explanation of the ending of the film. As always, watch out for spoilers!
The ending of The Substance of Coralie Fargeat is a tragic conclusion, to say the least to a crazy mix of comedy, drama, and body horror, which brings to light issues such as self-esteem and self-destruction in the entertainment industry. The film focuses on the “Substance” of the title, a mysterious serum that allows those who use it to create a younger copy of themselves. The use of serum allows the guest to spend a week in a perfect “body” and another, in its normal form, although there is a rather strict set of rules on how to keep the process active. The main characters in the film are two sides of the same person: the star Elisabeth (Demi Moore), now on the avenue of sunset, and its younger version, which is renamed by the woman as Sue (Margaret Qualley). The Substance it’s a dark comedy on the entertainment industry, but it is also – at a deeper level – a tragic horror story about the sacrifices that Elisabeth and Sue are willing to make to fulfill their ambitions, even if these sacrifices concern themselves. Seeing more and more as two rivals, the two sides of Elisabeth – the adult woman and her younger version – end up orchestrating their ruin are their own. The themes related to Elisabeth’s narrative arc allow the film to rise beyond comedy and body horror, adding a personal level of tragedy and solemnity to history. Here’s how the ending of The Substance highlights the thematic core of the same film.
The Substance: The Story Plot
The formula Coralie Fargeat: use the genre, the frame of a spectacular cinema –, even violent and disgusting, if necessary – and revving to tell what it means to be a woman. So, it was for the dazzling debut, Revenge (2017), the violent thriller with Matilda Lutz, revolutionary for the audacity with which she used the rape of the protagonist to thicken her speech and “justify” the subsequent bloodbath. So it is, it could not be otherwise, for The Substance. The key to good cinema is often an idea that can be summarized in a few words or a few lines. In this case: the story of a woman who tries to escape the tyranny of time and the merciless gaze of society with a method that is dangerously out of hand, to the point of destroying it. Her name is Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) and she was once a Hollywood star, he also won an Oscar. She is now a gorgeous middle-aged woman who conducts an aerobics program on television. His professional destiny is sealed. The head of the network, the vulgar and blossomed Harvey (Dennis Quaid and the name of the character is no coincidence) wants to get rid of it and replace it with a younger colleague. Elisabeth, at her age, is useless for the entertainment industry. Desperate for the future, and very depressed, she learns of the existence of a mysterious procedure, in all probability prohibited by law, which could be right for her.
The procedure by which Coralie Fargeat provides us with the bare minimum of information because it is the only way to make it work on the screen is called, in fact, The Substance. It is a miraculous serum that allows the person who injects it to come up with a younger and more captivating version of himself. Pull out literally. The serum does not rejuvenate Elisabeth but, from her body, from her spine, “extracts” Sue (Margaret Qualley). Despite the evidence of two distinct bodies, the mysterious male voice on the phone – representing the holders of the procedure – invites Elisabeth and Sue not to make the mistake of considering themselves separate, because they are and remain one person. Consciousness is transmitted from one to the other every week. For seven days there is only Elisabeth, for the next seven Sue. Sue is beautiful, sexy, and seductive. Conquer everyone on the network to the point that Harvey first assigns her the Elisabeth program and then the prestigious year-end show. From this moment on, everything falls apart.
The Substance Ending Explained: The Transformation of Elisabeth and Sue Into the Finale?
The final transformation into The Substance is tragic and frightening at the same time and reflects the central themes of the film. After killing Elisabeth, Sue initially believes she can finally live her life without the weight of her older version. However, his body quickly begins to deteriorate in the absence of serum. This leads her to try to reuse the Activator, a disposable serum, but the resulting transformation is a grotesque hybrid between Elisabeth and Sue. In particular, Elisabeth is somehow brought back to life, but only as a face trapped on Sue’s body.
Seen from the audience like a monster, Sue is forced to flee the New Year’s show, but she can barely get away before her body collapses and destroys herself. This is a melancholy turning point within the film: Sue is dead, more or less, and Elisabeth is reduced to a face with little time available. This transformation reflects the bitter side of Elisabeth and Sue, which has become increasingly evident during the film, with their physical form ending up reflecting their monstrous choices. However, the film does not enhance the transformation but paints both of them as pathetic and tragic figures.
Why Does Sue Kill Elizabeth? What Does it Mean?
A fundamental element of The Substance is represented by repeated attempts by the mysterious company to convince Elisabeth to see Sue as an extension of herself. However, as the film progresses, Elisabeth and Sue begin to see themselves more and more as rivals fighting for control of life itself. This animosity grows until Sue decides to maintain control, despite repeated warnings about possible consequences, leading Elisabeth to shrink into a new and worn form. When he finally manages to regain control, he tries to kill Sue. However, her ego and horror of her actions lead her to spare her younger version.
Upon awakening, however, Sue does not show the same indulgence and eventually kills Elisabeth. On a narrative level, this moment underlines how much Elisabeth has lost control over her desires and her values. His younger ego killed his true self. In the plot, this reveals Sue’s downfall, as she quickly disintegrates without Elisabeth to safely supply her with the serum necessary for her existence. Always on a narrative level, destroying his true self and taking full control of his life, Sue quickly wears out and turns into the last monster of the film.
Who is the Supplier of The Substance?
One of the mysteries behind The Substance is the identity of the organization that produces The Substance. Elisabeth only gets to know about it from an unnamed nurse she meets after a car accident, and she considers the woman an ideal candidate for the trial. The inventor of the serum remains a mystery throughout the film since the organization behind its production communicates only through anonymous phone calls or messages. Each time, Elisabeth withdraws the serum from a secret delivery point in downtown Los Angeles, without ever communicating directly with anyone and never finding out who created it.
However, the organization is never identified by the film itself as a problem. The same is very direct in its advice and in the evaluation of the growing tensions between Elisabeth and Sue but never tries to convince Elisabeth to stop or continue the use of serum. When Elisabeth contemplates the idea of ending the process, the organization explains the rules and leaves her the choice. The fate of Elisabeth and Sue is decided only by themselves. This highlights one of the main themes of the film, namely that the self-destruction of Elisabeth and Sue is caused only by their own decisions.
What Happens to Harvey and the “Pump It Up” Program?
One of the greatest tragedies of The Substance is the lack of clear consequences for Harvey and the other producers who benefit from the suffering of Elisabeth and Sue. Introduced as a slimy and misogynistic producer behind “Pump It Up”, the fitness program conducted by Elisabeth, Harvey welcomes the dismissal of the woman, involuntarily hitting her insecurities and pushing her to use the serum. Harvey’s tough attitude earns him recognition and a successful program thanks to Sue. Even if his New Year’s show is in ruins, there is no indication in the film that he is blamed for it.
The themes of The Substance highlight how the entertainment industry can make people feel interchangeable, with a group of cruel figures at the top that dictate the careers and lives of others as they please. There is no clear punishment for Harvey, whose last prominent moment in the film sees him together with a group of old rich white men who stare at the young artists and tell Sue to smile. Probably, Harvey will find a new star for “Pump It Up ” and will not suffer any consequences … a sad reminder that predatory producers like him still exist and continue to be successful in Hollywood.
The True Meaning of The Substance?
The real moral of The Substance is tragic, highlighting how someone can become (literally) the worst enemy of himself. Elisabeth is underestimated and put aside because of her age, despite her celebrity and decades of success behind her. Although Harvey (whose age is comparable to Elisabeth’s) is at the height of her career, the age for women is a responsibility, something to worry about. However, neither he nor the serum is what brings Elisabeth to ruin. Rather, it is her doubts, the sense of inadequacy, and the growing self-esteem problems that lead her to ignore her natural beauty and potential.
Elisabeth’s attempt to prepare for an appointment and her inability to complete it is a great example in this regard: it is an opportunity for self-acceptance and inner peace that she sacrifices in exchange for the admiration of others. Sue’s success forces Elisabeth to further lose herself in hatred for herself, further fueling the ambitions of her younger version. Their growing mental divide transforms two sides of the same person into two fierce enemies. Elisabeth and Sue are their worst enemies; this leads to a tragic conclusion for both. The Substance is a powerful story that uses the subgenus of body horror to highlight how social expectations can shape a person, to the point of making them unrecognizable.
How Far Does Elizabeth Go Through Youth and Fame?
The Beginning of Decline
As “The Substance” progresses, Elizabeth, exhausted by the pressure of being replaced, begins to use The Substance to alternate between her aging self and Sue, her younger version. Initially, the plan seems to work, as Sue manages to regain the fame Elizabeth once had, featuring shows and grabbing public attention. However, Elizabeth’s young version begins to abuse The Substance, stretching her shifts and draining Elizabeth’s vitality. This causes Elizabeth’s body to age rapidly, symbolizing her slow decline and her increasing dependence on Sue for survival.
The Final Confrontation
Eventually, Elizabeth fed up with being displaced by her younger version, decides to finish the experiment. Try to inject Sue with a termination fluid to end her existence. However, in a moment of doubt and seeing the bright lights of the world that was once hers, Elizabeth changes her mind and revives Sue. This triggers a brutal confrontation between the two, in which Sue, younger and stronger, dominates Elizabeth and ends up murdering her violently, while the screen reminds the public: “Remember that you are one.”
The Monstrous Transformation
With Elizabeth out of the way, Sue tries to continue her life as a star, but her abuse of The Substance has consequences. Your body begins to decompose rapidly, losing teeth, nails, and even an ear. In a desperate attempt to save himself, he uses the activator again, but instead of restoring his youth, he creates a grotesque monster that fuses Elizabeth and Sue into a deformed entity. This being desperately tries to regain fame, but is rejected and attacked by the audience, culminating in a bloody confrontation where the creature regenerates its body over and over again.
The Outcome?
The monster eventually explodes, leaving Elizabeth’s face alone among the remains. In a symbolic moment, his face tries to crawl towards the Hollywood star that we saw at the beginning of the film, before disappearing under an illusory glitter rain. The film closes with the sweep of Elizabeth’s remains at dawn, signaling how quickly stardom and relevance can fade.
