As a film enthusiast with a soft spot for genre cinema and a penchant for body-horror flicks that push the envelope, I can confidently say that “The Substance” is shaping up to be an unmissable addition to the genre. The slow, agonizing transformation of Demi Moore’s character, Elisabeth Sparkle, is a testament to the ingenuity and artistic vision of Coralie Fargeat and her team.
Warning: The Following Contains Mild Spoilers for The Substance
The chilling new horror film in the genre of body-horror, titled “The Substance“, has been generating a significant amount of excitement since its debut at Cannes earlier this year, and ahead of its theatrical release in September, the creators of this upcoming movie have shared the motivation behind Demi Moore’s grisly metamorphosis. In the film, Moore portrays Elisabeth Sparkle, a celebrity who is let go from her job hosting a fitness program due to her age and decides to inject an enigmatic substance into her body to transform herself into a “younger, more beautiful, more flawless” version. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, it’s safe to say that the outcome of Sparkle’s transformation isn’t at all what she had anticipated.
In a conversation with Total Film (through GamesRadar), Pierre Olivier Persin – a French expert in prosthetics who has worked on movies like “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Game of Thrones” – mentioned that he drew inspiration from the 1986 film, “The Fly,” directed by David Cronenberg, when it came to planning Moore’s metamorphosis in “The Substance.” His goal was to strike a balance in the transformation to ensure it wasn’t too abrupt and unexpected for viewers.
I was contemplating the character of The Fly, played by Jeff Goldblum. At first, he has hair on his back. One of his nails is falling off, a subtle decay. It happens gradually. He doesn’t transform into something grotesque all at once. Instead, we aimed to strike a balance in the transformation process. We didn’t want any particular stage to be too extreme, so when we witness the progression, it comes as a surprise.
Similar to the metamorphosis experienced by Goldblum in the film The Fly, which was orchestrated by Academy Award-winner Chris Walas, Inc., Moore experiences a gradual and agonizing change in The Substance. Unlike Goldblum’s transformation into an insect, a gnarled wound on her back produces the younger version of herself that she longs for, played by Margaret Qualley. The nature of Elisabeth’s transformation in the third act is better left undisclosed to avoid spoilers.
Demi Moore Was Intrigued by Sparkle’s Metamorphosis
For Demi Moore, ‘The Substance’ signifies a new milestone in her acting career. Kicking off her journey with the 1982 sci-fi horror film ‘Parasite’, the actress turned 61 has primarily avoided genre roles since then, which means she hasn’t had extensive use of body prosthetics over the past four decades. However, ‘The Substance’ broke this trend as Moore found herself spending hours in the make-up chair while Persi and his team worked their magic. Moore considers this an integral aspect of her role and a factor that drew her to portray Sparkle initially.
“I’ll put it this way: Reading the physical copy is undeniably less arduous than the real experience. It held an allure, a thrill. The team was exceptionally gifted. Yet, it’s a time-consuming process. It’s taxing. It demands a profound sense of calm, quietude. However, despite any discomfort or difficulty – for me, that’s what makes it appealing, because it pushes me beyond my routine life. And this aspect was crucial – and uniquely expressive – in narrating this tale.”
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2024-08-15 22:01