The Substance star Demi Moore has spoken out about how the themes of the critically-acclaimed body horror are connected to the results coming out of the US election.
As reported by Variety, Moore, speaking in Paris while receiving a career tribute at the French Cinematheque, said: “America is built on Puritans, religious fanatics and criminals. [And] you’re kind of seeing [as much] in our election right now.”
Moore’s speech comes as Donald Trump edges closer to officially winning the US election, with other stars from the entertainment world already reacting to his apparent victory.
Demi Moore as Elisabeth in ‘The Substance’. CREDIT: MUBI
The Substance is written and directed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, and follows Elisabeth (Moore), an aging TV host who takes a mysterious injection to create a new, better version of herself (Sue, played by Margaret Qualley). Exploring the notion of beauty standards and competition between women, it includes a lot of nudity on both Moore and Qualley’s part – which Moore directly referenced in her speech.
“Sexuality is always taboo,” she said. “And there’s a lot of fear in America around the body. That’s something I’ve never understood or related to. I’ve certainly stirred the pot in a few of the films I’ve chosen, which is partly because [I’ve never understood that fear] of the body. It never made sense why we can celebrate the body in art, but fear it in cinema.
“Being someone of a certain age, there was greater value in showing oneself with complete abandon. Being willing to be seen with flaws, with imperfections, [as someone that is] clearly not 20 or 30 years old, being a little bit more ‘loosely wrapped.’”
Margaret Qualley as Sue in ‘The Substance’. CREDIT: MUBI
She continued: “I’ve been asked, ‘Could a man have directed this?’,” said Moore. “And yes, maybe a man could, but I don’t think a man could have written [it].”
The film has been a hit among critics and audiences alike, extending its lead as MUBI’s highest-earning movie at the box office over recent weeks with global earnings of more than £33 million ($43 million). It’s also now available to stream at home.
The Substance scored a five-star review from NME, with Nick Levine writing: “Played brilliantly and heartbreakingly by Demi Moore, Elisabeth Sparkle is a bit like 1980s Jane Fonda, but without the depth.
“Given that Moore’s own body has been scrutinised for decades – particularly in the 2000s, when she had the temerity to marry the younger Ashton Kutcher – her casting is a meta masterstroke from writer-director Coralie Fargeat.”
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