Question about The Substance ***SPOILER ALERT***

The Activator was only supposed to be used once, when Elisabeth hatched Sue.

Susie? You must mean Sue.

Is The Substance like The Potion?

I was wondering about something too, if I may piggyback on your spoiler thread.

At first I thought it was the same person, Elisabeth, in Sue while it was her week. But it seemed like they were unaware of each others actions until they were in control during their week. Elisabeth being pissed about Sue taking extra time and her bitchy TV interview, Sue being pissed Elisabeth was just sitting around and eating etc.

If Elisabeth wasn't also experiencing life as Sue during her turn then what was the point? Elisabeth was basically just asleep for a week and then an agoraphobic shut in holed up in her apartment for her "awake" week.

[quote]If Elisabeth wasn't also experiencing life as Sue during her turn then what was the point?

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

At one point Elisabeth goes to her locker to pick up her stuff. While there, it seems as if she hears muffled noises and she looks around. I kind of wondered if that scene was supposed to be meaningful.

I love it when she’s in that diner and meets the elder-queen version of the hot nurse who first turned her into the substance. There could be a whole follow-up film about that person’s story.

*onto

I just saw the movie last night and loved it. I did have to look away a few times but Moore, Qualley, and Quaid were all wonderful in it.

Yeah I agree R4, she basically is just losing half her life while the other chick is fucking her over. If the point was the other one was supposed to be making her enough money to never have to work, then I guess I get it. But not really. She wasn't getting to enjoy the being young again part, so why bother? I would have fucked that guy up who gave me the number. I was so pissed she didn't go on the date with her high school friend.

First of all, Demi deserves to be recognized for being willing to bare all for this movie, and it will go down as one of her very best films. That said, there was definitely a shady, campy queen behind that old lady finger!

I quickly understood much of the movie is very much related to and portrays a woman’s perspective of aging, and that as men, even gay men, we get sort of a pass in society. The scene in the restaurant when the old man spills his wallet and reveals who he is was brilliant, and as a happily married gay man, exposed some of my own sharp fear about being lonely if my husband dies before I do. I am an introvert, don’t like meeting people, and keep to myself.

I am 13 years sober from meth, and one day at meeting with dozens of men sitting in a sunlit room, while up front as a chairperson facing them, like a beacon of light- I realized the sheer driving force to do drugs or drink AND to get sober within a group of others with the same issue is and always be LONELINESS, AND LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF. Or keep trying to fight it.

These were essentially the two themes of the movie, splashed with John Waters flair.

Despite being a former addict, I wouldn’t shoot up anything out of a generic box, they could’ve flashed out her desperation and why she’d do so- or have crafted the premise a bit better.

R11 Nice, I'll have 11 years on 11/9. I'm sure this movie is allegorical for drugs too, your sober self is Demi asleep in the closet, while your drunk/high self is Sue, going balls to the wall for just one more day, despite what her Demi-self will feel like in the morning. As far as the asshole who turned her onto it, why the fuck did he need to be young and hot? He was a nurse or doctor, he would still make money either way, he had an actual skill, so that didn't make sense to me.

Aww, congrats on your sobriety R12. I had a client just like Demi, in that she looked GREAT for her age, but you could hear the faltering old lady in her voice and her intonation crackle, especially when she felt nervous, rushed, or threatened by the beauty of another woman, They also cannot hide their age in their hands, which is why the opera gloves, wraparound coat and old finger were such a great devices- and the visage of her other beauty on the billboard bearing down on her while the clock is ticking.

I’ve met women that beat the clock with makeup and preparation, and will totally freak out if their hair and presentation aren’t perfectly on point, I dealt with one yesterday.

I grew up ordinary, then by working out and a bit on my appearance, for about four years I could turn every head in my late 20’s and got away with murder- I was a bartender in a famous club. For about a year I was in full page advertisements for the bar and my boss was just like the one in the film. It was fun, but I knew there was an expiration date and made the most of it!

[Quote] If Elisabeth wasn't also experiencing life as Sue during her turn then what was the point?

That’s basically the point of the movie. If you have to change into a completely different person to get what you want, are [italic]you[/italic] really getting it?

R10, I totally agree. I’ve just watched it last night. Demi Moore was amazing and I’m happy to see her get some award consideration but that plot point regarding the substance really annoyed me. I have to say. That final scene at that live studio broadcast was kinda funny and the last shot was pretty sad.

Well no though R14. Because if I get plastic surgery and shit to get things I want, I'm still the one getting the things, using them, enjoying them. This is just her sleeping through part of her life and waking up aged and with no memories and nothing to show for it.