In The Substance ending, Sue’s greed leads to her transformation into a grotesque creature, Monstro Elisasue, after Elisabeth’s death. Desperate for youth, Sue misuses the serum, resulting in her downfall. Elisabeth’s disembodied face melds with her star, symbolizing her tragic fall from fame and society’s toxic beauty standards.
Highlights
- “The Substance” explores society’s obsession with youth and beauty through Elisabeth and Sue’s journey.
- Elisabeth uses a mysterious green serum to create a younger, more beautiful version of herself named Sue.
- Sue’s greed leads to a power struggle with Elisabeth, draining her life-force to stay in the spotlight.
- The film reflects a toxic society where people are judged solely based on their appearance.
- In the end, Sue becomes a grotesque creature, Monstro Elisasue, symbolizing the destructive pursuit of perfection.
- Elisabeth’s disembodied face melts into her faded Hollywood star, signifying the loss of relevance in showbiz.
- The movie criticizes society’s harsh standards and emphasizes the dangers of seeking external validation.
“The Substance” is a dark, thrilling exploration of society’s fixation on youth and beauty. Set in a world reminiscent of the late 70s or 80s, the film follows Elisabeth Sparkle, a TV show host whose 50th birthday brings the devastating news that her contract is not renewed.
Harvey, an arrogant producer, delivers the blow, revealing that her “renewal has stopped.” Elisabeth is left reeling, her confidence shattered by an industry that equates a woman’s value with her appearance.
Desperate to regain her former glory, Elisabeth encounters a mysterious green serum known as “the substance.” Given to her by a stranger, it promises to make her a better version of herself.
Injecting it causes her back to open up, birthing a clone named Sue. Unlike Elisabeth, Sue embodies the youth and beauty that the entertainment industry craves.
Soon, Sue becomes the face of a new morning show, gaining the approval and admiration Elisabeth once had. However, while Sue thrives, Elisabeth feels her own life slipping away.
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Sue’s Greed and Elisabeth’s Decline
Though Elisabeth is initially content to live vicariously through Sue, trouble arises when Sue becomes too attached to the spotlight.
Sue’s new life comes with a set of strict rules: she and Elisabeth must switch places weekly, with one living normally and the other in a state of paralysis.
However, Sue grows greedy. She delays their scheduled switches, draining more stabilizer fluid from Elisabeth’s spine than is safe.
As Elisabeth’s condition worsens, it becomes clear that Sue’s actions are not just selfish but dangerous. Sue’s desire to stay in control and keep up her new life leads her to take more from Elisabeth’s body, causing it to degenerate rapidly.
The more Sue takes, the more Elisabeth ages and deteriorates, becoming a shadow of her former self. Her once vibrant personality and life are slowly stripped away, mirroring the damaging effects of society’s obsession with unattainable standards.
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Did Sue Kill Elisabeth?
Despite Elisabeth’s body breaking down, Sue remains focused on maintaining her image and popularity. This dynamic between Elisabeth and Sue parallels a toxic relationship, much like a parent and child, with Elisabeth being the “matrix” or source of Sue’s existence.
Elisabeth eventually realizes that Sue’s selfishness is costing her everything, but by then, she’s already too weak to resist. In a last attempt, Elisabeth injects most of a termination serum into Sue, intending to end her creation’s life.
But Elisabeth falters at the last moment, reluctant to destroy the only part of herself that the world still values.
When a mishap during a scheduled switch leaves both Sue and Elisabeth awake, Sue’s rage takes over. She brutally beats Elisabeth to death, driven by her need to be free and stay in the limelight.
Elisabeth’s final moments reflect the despair of a woman trapped by societal expectations, watching a younger version of herself thrive while she fades away.
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The Rise of Monstro Elisasue
With Elisabeth gone, Sue’s desperation escalates. She injects herself with the last of the serum, hoping to maintain her youth and beauty, but something goes horribly wrong.
Instead of stabilizing her, the expired serum creates a monstrous new being: Monstro Elisasue. This grotesque creature is a blend of Sue and Elisabeth, symbolizing their shared trauma and desperation.
Monstro Elisasue is a twisted embodiment of both women’s dreams and insecurities. It has Elisabeth’s face on its back, reflecting the continued struggle for validation and acceptance.
Monstro Elisasue makes its way to the stage, attempting to relive Elisabeth’s memories of applause and admiration. But instead of cheers, the audience is horrified by the creature’s appearance.
The once-perfect Sue has become a hideous representation of the dangers of pursuing external validation at all costs.
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Monstro Elisasue’s Final Moments
As Monstro Elisasue crawls onto the stage, the crowd reacts in terror. The creature, wearing a cutout of Elisabeth’s face, desperately tries to perform, but its grotesque form evokes nothing but fear.
The audience’s rejection represents society’s harsh treatment of those who no longer fit its impossible standards. In trying to preserve her perfection, Sue ultimately destroys herself.
Monstro Elisasue’s journey ends tragically when it sneaks out of the studio, falling apart on the sidewalk. Sue dies in the process, consumed by her own greed and obsession with staying relevant.
Her downfall highlights the toxic cycle that begins with an obsession with youth and beauty and ends in self-destruction.
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The Symbolism of Elisabeth’s Star
In the film’s closing moments, Elisabeth’s disembodied face detaches from Monstro Elisasue’s back and crawls onto her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It melts into the star, symbolizing Elisabeth’s journey from stardom to irrelevance.
When Elisabeth was young and successful, her star shone brightly, reflecting the love and admiration she received. But as time passed and her beauty faded, the star cracked and lost its shine, just as Elisabeth was discarded by the industry that once adored her.
This powerful image underscores the film’s critique of a society that values women primarily for their looks.
Elisabeth’s star represents her fleeting success and the harsh reality of an industry that celebrates youth and discards those who no longer fit its standards.
The Message of “The Substance”
“The Substance” is a grim reflection on society’s obsession with perfection. Elisabeth and Sue’s journey highlights the destructive impact of unrealistic beauty standards on women’s lives.
Sue’s desperation to stay relevant mirrors the pressure many women face to maintain their youth and beauty in a world that values them primarily for their appearance.
The film suggests that basing one’s self-worth on external validation is a recipe for disaster. Elisabeth’s tragic story serves as a warning about the dangers of chasing societal approval at the expense of one’s identity.
The grotesque creature, Monstro Elisasue, embodies the soul-crushing pursuit of perfection, driven by the toxic expectations of society.
