Three Notable Female-Directed Films Shining a Light on Desire, Ageism, and Choices Made
By Gilda Baum-Lappe and Sandy Rodriguez
Stories featuring memorable female characters, especially when their narratives are brought to life by women directors, can be especially powerful. In this series of articles, we dive into three such films—The Substance, Babygirl, and The Last Showgirl. Whether through sci-fi, sensuality, or heartfelt emotion, these films show how women can command the screen in thought-provoking ways.
Golden Globes judge Gilda Baum-Lappe and Heart Of Hollywood Magazine editor Sandy Rodriguez offer their unique takes on each of these cinematic experiences.
THE SUBSTANCE: Social Satire Meets Science Fiction
In a world where Hollywood often glamorizes youth and beauty, director Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance offers a stark, satirical commentary on the entertainment industry's obsession with staying young—no matter the cost.. Featuring stellar performances by Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid, the movie blends science fiction, dark humor, and body horror to explore how aging is viewed, particularly for women in Hollywood.
The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle, an aerobics instructor with a long-running TV show who suddenly finds herself out of a job. Devastated, she is offered a mysterious substance that promises to create An enhanced, younger version of herself. Gilda Baum-Lappe, a judge for the Golden Globes, and Sandy Rodriguez, editor of this magazine, recently discussed their thoughts on the movie, which is currently in theaters and soon to be available for home viewing. These are their opinions.
What was your emotional response to the movie and why?
G: I felt a lot—anger over how we, as women, can devalue ourselves and allow manipulation based on how others respond to our looks, sadness for the way we buy into shallow perceptions, and disgust at what women are at risk of experiencing. People might perceive a conceptual coherence without truly evaluating what really matters. It’s painful.
S: I was surprised that Demi Moore was cast as a "has-been" because, honestly, she looks spectacular! But that’s part of the satire—it shines a light on how Hollywood sees aging, particularly in females. The film is a biting commentary on the entertainment industry's obsession with youth.
Who would you recommend this movie to, and why?
G: I'd recommend it to anyone, especially women, as a reminder of the red flags we often miss in how society manipulates us into valuing appearance over substance. It’s crude and raw. It’s not trying to protect sensibilities. If you prefer a certain degree of social refinement, this is not for you, but it truly has some great acting, and even some humor.
S: I’d recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys social satire and doesn't mind body horror. I was concerned that the movie would be too scary, but to me it was not. There are no jump scares. There is, however, plenty of blood and violence, so it’s not for the squeamish. If you're someone who's interested in celebrity culture and the extremes people can go to with the intention of staying relevant, this film will resonate with you.
What was one of the most powerful scenes, in your opinion?
G: Even if it’s not directly related to the actual “substance” in the title, I felt the most impactful scene was the provocative way in which Dennis Quaid eats, or rather devours, four pounds of shrimp. Shot with a fish-eye lens, the scene was gruesome and macabre. The close-ups and sound effects made it repulsive yet memorable.
S: The moment that shows what happens once the main character has used the mysterious product for the first time. The pain and activities involved in bringing her improved version into existence are absurd and alarming, but many people do make painful sacrifices in their quest for beauty and youth.
What did you like the most about the movie?
G: I definitely feel that the most appealing aspects were Demi Moore’s acting and the impeccable portrayal of the younger version of Demi by Margaret Qualley. These are the reasons why the movie draws you in, along with the cinematography, which feels bold and bright, with intense colors from Benjamin Kracun, the cinematographer, using a fish eye lens for those uncomfortable closeups that make Dennis Quaid’s character appear even more grotesque.
S: The fact that average men, and not just industry executives, responded so differently to women based on whether they looked like Margaret or Demi seemed very poignant. I liked that this point was made. In real life pretty privilege and lookism are unfortunately alive and well, and the scenes involving a neighbor and a boyfriend seemed very believable even within this sci-fi framework.
What did you think of Demi Moore’s performance?
G: I recently saw Demi back ontop of her game, as one of Truman Capote’s swans in a series titled Capote vs. the Swans, but The Substance is quite different, like a feminist horror movie, where women crave unreasonable beauty standards created by the very objectification of women. I felt that the role was perfect for Demi and that her performance in this body horror tale with grotesque heights was perfect for its intention.
S: Her portrayal of Elisabeth Sparkle really captured that desperation that comes with feeling discarded or invisible. She brought a lot of depth to a role that could have easily been played for laughs.
Was there another actor’s performance you’d like to comment on?
G: Margaret Qualley, who played Sue, was impressive, truly perfect. And I felt the same way about her when I saw her in the Netflix series The Maid, in which she actually works alongside her real-life mother, Andie MacDowell, who plays her mom. In The Substance, Margaret is the younger version of Demi, both beautiful, perfect images of men’s fantasies taken to extreme limits by director Coralie Fargeat, who illustrates degrading gender conditions under the illusion of eternal youth.
S: Dennis Quaid’s performance really stood out to me. His character was both repulsive and hilarious. I had recently seen him in Reagan. It’s clear how versatile he is.
What were your thoughts on the special effects?
G: The prosthetics and makeup effects, including exploding heads, silicone dummies, and a gruesomely split-open spine, are used to depict the grisly requirements to attain youth, temporary beauty, elasticity, and, trust me, a lot of headaches!
S: They were often unsettling and gruesome, but essential to the story and very impressive.
How did the movie leave you feeling?
G: Slightly horrified, unsettled, but feeling that this exaggeration is a powerful dose of what I feel may women need to watch as a reality check. Disfigured faces, the exaggeration of unnatural lips, or chests, boobs and buttocks injected without knowing what effect this might eventually have. Plastic surgery, implants, fillers… these are so common and real in our society. Maybe a movie like The Substance is what we need to see the real red flags.
S: I far preferred the first part of the movie than the turns it takes toward the end. However, I found myself reflecting on ageism and how it can affect not just women in entertainment but anyone regardless of gender or occupation. Discrimination against all types of groups has been largely minimized or eradicated in modern society with one exception: ageism. This makes no sense, especially since everyone who is lucky enough to remain alive will eventually become a part of the group that now faces this form of discrimination.
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