Coralie Fargeat’s ‘The Substance’ Sparks Oscar Buzz with Feminist Horror

LONDON, UK – Coralie Fargeat, the Paris-based filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed horror film *The Substance*, is making waves in the awards season. The film, which stars Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, has garnered multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress. Fargeat’s unflinching exploration of beauty standards and societal pressures has positioned her as a standout voice in feminist cinema.

*The Substance* follows Elisabeth (Demi Moore), a fading fitness TV star who, on her 50th birthday, is offered a Faustian deal to regain her youth. The catch? She must alternate weeks with her younger, “perfect” self, Sue (Margaret Qualley). The film’s visceral body horror and unapologetic critique of patriarchal beauty standards have divided critics and audiences alike.

Fargeat, 48, is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Her 2017 debut feature, *Revenge*, a rape-revenge thriller, was so graphic that a viewer reportedly had a seizure at its premiere. “I like to create a visceral visual experience,” Fargeat said in an interview. “I fully went for it – embraced my singularity as a strength, not a flaw.”

Born and raised in Paris, Fargeat found solace in cinema from an early age. “I didn’t feel at ease in real life. I was super shy. When I watched films, that’s where I felt alive,” she recalled. Her love for horror films, often considered a male-dominated genre, became a source of empowerment. “I felt like I had access to a world that was not supposed to be mine,” she said.

*The Substance* has been praised for its bold visual style and thematic depth, but it has also sparked debate. Some critics argue that the film’s graphic violence and hyperreal depiction of female bodies still cater to the male gaze. Fargeat, however, sees it differently. “The movie is violent, it is excessive, it is unsubtle. But I never censor myself,” she said. “I was trying to deconstruct, explode the idea of beauty.”

Demi Moore’s performance as Elisabeth has been hailed as a career resurgence. Fargeat admitted that casting Moore was a gamble. “I knew it was going to be tough to have an actress accept that part. It puts her in a very dangerous place,” she said. But Moore, who turned 60 during filming, embraced the role. “She wanted to get her narrative back for herself,” Fargeat explained.

Margaret Qualley, who plays Sue, underwent a physical transformation to embody the “perfect” woman. “We created prosthetic boobs. She really worked to create this perfect, curvy body where everything sweats sex appeal,” Fargeat said. The film’s grotesque imagery, including a self-birthing scene, has left audiences both horrified and captivated.

Fargeat’s work challenges societal norms and the pressures women face to conform to impossible beauty standards. “Every culture has its own standard of what is valued. But it’s always the same violence,” she said. “It’s a trap. It’s not going to solve the way you can have a fulfilling relationship with the world.”

*The Substance* is now streaming on Mubi, inviting viewers to confront their own perceptions of beauty, identity, and self-worth.