In The Substance, Elisabeth and Sue are considered to be different versions of the same person, yet the two women have many differences that make them stand out as their own separate (and flawed) individuals. Released in 2024, The Substance is a body horror movie that follows an aging celebrity named Elisabeth. When Elisabeth is unexpectedly fired from her job due to her age, she seeks the help of a mysterious new procedure that supposedly creates a younger version of herself. Thus, Elisabeth creates Sue. Yet, Sue and Elisabeth begin to disagree, and their mutual destruction begins from there.
Part of the greatness of The Substance is the outstanding performances by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. As Elisabeth and Sue, respectively, the women manage to play off each other in incredibly interesting ways. They prove that they are deeply connected, yet have irrevocable differences that ultimately lead to their undoing. Overall, The Substance’s cast helps boost the movie to fantastic heights that are intriguing, horrifying, and absolutely disgusting. There is so much to analyze about the movie, and one great place to start is the distinctions between Elisabeth and Sue.
9 Elisabeth Is Older Than Sue
Elisabeth Is Wiser Than Sue
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One of the most obvious and most important differences between Elisabeth and Sue is their ages. In real life, Moore is 61, while Qualley is 29. In this way, Sue is half of Elisabeth’s age, and is treated differently because of that. Where Elisabeth is considered to be out of style and less attractive to society, Sue is seen as perfect in every way. She is beautiful, energetic, and brings a doe-eyed innocence that makes her irresistible to everyone around her.
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The Substance explores issues of ageism, misogyny, and the pursuit of youth through its body horror, never losing sight of the catalyst of the events.
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Yet, at the same time, Elisabeth is much wiser than Sue because of her age. Although choosing to use the Substance likely wasn’t the best choice for Elisabeth, she seems to be careful about the process. She follows all the instructions and is determined to stick to the rules. Sue does not feel the same, and that ends up being her and Elisabeth’s downfall. Sue’s greed for her own youth leads to Elisabeth’s rapid aging and both of their demises.
8 Sue Looks Physically Different Than Elisabeth Does
How Sue & Elisabeth Differ Physically
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The other major difference that audiences notice right off the bat is that Sue and Elisabeth look different. While they both have dark hair and somewhat similar physiques, there are key differences between them. Sue has blue eyes while Elisabeth has green ones. Sue’s hair tends to curl and bounce whereas Elisabeth’s is long and straight. Sue has a gap between her teeth that Elisabeth does not have. These distinctions are more than just age; they make Sue and Elisabeth feel like completely different people.
The Substance
was directed by French filmmaker, Coralie Fargeat.
There are also differences in what Sue and Elisabeth can physically do with their bodies. Sue is incredibly flexible, but Elisabeth never shows that side of herself. Sue also seems to have more energy than Elisabeth does, and this gap between them only widens as Elisabeth continues to age. At a certain point, Elisabeth can barely walk normally, while Sue is in prime physical health. Elisabeth’s bloody fate proves that Sue is stronger than she is.
7 Elisabeth Is Less Provocative & Trendy In Her Style Than Sue
Sue & Elisabeth’s Style Explained
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An interesting point of difference between Elisabeth and Sue is their fashion sense. When Sue is born out of Elisabeth’s back, she quickly gathers a new wardrobe to fit her personality. This is mostly made up of crop tops, little shorts and skirts, and sneakers. She also wears tight athletic gear and fancy dresses. In this way, Sue is happy to show off her body and her peers seem to love it. She is trendy, sexy, and dressed appropriately for her age.
On the other hand, Elisabeth is far more demure. Her wardrobe typically consists of business attire, including colorful pantsuits, blouses, and jackets. Her yellow peacoat often appears in the movie, and is something she seems to hide behind, despite its bright color. Even when she dresses up, Elisabeth’s date night dress is not especially revealing. Unlike Sue, Elisabeth’s fashion is good, but it is used to cover up her body more than it is to show it off. Thus, no one seems to notice her, even though she is technically a celebrity.
6 Sue’s Birthmark Is In A Different Place Than Elisabeth’s
Why Did The Birthmark Change Places
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One very subtle but telling difference between Sue and Elisabeth is their birthmarks. When Elisabeth is preparing to take her first injection of the Substance, audiences see that she has a birthmark on her torso. Later, when Sue appears out of Elisabeth’s body, she is shown to have a similar birthmark, but in a slightly different area of her torso. The reappearance of the birthmark shows that Sue and Elisabeth are made of the same DNA, but the change in location simultaneously proves that the women are fundamentally different.
One The Substance question the movie never really dives into is the science of how Sue is created from Elisabeth. The birthmark clues audiences into how the process works. Sue is different from Elisabeth, but aspects of the two women are very similar, so parts of Elisabeth have transferred to Sue. It seems that the birthmark is a subtle detail that shows audiences how the women are connected. It also sets up the shocking reveal that the old man in the diner is also the young man from the doctor’s office.
5 Elisabeth Is More Self-Conscious Than Sue
Elisabeth’s Missed Opportunity Explained
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When it comes to personality, one of the biggest distinctions between Elisabeth and Sue is that Elisabeth is very self-conscious while Sue is far from it. The whole reason why Elisabeth takes the Substance in the first place is because she resents her age and wants to look different. At the same time, Sue puts herself directly into the limelight and eats up the attention. Elisabeth is certainly jealous of all the love Sue is getting, but can’t manage to put herself out there in the same way.
One particularly upsetting part of the movie that reflects Elisabeth’s lack of self-confidence is when she has a date with one of her old high school classmates.
One particularly upsetting part of the movie that reflects Elisabeth’s lack of self-confidence is when she has a date with one of her old high school classmates. Elisabeth is seemingly excited about the date and is looking forward to the attention he previously showed her. Yet, when she gets all dressed up, she overthinks how she looks and ends up ghosting her date. Elisabeth easily could have gotten the validation she wanted, but instead, became overwhelmed by her own self-consciousness.
4 Sue Isn’t Disgusted With Harvey But Elisabeth Is
What Harvey Represents In The Substance
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Although much of The Substance revolves around Elisabeth and Sue, other characters create obstacles for the two women. One of those obstacles is Harvey. Played by Dennis Quaid, Harvey is Elisabeth and Sue’s misogynistic and disgusting boss. From the very beginning, it is clear that Harvey is a terrible person, and Elisabeth doesn’t seem to like him very much. However, Sue doesn’t seem to have any qualms with Harvey, even when he objectifies her. Harvey is certainly nicer to Sue, but the substance of his character doesn’t really change all that much.
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The body horror film The Substance, starring Demi Moore, has gotten rave reviews since its release.
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Ultimately, it seems like Sue can put up with Harvey better than Elisabeth because Sue is still useful to Harvey. Harvey needs Sue to make money, and on the flip side, Sue needs Harvey to keep her famous. Elisabeth is completely out of this equation after Harvey fired her, so it is easier for her to hate him. However, at the end of the day, Harvey continues to represent the horrible ideals that society can hold about women and their age, no matter who he is talking to.
3 Sue Is At The Start Of Her Career Where Elisabeth’s Is Over
Could Elisabeth Have Continued Her Career?
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Small details aside, Sue and Elisabeth have vastly different lives. Where Elisabeth is hidden in her apartment all day, glued to the television and stress cooking, Sue is out on the town filming her show and doing magazine shoots. Elisabeth is seemingly at the tail end of her career, whereas Sue is at the very start of hers. However, it is important to note that Elisabeth was successful in her youth, and earned accolades that Sue never got, once again showing that Elisabeth’s experience trumps Sue’s.
Better yet, Elisabeth could have accepted that her career was over and found solace in settling down and forming connections with people.
One question that lingers over The Substance’s ending is whether Elisabeth could have revived her career without Sue. Though it is true that Harvey fired her, maybe there was another producer who might have seen something in her. Maybe Elisabeth could have pivoted into more serious acting roles rather than aerobics. Better yet, Elisabeth could have accepted that her career was over and found solace in settling down and forming connections with people. Yet, Sue’s ambitions never allowed this to happen.
2 Elisabeth Wants To Stay Young But Sue Doesn’t Care
Why Sue Ignores Elisabeth
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A major divide between Elisabeth and Sue in The Substance is the fact that Sue takes advantage of the Substance and leaves Elisabeth to deteriorate. Elisabeth’s main objective in the movie is to save her career and remain youthful through Sue. That means she cares deeply about Sue’s success, while also remaining concerned with her own looks. Thus, when Sue overextends her time, leading Elisabeth’s hand to rapidly age, she is horrified. Sue’s only continues to leave Elisabeth in the dust, while Elisabeth is desperate to stay young and beautiful.
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Overall, Sue’s arrogance is the main reason Elisabeth’s life is destroyed. Sue doesn’t respect Elisabeth’s life or her desires. She simply wants to be famous and focus on her own life. Yet, as the Substance warns, their lives are intertwined, so Elisabeth’s downfall will only lead to Sue’s. This is a huge difference between Sue and Elisabeth. While Elisabeth respects the balance between herself and Sue, Sue ignores the rules for her own benefit. She already has everything and doesn’t care what happens to Elisabeth in the meantime.
1 Sue Is More Horrified By Her Transformation Than Elisabeth Is
Why Does Elisabeth Accept Her Transformation
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A final subtle but interesting point that separates Elisabeth and Sue in The Substance is the fact that Sue is far more horrified by her transformation than Elisabeth is. Although Elisabeth is ashamed and disgusted by her aging body, she is forced to accept these changes as simply being part of life. Even when she is completely decrepit, she doesn’t give up completely. She even considers letting Sue live. This ends up being the entirely wrong decision.
The Substance
has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
On the other hand, Sue is completely horrified by the changes occurring to her body. She is scared by the chicken bone that comes out of her stomach and freaks out when her teeth and nails begin to fall out. Notably, Sue’s transformation is far bloodier than Elisabeth’s, but then again, Sue has much more to lose than Elisabeth does. Thus, their reactions in The Substance show how they are in different places in life, and what they are willing to give up for fame and adoration.
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6.5/10 The Substance RHorrorDrama
The Substance is a science fiction horror film that follows a group of individuals as they uncover the dark secrets surrounding a mysterious substance with otherworldly properties. As they delve deeper into the truth, they must confront the sinister forces driving its production and the catastrophic consequences that follow.
Director Coralie Fargeat Release Date September 20, 2024 Writers Coralie Fargeat Cast Demi Moore , Margaret Qualley , Dennis Quaid , Gore Abrams , Hugo Diego Garcia , Olivier Raynal , Tiffany Hofstetter , Tom Morton , Jiselle Burkhalter , Axel Baille , Oscar Lesage , Matthew Géczy , Philip Schurer Runtime 140 Minutes