Warning: The Article Contains Spoilers for The SubstanceThe first feature adaptation of Stephen King’s work is of his debut novel,Carrie. The original film, starring Sissy Spacek as the titular teen, is about a young woman and outcast coming into her womanhood while also mastering her psychic abilities. While this is a drastically different premise from the plot ofThe Substance, both films do explore the societal pressures women are subject to, especially when it comes to beauty and acceptance.
The thematic ties betweenCarrieandThe Substancemakes the visual reference to the Stephen King film in Coralie Fargeat’s movie stronger.The Substanceis chock-full of cinematic references, including a handful to multiple Stephen King adaptations. The prominentCarriereference is at the climax ofThe Substance, mirroring the climax of thisStephen King adaptation, which will receive a television adaptation soon.
Carrie and Elizabeth Sparkle Are Victims of Societal Pressure
Carrie Fears Being Seen in the Same Light as Monstro Elisasue
The most overt reference toCarrieinThe Substanceis when Monstro Elisasue takes the stageand is rejected by the audience that loved her other self – Sue – so much. Along with the crowd turning on Elisasue, her body begins to explode into a bloody spectacle.
The Substance Is A Brilliant Modern Reimagining Of Alfred Hitchock’s 97% Horror Movie
The Substance uses body horror to explore its main character’s deepest fears, masterfully referencing Alfred Hitchcock’s horror hit in the process.
Visually, this scene references what happened to Carrie at prom. In the 1976 film, which is set to receive aMike Flanagan updatefor television, Carrie is a social outcast at her school, seen as a freak by some girls and invisible by others. However, come the high school dance, she is elected as prom queen, but this ends up being a prank where a bucket of pig’s blood is dumped all over her.
One of the major differences between the climax inCarrie–a book that holds up 50 years later– andthe climax inThe Substanceis how the audience reacts to each woman. In the Stephen King adaptation, Carrie has it built up in her head that everyone is going to laugh at her, thanks to her mother’s abuse and harassment from several classmates. However, only a few of the students laugh at her. Many others are shocked, but Carrie has reached her breaking point and doesn’t realize this.
The Substance’s Most Heartbreaking Scene Is A Microcosm Of The Whole Movie
Demi Moore’s most grounded and emotionally realistic scene in The Substance also dramatically serves as a microcosm of the entire movie.
Meanwhile, inThe Substance,a body horror epic that takes down beauty standards, the audience reacts to Elisasue in a way that mirrors Carrie’s biggest fear. No longer the beautiful Sue, the audience rejects Elisasue to an extreme degree, one that captures the insecurities Elizabeth Sparkle felt once she aged out of her industry, as well as the insecurities plaguing Carrie after years of harassment, abuse, and rejection.Both women are subject to societal pressure, but one of them – Carrie – is rejected for not fitting ininitiallyand the other – Elisasue – is rejected for not fitting inanymore.
Carrie Isn’t the Only Stephen King FIlm Referenced in The Substance
The Shinging Has Several References in The Substance
There are plenty ofEaster eggs and references to other horror moviesinThe Substance, includingThe Shining.In the studio Elizabeth Sparkle and Sue film at, the carpets are nearly identical to the ones seen in the Overlook Hotel fromThe Shining; although, there are a few differences. Another callback toThe Shiningis when the hallway with these carpets is flooded with blood, just like when the elevators inThe Shiningopened up and flooded the corridors with blood.
Director Coralie Fargeat is clearly a horror buff and Stephen King fan from all the references packed intoThe Substance,which issucceeding on streaming. While some of them are a nice nod to films past, others – like the ones forCarrie– take on a deeper meaning thematically.
The Substance
Cast
Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity, turns to a mysterious drug that promises to restore her youth by creating a younger, more beautiful version of herself. But splitting time between her original and new body leads to horrifying consequences as her alternate self, Sue, begins to unravel her life in a disturbing body-horror descent.
