ScoutingMusic

The movie leaves me with mixed feelings, I can neither agree with the positive nor the negative reviews. For me, the “deeper levels” were not particularly difficult to grasp as they are hammered into the viewer's face. Here's the synopsis: Act One: Coming to terms with one's own transience. Caused by the shamelessness of old white men who discard an “innocent, helpless” protagonist because of her age. I didn't think it would be like this in Hollywood Lol. The protagonist plunges into a feeling of worthlessness caused by the fast pace of show business. Due to the lack of acceptance of her own ageing and coupled with the desire not to be forgotten, she strives for a solution to keep up. “The Substance” Woah, how unique. Second act: The greed for attention, recognition and the scrupulosity of the adolescent self. As a result of the protagonist's self-abandonment due to the lack of external recognition, the protagonist decides to create her “better self”. Tada! She as a young, pretty woman. Superordinate: Everything is done to stay relevant by striving for eternal youth and beauty. Partly also reliving past glories. As it must happen, the young ego becomes too greedy and a conflict arises between young and old. The young me sucks the old me dry. I don't understand why nobody thinks to write a note to the other me. From here on, the movie becomes weird and partly illogical. Instead of dialog, there is fighting throughout. Fame is more important than life, the old me grants the young me the fame that the old me no longer receives. Third act: Violent porn with a desire for revenge against the male patriarchy and simultaneous criticism of capitalism. Disgust and anger towards the audience. The young self finishes off the old self. With the result that it cannot exist on its own and loses its beauty. In the end, the young self tries to iron out the mistake it has made. It doesn't work... The result is a monster that reflects the young self's lack of scruples and the old self's desire for everlasting fame. Who is to blame? The audience, of course, men and share holders. That's why everyone gets splattered in a blood orgy. Tits are born out of eyes and other weird shit, which in my opinion is completely unnecessary and probably a symbol for the violence that affects actors in show business that is returned to the audience in a form of revenge. Conclusion: A movie made for Hollywood. Which reflects the emotional world of the upper class and is accordingly celebrated in the scene itself as a masterpiece, while it misses the reality of the viewer's life and is therefore not relatable for many. The intention is probably to leave the viewer with disgust after the movie and the people from the scene with astonished and ashamed faces. Shame on you! In my opinion, the protagonist's complicity in her own misery and her role in the construct of the toxic environment is not dealt with sufficiently. She is stylized throughout as a victim of circumstances, which I actually find a bit boring. All in all, the movie does what it's supposed to, but it's neither clever nor particularly intelligently constructed, rather brutal and violent. It's not a movie you watch twice, but it's still worth watching once.