The Substance Fan Theory Puts Demi Moore's Body Horror…

Summary

Fans of The Substance are excited about Demi Moore's performance and the movie's success in the body horror subgenre.
A gripping fan theory suggests The Substance was all in Elizabeth's head or a dying dream, adding depth to the story.
The Substance's popularity showcases its social message and potential impact on the horror subgenre, even for non-fans.

Demi Moore's Best Actress nomination at the 2025 Oscars made fans of The Substance even more excited about the body horror movie. There's a lot to love about it, from Moore's performance as actress Elizabeth Sparkle to Margaret Qualley's turn as Sue, the younger version of Elizabeth who takes over thanks to a strange drug. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance is one of the most praised body horror movies. This subgenre has a lot of cult faves or independent hits, and besides David Cronenberg, not a lot of filmmakers have seen the success that Fargeat has. It has been impressive to see how popular The Substance has been since its September 2024 release.

While there won't be a sequel to The Substance, fans are still thinking about the meaning and message of the movie. This one fan theory is particularly gripping and suggests a different way of viewing Elizabeth's brutal and scary story.

This Fan Theory Suggests The Substance Was A Dream Or Elizabeth Died

Demi Moore in The Substance talking in the bathroom

Redditor @Clear-Rest-988 came up with a theory to explain Elizabeth's journey in The Substance. Everyone should watch Moore's thoughtful and strong performance, especially now that The Substance can be viewed at home. The fan wrote:

"What if it was all in Elizabeth's head? The Substance is an unknown illegal drug that you can only aquire in a shady back alley and who's dealer you never directly contact... So imagine if after the first hit of this thing Elizabeth passed out, possibly hits her head and then has this crazy nightmare about the effects of the drug and her career. We just don't see her wake up from it after she 'dies.'"

Redditor @Taraxian agreed that there could be another explanation for what's going on in Elizabeth's life. The fan wrote:

"Or none of that even happened and Elisabeth actually died in that car accident and the whole movie is her dying dream."

This fan theory would definitely make the ending of The Substance even more tragic. It would make it seem like Elizabeth was never supposed to survive as she couldn't ever get past the unfair beauty standards that Hollywood has or the expectations that society put on her. Redditor @SyntheticCafe agrees that perhaps Elizabeth passed away because she had no injuries or broken bones and met a mysterious nurse who gave her a drug.

Although sometimes it can be corny to say that a story was a dream or that the main character has been a ghost this entire time, these ideas could work. The Substance has a dreamy, creepy tone and when Elizabeth takes the substance, her life changes and doesn't resemble anything even close to reality. It's possible to rewatch the entire movie and agree that she dreamed the whole thing or passed away in the car crash and was dead the entire movie.

While some might agree with these fan theories and others would say that they can't be true, one thing is clear: The Substance is one of the most popular body horror movies released recently and it has a large and passionate fanbase. This is only going to move the horror subgenre forward and allow other talented filmmakers to tell their own creepy and gory stories. It might not be a body horror movie to start with thanks to its level of gore, but some might say it's worth watching even if someone isn't a huge fan of this type of movie. What's so great about The Substance is it has a social message along with its gross moments that people are still talking about. Like elevated horror movies, it has a lot to say.

What Did Demi Moore Say About Starring In The Substance?

Demi Moore in The Substance looking at herself in the movie

Demi Moore's interviews about The Substance are compelling as she gave the role of Elizabeth her all and the story struck a chord with her. She told W Magazine that she wasn't a fan of body horror but thought a lot about the script when she read it. While it's true that the movie has some disgusting body horror scenes, it's also about how Hollywood needs to give older actresses better roles and not cast them aside as soon as they turn 40. Moore said:

"I think the film is about the fear of what other people think, of not measuring up, that compare and despair. That idea really moved me and made me want to step in and explore the depths of that heartache."

When Moore learned she was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for The Substance, she said, according to Entertainment Weekly:

"Being nominated for an Oscar is an incredible honor and these last few months have been beyond my wildest dreams."