1 Film Introduction (Spoiler Alert)

The protagonist of Substance is former star Elisabeth Sparkle. When she turns 50, she receives notice that she’s being removed from the popular program she hosts for “not being young and sexy enough.” She takes a drug called “Substance,” which creates “a better version of me.” As a result, Elisabeth’s back ‘literally’ splits open, and a younger, more perfect body named “Sue” emerges. Following the rules for taking “Substance,” Elisabeth alternates between two bodies every week to continue her career. Still, as time passes, she increasingly conflicts between ‘her true self’ and ‘the image society wants.’

While Substance uses the broadcasting industry, which blatantly commodifies beauty as its backdrop, it goes further to portray in extreme ways how lookism affects individuals. Another reason this film has garnered significant attention is that it was directed in a genre that more vividly reveals our real-life obsessions with ‘youth’ and ‘appearance.’ The shocking presentation through body horror visually embodies the psychological pressure on individuals forced to conform to ‘standardized beauty’ in modern society.

2 Our Reflection in the Mirror of ‘Substance’

The scene where Elisabeth gives up going out because she can’t finish her makeup was more realistically cruel than any other scene. Elisabeth and Sue’s bodies are reflected through exaggerated close-up camera lenses. They are also carelessly evaluated through the words of producer Harvey and broadcasting industry people. The objectification by others’ gazes is ultimately internalized in the bathroom mirror reflection, resulting in Elisabeth smearing her aged face in frustration.

Perhaps we are creating another ‘Sue’ within ourselves, hoping to see Sue instead of Elisabeth in the mirror? Watching Elisabeth deny herself in the mirror, I was reminded of countless modern people who experience the gap between reality and ideals due to excessive editing on social media. The PD of the popular observation entertainment program <Single’s Inferno>* revealed in an interview that their top casting criterion is ‘people whose Instagram photos match their actual appearance.’

This work has created a record response, which may be evidence showing that many people living in this era are tired of social standards and obsessions. Because Korean society tends to be relatively more interested in age and appearance, the questions the film raises may have resonated more realistically with the audience.

3 New Beauty in an Aging Era

Let’s shift our focus from the film to the real world momentarily. Korea is rapidly entering an aging society. In 2025, the median age of South Korea’s population is 46.1 years. The median age refers to the person’s age at the exact middle when arranging the total population in order of age. According to Statistics Korea Census, the median age was 29.8 years in 1996 and is projected to rise to 60.2 years by 2056. In other words, when those born in 1996 reach the age of 60, more than half of South Korea’s population will likely be legally classified as seniors, aged 60 and above.

Amid these changes, social perceptions of beauty are gradually diversifying. An era is dawning where each generation’s unique charm and individuality, regardless of age, are receiving more attention. More people respect and express the beauty discovered throughout their life’s journey rather than limit their value by age.

Recent changes include senior models over 60 appearing in fashion campaigns and beauty advertisements, and people confidently revealing their natural wrinkles and gray hair rather than hiding them. Influencers like 60-something actress Hwajung Choi with her YouTube channel “hellochoihwajung” and 70-something designer Myungsook Jang with her YouTube channel “Milanonna” are increasingly sharing their lifestyles and beauty routines without being bound by age. Each in their way, they reveal the unique charm that comes with age, showing that a single standard can never define beauty.

“It gets harder every time. Remembering that you still deserve to exist! That this part of you still has value! That you are still precious!” This is the question posed by the elderly Subject 207, whom Elisabeth encounters at a café. I believe this line contains the message that permeates Substance. The questions Substance raises do not remain confined to the film but allow us to think about what beauty is. Beauty shines more abundantly when expressed in various forms rather than trapped in standardized criteria. In our changing society, don’t we need a new perspective and approach to viewing beauty?

In this context, the film title ‘Substance’ is highly symbolic. This word means the core that exists beyond the outwardly visible image—the ‘essence.’ The film continuously raises questions about essence, drawing our attention back to the value of beauty that each of us experiences in our way.