I think it’s so good how they showed a character like that friend she had from school who asked her out. He literally told her she was JUST as beautiful as her younger self still. But she couldn’t see it
Ironically she almost seemed insulted that he asked her out. Like "How ugly have I become, that he thinks he has a chance?", which just shows how toxic and look obsessed she is. When she calls him back it's not just a respond to the old guy warning her of loneliness, but also a depiction of her dwindling self worth, as in "Now I am just as ugly and worthless as my former classmate, might as well go on a date with him."
Brad Babe, she is sue, she is elizabeth, she's both, its the same consciousness, Elizabeth is living as sue, her desiscions are Elizabeth's desiscions, and vice versa....thats why the guy on the phone keeps saying "then repsect it" its Elizabeth making these decisions, but in sue's body, she has a physical manifestion of all her self hatred in her original body, she sees Elizabeth as "lesser", Elizabeth is a victim of society and the industry, while also reinforcing them as sue hating Elizabeth, she isnt living vicariously through sue, she IS sue
Exactly! There’s also a parallel there with how little regard most of us have for our older selves when we’re young. Excess in its many forms, will decrease our quality of life for when we’re older, but it’s hard to care. If we overdo it, we’ll look back on the decisions we made and say: “what was I thinking?”. Just like Elizabeth does to Sue. So, i completely agree that the consciousness transfers. Now, the memory transfer i think is fussy and that’s why both can be surprised by something the other did. But we do see some instances where both Lizzy and Sue dream about what the other did. I think Lizzy is 100% experiencing her success as Sue on some level. The memory transfer being fussy would also support the idea that the central metaphor is our own relationship with our older/younger selves.
@@EvanSawyer4 i think the memory transfer and elisabeth/sue being confused by each other’s actions is similar to how people act when they’re sober vs when they’re drunk/high. they know what they’ve done, but they don’t want to admit it. the sober self sees the drunken self as another entity instead of themselves, and instead of taking accountability for THEIR own actions, they push the blame onto their drunken self- as if it was another person, which honestly, is what elisabeth and sue does all the time
@@hakaze6269 oh, i like that. Great point. The metaphor holds up beautifully too. It’s like someone went out drinking and “woke up” a week later with a damaged liver. Will they stop drinking at that point?
Not necessarily. 1) Unreliable narrator ; 2) It’s a fiction - meaning the substance doesn’t exist. In the fiction the physical body might be connected but it was clear “to me” that each one have their own conscious But most importantly: this movie was so well executed that it opens the door to various parallel or tangential interpretations, and that’s what makes it great. Everyone will find metaphors and analogies that fits better with their experiences. The fun is to listen all people experiences while watching this movie instead of correcting / judging right or wrong
I get what you're saying they are one, but Elizabeth isn't living in sues body at all, she's just a younger/better version of her but she is living through her.
Elisabeth vs. sue is a metaphor for hating yourself. It’s not one woman hating another the whole movie is a visual representation of Elisabeth hating herself, wanting to hide her flaws (her body), degrading her, trying to get rid of her completely
Brad, I feel like you didn’t understand? They are one. Elisabeth = Sue and vice versa. So when the man is telling Elisabeth to respect the balance, it’s because she IS HER. Any decisions she makes as Sue affect Elisabeth, and Elisabeth knows that, but when she’s Sue she doesn’t care because she loves the attention she gets from being young and hot.
@@Lucieykactually i don't think there is a split personality. i think it was clearly shown how much she hates her original body for how old, undesirable, fat and ugly she thinks it is. the way she leaves both the bodies on the toilet floor without any care, the way the younger she abuses her old body as many of us do to stay young amd conventionally attractive. it wouldn't make sense for her to have a split personality, it would make sense that the world makes us hate ourselves so much that we could kill ourselves if given the chance. at least that's what i think :D
they actually aren’t living as two separate people-Elisabeth and Sue both share one consciousness! so it’s Elisabeth’s mind switching between the two bodies the entire time. it gets a little confusing with her saying stuff like “she’s not respecting the balance, etc”, but one way I like to explain it is when someone gets high or blackout drunk, is reckless/makes shitty decisions, and then doesn’t remember what they did the night before. so that would explain why she doesn’t stop sooner, because she *is* still getting to live in Sue’s body half the time! but then of course she starts disrespecting the balance so it all gets fucked 🙃
Honestly, it’s not really all that confusing when you immediately see elisabeth try to knock herself out of that line of thinking throughout the movie. she literally hits herself in the face and keeps hitting her head on the shower floor to force herself to remember there isn’t another person. people just aren’t paying attention and think she’s just going crazy bc she looks old 😭
the fact that everything happens in the bathroom, being the place where you expose yourself the most and hiding the bodies there as if it were something shameful, is an incredible metaphor.
They actually share the same consciousness! I know it's very confusing but the self hate is so extremely big, which results to Elisabeth seeing her older self actually as a different person.
Which seems to be the case with the old man too. He said his younger self was eating away at him. The type of person who would want to create a "better" version of themselves to the degree they ask no questions, have no idea what's at stake, and are willing to inject themselves with free things they found in an alley are likely to have self love/respect issues. So, they'll wind up the same.
Brad, Elisabeth IS Sue, Sue is just a "younger, prettier, more perfect" version of Elisabeth. She hates herself and distances herself from Elisabeth by calling herself Sue. That's why the whole, "Remember, You Are One" and "Respect the balance" stuff. This whole movie is her just hating herself and it the most gut wrenching performance of Demi Moore's life, GIVE HER THE OSCAR
This definitely was one of my top movies released this year. I was in shock, I was laughing, I was horrified. Demi Moore has really made an amazing comeback. Hopefully she is nominated for some awards.
@@arianamitchell7050and I will have to add Samara Weaving the ACTUAL SCREAM QUEEN!!!! she is soooo underrated it hurts my soul...her scream is literally BREATHTAKING!!
My take is that Elisabeth saw Sue as a different person from the beginning. That’s why it feels like Sue has a mind of her own, even though they’re one. Elisabeth made Sue her alter ego, instead of an opportunity to redo life or an extension of herself.
Babes you missed that they are one person it’s like almost a split personality scenario. Elisabeth is cognitive as Sue, she’s just loosing touch and getting greedy forgetting she can’t escape from herself and all her aspects.
i love the irony that demi moore is a BEAUTIFUL woman but the industry makes elizabeth think she’s nothing and ugly. like i for one would be thrilled to look like demi moore at 50 bro😮😮😮
i agree. this movie gets even more heartbreaking once you learn about demi moore’s life and the difficulties she dealt with when it comes to aging and beauty
“So mindful, so Demi Moore” - Letterboxd review It’s a movie that has you saying “Exactlyyyyyy!” and “WTF!” every 5 seconds, I love it. It feels so elaborate yet so spontaneous. P.S. The real satire was getting Dennis Quaid to play someone obnoxious.
24:50 she wants to be Sue, she craves the validation she gets as her, so even when being her is actively harming her she still can't stop doing it. They are the same person, but as things progress I think it becomes very dissociative identity disorder-like.
Obv nobody but the way I saw myself and other people through this...going through mentally health issues and addiction...there are so many lines about deserving to exist, having to stabilize yourself rn, putting x on your days and Sue on others, GOING TO THE SAME BEHAVIOR THAT MESSED YOU UP BC YOU CAN'T LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO ACCEPT YOURSELF...if this movie doesn't get awards I'll be pissed...for real, everyone, all your sparkling people, take care of yourselves, body and mind bc this is all we have at the end of the day💖
I think Elizabeth quickly starts suffering under the delusion that she and Sue are two different people. Their memories DO seem a bit sketchy and unreliable. But the makers of The Substance keep trying to remind Elizabeth/Sue that just because their experiences are very different, it doesn't mean that they aren't still one person. That's easier to say than to believe, though. If Elizabeth loved herself enough they could have kept the balance, but then she probably wouldn't have gone through the torture of The Substance experience in the first place.
The Substance is also about addiction, it's probably like getting drunk AF then waking up next morning not knowing what you did. Also pretty sure if Elizabeth loved herself Sue would love her but I suppose if she loved herself she would never even take the Substance
I just hit 30 and I’ve been exactly where she’s been when she was getting ready for a date. This is not even that distorted, this is the world we built for ourselves. Brilliant film.
Unfortunately it's not just older women who experience feeling too insecure to go out! The scene where Lizzy is adjusting her makeup, getting frustrated in the end she doesn't go out I've been there so many times in my life. I've cancelled date plans or plans to go out with friends because I felt too ugly, I felt so seen with that scene and it actually got me emotional, I'm 29
and usually in these types of scenes of; woman can’t go out bc she’s insecure, it’s sad and melodramatic. like no. it’s a rageful and hateful feeling. demi expressed it perfectly
When Elisabeth is filling out her calendar she marks herself with an X but writes out Sue's name. I think that they share a similar conscience, but have different priorities in the different bodies. There's still instances where each seems surprised by the other's actions like they didn't know about it, which I find confusing. How much you wanna bet "Sue" is Elisabeth's middle name? It was a shock to be fired, but I don't know why she didn't just go on a vacation and travel for awhile. She could've made a dance studio with choreographed routines, taught other teachers to teach them, and took a share of their profits while filling in when she felt like it.
I AGREE! If only Elisabeth knew that she doesn't need that asshole's approval of her worth. She could've applied on a new studio to continue her profession, where she's appreciated and respected. She could've been close friends with Fred, who validates her for who she is. Or she could've lived a life with strong self-esteem and self-love without giving a crap on what anyone thinks.
You should react to MAID, the same actress that plays Sue (Margaret) is in that show and it has only about 10 episodes. It's about her and her daughter running away from her abusive husband and the process how she gets on her own knees again.
the mirror scene really hurts because body dysmorphia is really serious and people don't take it seriously; As a trans woman I experience that plus gender dysphoria and that scene really broke me.
First time reaction or not, the videos are always so good. Brad you are by far my favorite movie reaction RUclipsr. The reactions always feel like I’m on FaceTime. Love the videos
OMG IM SO EXCITED TO WATCH THIS WITH LUNCH, I LOVE YOUR REACTIONS THANK YOU BRAD, YOUR AMAZING, AND YES DEFINITELY MOVIE OF THE YEAR, can’t wait for scary movie!!!
I appreciate that you reflected on the possibility of not having the following you currently do. I respect that and feel you take us for granted and you really appreciate us. You're my favorite type of content creator. ❤
FINALLY!! I've been waiting for this. This movie was a WILD ride. At first I was in, then disgusted, then intrigued, then angry, then horrified, then dying from laughter and confusion as to WTH I was seeing. I was entertained! lol P.S. You are looking quite adorable in this video, Brad!
I truly hope you mean aging in the most basic sense of 'getting older' not that you're calling brad old because if he's old I'm positively ancient 😂 I also have to disagree, I've never seen anyone be more harsh than women tearing each other and themselves down for getting older
It’s frustrating seeing people don’t get that they share consciousness 😭😭😭😭😭😭 it’s just she hates her original self SO MUCH that she compartmentalized her experience in each body from each other that she feels like they are two different people. But, SHE IS ONE. Nobody in their right mind would do this if they don’t get anything in return.
Thank you Brad for saying that this isn't the first time you've seen this! Also I agree: how did she know how to use all those things without instructions and why were the showgirls topless live on air and in front of kids? 🤦♀
I accidentally found your page about a week ago because I wanted to watch someone hilarious watch the devil wears Prada and I was not disappointed. The fact that you don’t have 10 million + subscribers is baffling. Happiest accident ever, finding you. You are my new favorite person. 🙌🏼
Omg, thank you for the honesty! So tired of people’s “first time watching” reactions. 🙄 Mid-video, they give themselves away. One RUclipsr even said, “I forgot that happened.” 😭
Brad I’m telling u right now u need to make a vid watching Donnie darko I’m begging u , watched it today and instantly thought Brad needs to watch this immediately
i'm so sat for this reaction. my friends are telling me to get a grip and leave the laptop, the staff is asking me to leave the theatres but i'm just too sat.
AH SO GOOF BRAD Loved this xx i really love ur videos your definitely my favourite RUclipsr and I was wondering if you could do more movie reactions like this because they brighten my day the movies don’t have to be new I just like seeing ur reactions to them as they are always so funny 😂❤
I literally saw this one in theaters last Sunday. The funniest part is that I was completely unaware on what the movie was about, I didn't even know the genre!! My friend simply asks me to go to the movies, I say yes, so the moment we sit down she tells me that it's a horror film and I go like: "Oh, ok I can go for some spooky, I didn't care about any movies in particular anyway". To say that I was flabbergasted and shocked at the end is to say the least, it was a good time somehow and I ended up liking it 😂
After watching the movie for the first time, I spent hours reflecting (yes, this movie truly rents a penthouse in your mind). I was reflecting, trying to find another meaning beyond the common understanding of themes like aging and the beauty industry, which are indeed present in the film. The first thing I noticed (which initially seemed like a flaw but is actually another layer of reflection) is that Elizabeth is not present in Sue. She doesn’t rejuvenate by using the substance; she doesn’t live a perfect version of herself. Both Elizabeth and Sue are two distinct individuals. (For those repeatedly saying here that the movie says dozens time they are one: 1) Unreliable narrator ; 2) Fiction - the substance doesn’t exist. In the fiction the physical body might be connected but it is clear that each one has their own conscious) Anyways… when I realized this, I thought of a potential logical flaw in the film: what woman would take a substance that would deform her body, leaving a huge scar, and ultimately not restore her youth, but instead create a “better” and younger being with its own consciousness? I paused for a few seconds, thinking about this logical flaw, glanced to the side, smiled slightly, and remembered all the mothers in this world. After that reflection, I realized that in the movie, Elizabeth “gives birth” to Sue, making her more of a “daughter” than a rejuvenated version of Elizabeth. When I rewatched the film through this new lens, I saw, for the first time, a non-romanticized (and yes, exaggerated) version of motherhood. The mother-daughter dynamic is evident in several moments: the metaphor of maternal sacrifice, the projection of insecurities and desires, and even the term “your better version,” often used by parents to refer to their children, as if pleading with the gods for a wish to be granted. Finally, Sue herself mentions during the interview that every other week, she has to take care of her mother. In the end, this movie was so well executed that it opens the door to various parallel or tangential interpretations, and that’s what enchanted me most about it.
I literally had the same reaction when Fred gave a soggy piece of paper to Elizabeth. My friend was like whatever. But... would you do that to someone you respect? It literally takes less than a minute to write your number again
Can’t watch this fully yet, but after work I’m so sat! But as I see everyone in the comments going crazy explaining the movie I am excited to see the reaction! ❤ lovenyew bradley! Still waiting for my date😢❤
This movie kinda made me depressed thb. I just really hope that when I'm gonna be a mature woman I'm not going to feel the way Elizabeth does. Also It made me mad at society for only seeing a person as valuable (especially, a woman) as long as they can pass for a teenager. It's perverse and low-key p*do.
brad when i tell you i needed this 😭 i've literally been having the shittiest week and got my grades today and due to my mental health (i missed months and months of school) they're pretty bad but this just made my evening better ❤️🩹 this is one of my recent favorite movies so i'm so excited to watch this reaction! much love
There is a great analysis of this movie called 'The real meaning of the substance that no one is talking about' Its a great explanation for anyone who didn't understand the movie fully My thoughts are also very similar to that video but if you want a unique perspective on the movie final girl studios video essay on it is also great ❤
I get why some folks think they are two different people. It's hard to reconcile the fact that they are one, when they are both conscious and fighting at the end. I think of them as one (because the movie keeps saying it for one thing) but I'm not sure how it works when they are both awake for that final fight. One theory is that when Sue awakens she is just a younger Elisabeth with all of her memories, but from that point on their consciouses are separate and having their own experiences? I mean... they are clearly separate when they are both awake and fighting each other. 🤷🏽♂
I think it’s so good how they showed a character like that friend she had from school who asked her out. He literally told her she was JUST as beautiful as her younger self still. But she couldn’t see it
Ironically she almost seemed insulted that he asked her out. Like "How ugly have I become, that he thinks he has a chance?", which just shows how toxic and look obsessed she is. When she calls him back it's not just a respond to the old guy warning her of loneliness, but also a depiction of her dwindling self worth, as in "Now I am just as ugly and worthless as my former classmate, might as well go on a date with him."
But the first time we encounter him it just seems creepy
until she could see he was loaded bc of his bank statement he wrote his number on
He could've been the love and appreciation that she's been longing for, if only she didn't become too hard on herself.
@@mrmr4622 That's also my first impression of him on first watch, but after a couple of watches, I see him as a flattering person.
Brad Babe, she is sue, she is elizabeth, she's both, its the same consciousness, Elizabeth is living as sue, her desiscions are Elizabeth's desiscions, and vice versa....thats why the guy on the phone keeps saying "then repsect it" its Elizabeth making these decisions, but in sue's body, she has a physical manifestion of all her self hatred in her original body, she sees Elizabeth as "lesser", Elizabeth is a victim of society and the industry, while also reinforcing them as sue hating Elizabeth, she isnt living vicariously through sue, she IS sue
Exactly! There’s also a parallel there with how little regard most of us have for our older selves when we’re young.
Excess in its many forms, will decrease our quality of life for when we’re older, but it’s hard to care. If we overdo it, we’ll look back on the decisions we made and say: “what was I thinking?”. Just like Elizabeth does to Sue.
So, i completely agree that the consciousness transfers.
Now, the memory transfer i think is fussy and that’s why both can be surprised by something the other did. But we do see some instances where both Lizzy and Sue dream about what the other did.
I think Lizzy is 100% experiencing her success as Sue on some level.
The memory transfer being fussy would also support the idea that the central metaphor is our own relationship with our older/younger selves.
@@EvanSawyer4 i think the memory transfer and elisabeth/sue being confused by each other’s actions is similar to how people act when they’re sober vs when they’re drunk/high. they know what they’ve done, but they don’t want to admit it. the sober self sees the drunken self as another entity instead of themselves, and instead of taking accountability for THEIR own actions, they push the blame onto their drunken self- as if it was another person, which honestly, is what elisabeth and sue does all the time
@@hakaze6269 oh, i like that. Great point.
The metaphor holds up beautifully too. It’s like someone went out drinking and “woke up” a week later with a damaged liver. Will they stop drinking at that point?
Not necessarily.
1) Unreliable narrator ;
2) It’s a fiction - meaning the substance doesn’t exist. In the fiction the physical body might be connected but it was clear “to me” that each one have their own conscious
But most importantly: this movie was so well executed that it opens the door to various parallel or tangential interpretations, and that’s what makes it great. Everyone will find metaphors and analogies that fits better with their experiences. The fun is to listen all people experiences while watching this movie instead of correcting / judging right or wrong
I get what you're saying they are one, but Elizabeth isn't living in sues body at all, she's just a younger/better version of her but she is living through her.
Elisabeth vs. sue is a metaphor for hating yourself. It’s not one woman hating another the whole movie is a visual representation of Elisabeth hating herself, wanting to hide her flaws (her body), degrading her, trying to get rid of her completely
Brad, I feel like you didn’t understand? They are one. Elisabeth = Sue and vice versa. So when the man is telling Elisabeth to respect the balance, it’s because she IS HER. Any decisions she makes as Sue affect Elisabeth, and Elisabeth knows that, but when she’s Sue she doesn’t care because she loves the attention she gets from being young and hot.
Yeah. It’s like when you say “my future self can deal with this mess.” Your future self is still you, ya know?
nailed it
I would also call it a split personality deal, they are one but it just doesn't work in this instance.
@@Lucieykactually i don't think there is a split personality. i think it was clearly shown how much she hates her original body for how old, undesirable, fat and ugly she thinks it is. the way she leaves both the bodies on the toilet floor without any care, the way the younger she abuses her old body as many of us do to stay young amd conventionally attractive. it wouldn't make sense for her to have a split personality, it would make sense that the world makes us hate ourselves so much that we could kill ourselves if given the chance.
at least that's what i think :D
It's a mentality thing. Struggling with self-control. Her Sue form might be taken over by her mania that she forgot her matrix (Elizabeth).
they actually aren’t living as two separate people-Elisabeth and Sue both share one consciousness! so it’s Elisabeth’s mind switching between the two bodies the entire time.
it gets a little confusing with her saying stuff like “she’s not respecting the balance, etc”, but one way I like to explain it is when someone gets high or blackout drunk, is reckless/makes shitty decisions, and then doesn’t remember what they did the night before.
so that would explain why she doesn’t stop sooner, because she *is* still getting to live in Sue’s body half the time! but then of course she starts disrespecting the balance so it all gets fucked 🙃
Honestly, it’s not really all that confusing when you immediately see elisabeth try to knock herself out of that line of thinking throughout the movie.
she literally hits herself in the face and keeps hitting her head on the shower floor to force herself to remember there isn’t another person. people just aren’t paying attention and think she’s just going crazy bc she looks old 😭
the fact that everything happens in the bathroom, being the place where you expose yourself the most and hiding the bodies there as if it were something shameful, is an incredible metaphor.
Oh my god not another one of these comments
They actually share the same consciousness! I know it's very confusing but the self hate is so extremely big, which results to Elisabeth seeing her older self actually as a different person.
Which seems to be the case with the old man too. He said his younger self was eating away at him. The type of person who would want to create a "better" version of themselves to the degree they ask no questions, have no idea what's at stake, and are willing to inject themselves with free things they found in an alley are likely to have self love/respect issues. So, they'll wind up the same.
Brad, Elisabeth IS Sue, Sue is just a "younger, prettier, more perfect" version of Elisabeth. She hates herself and distances herself from Elisabeth by calling herself Sue. That's why the whole, "Remember, You Are One" and "Respect the balance" stuff. This whole movie is her just hating herself and it the most gut wrenching performance of Demi Moore's life, GIVE HER THE OSCAR
The movie every 5 seconds: they're the same person
Brad: they're two different people!!!
And he watched twice 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Dont be mean pls guyyss It happens to all of us
No one is watching his videos for his smarts, are they?
They are the same, it’s about how our younger self have no to little regard for our older self. So they share consciousness, as I see it.
The everyone in the graphics and prosthetic department needs a raise
and the sound team and foley artists, too while we’re at it
Yes to both departments!!! Oh my god, this movie is nuts!!
They deserve all the nominations!!
This definitely was one of my top movies released this year. I was in shock, I was laughing, I was horrified. Demi Moore has really made an amazing comeback. Hopefully she is nominated for some awards.
Unfortunately, I don't think she will be. Horror isn't really a thing at the oscars :/
@@oOoOBoogeymanOoOo She won the golden globes though.
It's such a shame that the Academy probably won't even nominate Demi Moore just like Toni Collette for The Hereditary and Mia Goth for Pearl.
They will
They might, this movie blew up, and the critics loved it
i’ll add florence pugh for midsommar. scream queen after scream queen robbed bc the academy is filled with old farts
Swear I said the same thing!
@@arianamitchell7050and I will have to add Samara Weaving the ACTUAL SCREAM QUEEN!!!! she is soooo underrated it hurts my soul...her scream is literally BREATHTAKING!!
My take is that Elisabeth saw Sue as a different person from the beginning. That’s why it feels like Sue has a mind of her own, even though they’re one.
Elisabeth made Sue her alter ego, instead of an opportunity to redo life or an extension of herself.
Exactly
Babes you missed that they are one person it’s like almost a split personality scenario. Elisabeth is cognitive as Sue, she’s just loosing touch and getting greedy forgetting she can’t escape from herself and all her aspects.
that transition at the beginning to Editing Brad was chef’s kiss!!! genius!
He ate with that!!
i love the irony that demi moore is a BEAUTIFUL woman but the industry makes elizabeth think she’s nothing and ugly. like i for one would be thrilled to look like demi moore at 50 bro😮😮😮
i agree. this movie gets even more heartbreaking once you learn about demi moore’s life and the difficulties she dealt with when it comes to aging and beauty
“So mindful, so Demi Moore” - Letterboxd review
It’s a movie that has you saying “Exactlyyyyyy!” and “WTF!” every 5 seconds, I love it. It feels so elaborate yet so spontaneous.
P.S. The real satire was getting Dennis Quaid to play someone obnoxious.
right! I was like, “how dare they ruin Hallie Parker’s dad for me” 😂
I mean, he did recently appear at a Tr*mp rally so I’m thinking it’s more on par for him than Parent trap. Broke my heart though.
@ UGH nooo 🤮 tragic
He's actually quite abnoxious
dennis quaid is a trump supporter .... BARF
The director revealed that Elizabeth/Sue do in fact share a consciousness but they wanted to make it vague because then it can be up to interpretation
"she's got an ingrown!" lmaoooo stoppppp 😂😂😂
24:50 she wants to be Sue, she craves the validation she gets as her, so even when being her is actively harming her she still can't stop doing it. They are the same person, but as things progress I think it becomes very dissociative identity disorder-like.
Obv nobody but the way I saw myself and other people through this...going through mentally health issues and addiction...there are so many lines about deserving to exist, having to stabilize yourself rn, putting x on your days and Sue on others, GOING TO THE SAME BEHAVIOR THAT MESSED YOU UP BC YOU CAN'T LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO ACCEPT YOURSELF...if this movie doesn't get awards I'll be pissed...for real, everyone, all your sparkling people, take care of yourselves, body and mind bc this is all we have at the end of the day💖
I think Elizabeth quickly starts suffering under the delusion that she and Sue are two different people. Their memories DO seem a bit sketchy and unreliable. But the makers of The Substance keep trying to remind Elizabeth/Sue that just because their experiences are very different, it doesn't mean that they aren't still one person. That's easier to say than to believe, though. If Elizabeth loved herself enough they could have kept the balance, but then she probably wouldn't have gone through the torture of The Substance experience in the first place.
The Substance is also about addiction, it's probably like getting drunk AF then waking up next morning not knowing what you did. Also pretty sure if Elizabeth loved herself Sue would love her but I suppose if she loved herself she would never even take the Substance
Omg exactly
I just hit 30 and I’ve been exactly where she’s been when she was getting ready for a date. This is not even that distorted, this is the world we built for ourselves. Brilliant film.
This movie is absolutely insane. I was not buckled up like I was supposed to be
I was in LOVE with both Elizabeth and Sue this whole movie
So the best way to describe it is like drunk you, thats still you but in a different state of mind at a different time. Thats basically sue
Which explains the 2 people thing - you can't remember what you did when you were drunk.
@xejelah exactly
No the way this movie encapsulates so many of my carnal experiences of being a woman I’m obsessed
Unfortunately it's not just older women who experience feeling too insecure to go out! The scene where Lizzy is adjusting her makeup, getting frustrated in the end she doesn't go out I've been there so many times in my life. I've cancelled date plans or plans to go out with friends because I felt too ugly, I felt so seen with that scene and it actually got me emotional, I'm 29
and usually in these types of scenes of; woman can’t go out bc she’s insecure, it’s sad and melodramatic. like no. it’s a rageful and hateful feeling. demi expressed it perfectly
When Elisabeth is filling out her calendar she marks herself with an X but writes out Sue's name. I think that they share a similar conscience, but have different priorities in the different bodies. There's still instances where each seems surprised by the other's actions like they didn't know about it, which I find confusing. How much you wanna bet "Sue" is Elisabeth's middle name? It was a shock to be fired, but I don't know why she didn't just go on a vacation and travel for awhile. She could've made a dance studio with choreographed routines, taught other teachers to teach them, and took a share of their profits while filling in when she felt like it.
I AGREE!
If only Elisabeth knew that she doesn't need that asshole's approval of her worth. She could've applied on a new studio to continue her profession, where she's appreciated and respected. She could've been close friends with Fred, who validates her for who she is. Or she could've lived a life with strong self-esteem and self-love without giving a crap on what anyone thinks.
You should react to MAID, the same actress that plays Sue (Margaret) is in that show and it has only about 10 episodes. It's about her and her daughter running away from her abusive husband and the process how she gets on her own knees again.
She was INCREDIBLE in maid
@AL-fl4jk soo true, it was like she really experienced it and wasn't even acting at that point. She was amazing
with this movie in the theater I cried, I screamed, I laughed, I felt every possible feeling and I left the theater wanting to see the movie again.
the mirror scene really hurts because body dysmorphia is really serious and people don't take it seriously; As a trans woman I experience that plus gender dysphoria and that scene really broke me.
this movie makes me feel like i’m seeing a movie for the first time! it’s almost indescribably good 😭❤️
okayyyy but a sequel about someone who’s other self becomes a crazy person and frames their original self for something would be wild
Not everything needs a sequel.
This is actually perfect timing wth. I just watched this movie with my class ealier today :o
If the award shows would get off their high horse about horror, Demi would be a shoe-in for award season.
the perfect thing to distract from all of Liam Payne’s funeral videos today. thank you, Brad ♥️
First time reaction or not, the videos are always so good. Brad you are by far my favorite movie reaction RUclipsr. The reactions always feel like I’m on FaceTime. Love the videos
"no one looks good in a doorknob" is my new way of telling people they're dealing with a bad cosmetic environment.
OMG IM SO EXCITED TO WATCH THIS WITH LUNCH, I LOVE YOUR REACTIONS THANK YOU BRAD, YOUR AMAZING, AND YES DEFINITELY MOVIE OF THE YEAR, can’t wait for scary movie!!!
I appreciate that you reflected on the possibility of not having the following you currently do. I respect that and feel you take us for granted and you really appreciate us. You're my favorite type of content creator. ❤
FINALLY!! I've been waiting for this. This movie was a WILD ride. At first I was in, then disgusted, then intrigued, then angry, then horrified, then dying from laughter and confusion as to WTH I was seeing. I was entertained! lol P.S. You are looking quite adorable in this video, Brad!
I haven't been able to stop talking about this movie since seeing your reaction on Patreon (no way was I gonna watch this alone lol)
Brad forgot EVERYTHING or he always fools us, can't tell 😂
Wooohooo been looking forward to this.
diva i didn’t know you covered this movie! so excited
38:32 the WOW🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭😭
I love that every gay man that watches this movie reacts the same way to that scene at 38:30 😭🍑
looooved the editing in this video!
Is that a chicken leg
“YES” with the substance theme had me dying 😂
The scariest thing about this movie was the scene of the shrimp being devoured 😨
As an aging gay, I thought you’d be able to relate to this movie a lot more than you did in this reaction. Gays are the most harsh about aging.
I truly hope you mean aging in the most basic sense of 'getting older' not that you're calling brad old because if he's old I'm positively ancient 😂 I also have to disagree, I've never seen anyone be more harsh than women tearing each other and themselves down for getting older
I mean, the movie title says it all really 😂
Ngl Brad, I’ve been nervous to watch this on my own because I know it’s wild! So, at least I got to watch it with you😂
Demi Moore running around in that prosthetic suit had me cackling, the whole finale was way funnier than I expected
omg!! i havent seen you on my youtube feed in so long! LOOOVEEE that ur reacting / commentating on this movie it changed my LIFE
The boyfriends cakes were everything. Breathtaking..
amen
It’s frustrating seeing people don’t get that they share consciousness 😭😭😭😭😭😭 it’s just she hates her original self SO MUCH that she compartmentalized her experience in each body from each other that she feels like they are two different people. But, SHE IS ONE. Nobody in their right mind would do this if they don’t get anything in return.
Thank you Brad for saying that this isn't the first time you've seen this! Also I agree: how did she know how to use all those things without instructions and why were the showgirls topless live on air and in front of kids? 🤦♀
I love how the Showgirls are attempting to be profession but keep giving Monstro Elisasue the side-eye to funny.
There is only one consciousness, Elisabeth is Sue and doesn’t want to give up being Sue, even at the risk of further hurting herself
I accidentally found your page about a week ago because I wanted to watch someone hilarious watch the devil wears Prada and I was not disappointed. The fact that you don’t have 10 million + subscribers is baffling. Happiest accident ever, finding you. You are my new favorite person. 🙌🏼
''not washing his hands EITHER.'' ''DIGUSTANGGG!!!!'' HAHAHAHA 🤣
Omg, thank you for the honesty! So tired of people’s “first time watching” reactions. 🙄 Mid-video, they give themselves away. One RUclipsr even said, “I forgot that happened.” 😭
Brad I’m telling u right now u need to make a vid watching Donnie darko I’m begging u , watched it today and instantly thought Brad needs to watch this immediately
The AMOUNT of times I screamed from disgust!😭😭
Lizzy IS Sue lol theyre one
i'm so sat for this reaction. my friends are telling me to get a grip and leave the laptop, the staff is asking me to leave the theatres but i'm just too sat.
AH SO GOOF BRAD Loved this xx i really love ur videos your definitely my favourite RUclipsr and I was wondering if you could do more movie reactions like this because they brighten my day the movies don’t have to be new I just like seeing ur reactions to them as they are always so funny 😂❤
tbf at the start too Elisabeth just be going "you got this ladies"
I literally saw this one in theaters last Sunday. The funniest part is that I was completely unaware on what the movie was about, I didn't even know the genre!! My friend simply asks me to go to the movies, I say yes, so the moment we sit down she tells me that it's a horror film and I go like: "Oh, ok I can go for some spooky, I didn't care about any movies in particular anyway". To say that I was flabbergasted and shocked at the end is to say the least, it was a good time somehow and I ended up liking it 😂
ive been waiting for this reaction Brad. Thank you!
HIYA BRADDD IN YOUR BIGGEST FAN!
After watching the movie for the first time, I spent hours reflecting (yes, this movie truly rents a penthouse in your mind). I was reflecting, trying to find another meaning beyond the common understanding of themes like aging and the beauty industry, which are indeed present in the film.
The first thing I noticed (which initially seemed like a flaw but is actually another layer of reflection) is that Elizabeth is not present in Sue. She doesn’t rejuvenate by using the substance; she doesn’t live a perfect version of herself. Both Elizabeth and Sue are two distinct individuals. (For those repeatedly saying here that the movie says dozens time they are one: 1) Unreliable narrator ; 2) Fiction - the substance doesn’t exist. In the fiction the physical body might be connected but it is clear that each one has their own conscious)
Anyways… when I realized this, I thought of a potential logical flaw in the film: what woman would take a substance that would deform her body, leaving a huge scar, and ultimately not restore her youth, but instead create a “better” and younger being with its own consciousness?
I paused for a few seconds, thinking about this logical flaw, glanced to the side, smiled slightly, and remembered all the mothers in this world.
After that reflection, I realized that in the movie, Elizabeth “gives birth” to Sue, making her more of a “daughter” than a rejuvenated version of Elizabeth.
When I rewatched the film through this new lens, I saw, for the first time, a non-romanticized (and yes, exaggerated) version of motherhood. The mother-daughter dynamic is evident in several moments: the metaphor of maternal sacrifice, the projection of insecurities and desires, and even the term “your better version,” often used by parents to refer to their children, as if pleading with the gods for a wish to be granted. Finally, Sue herself mentions during the interview that every other week, she has to take care of her mother.
In the end, this movie was so well executed that it opens the door to various parallel or tangential interpretations, and that’s what enchanted me most about it.
I literally had the same reaction when Fred gave a soggy piece of paper to Elizabeth. My friend was like whatever. But... would you do that to someone you respect? It literally takes less than a minute to write your number again
Can’t watch this fully yet, but after work I’m so sat! But as I see everyone in the comments going crazy explaining the movie I am excited to see the reaction! ❤ lovenyew bradley! Still waiting for my date😢❤
This movie kinda made me depressed thb. I just really hope that when I'm gonna be a mature woman I'm not going to feel the way Elizabeth does.
Also It made me mad at society for only seeing a person as valuable (especially, a woman) as long as they can pass for a teenager. It's perverse and low-key p*do.
the realisation that the man in the diner was the doctor at the start of the movie GAGGED MEEEE
This is Demi’s “Mildred Pierce” moment. A BRILLIANT reemergence 🎉❤
Dennis Quaid made my misophonia act up so bad. Way worse than ElisaSue
503 upside down EOS. Elizabeth, Otherself, Sue.
OMG
First of all, I am living for the new intro. I’m coming back later after finishing the video to comment on your reaction 😘
I watched this today and man I’m happy I didn’t do that alone 😭😭I was disturbed but wow it was good I won’t lie
Can we get a reaction to Interview with the vampire TV show 🙏🙏🙏
yes please
not brad triggering my alexa
HI! I am finally early! I love this movie btw
brad when i tell you i needed this 😭 i've literally been having the shittiest week and got my grades today and due to my mental health (i missed months and months of school) they're pretty bad but this just made my evening better ❤️🩹 this is one of my recent favorite movies so i'm so excited to watch this reaction! much love
Brilliant you made me laugh so much 😂😂❤
Love the new intro and this film! 🤩
Nothing is creepier than the perfectly clean white room inside some random alley.
Your intro always gives me asmr
So glad you’re reviewin this!!!
SO EXCITED FOR THISSS
49:42 ok Nerdy Editing Brad looks so good!
Brad is so real for this❤
There is a great analysis of this movie called 'The real meaning of the substance that no one is talking about' Its a great explanation for anyone who didn't understand the movie fully
My thoughts are also very similar to that video but if you want a unique perspective on the movie final girl studios video essay on it is also great ❤
She shlould've stopped and rushed to Harrods to purchase #7 Future Renew Night Cream, it works miracles. I swear by it.
I get why some folks think they are two different people. It's hard to reconcile the fact that they are one, when they are both conscious and fighting at the end. I think of them as one (because the movie keeps saying it for one thing) but I'm not sure how it works when they are both awake for that final fight. One theory is that when Sue awakens she is just a younger Elisabeth with all of her memories, but from that point on their consciouses are separate and having their own experiences? I mean... they are clearly separate when they are both awake and fighting each other. 🤷🏽♂
21:12