What I love about the Substance is that it doesn't put all of the blame on men. Yes they are gross, yes they are sexist.
But ultimately Elizabeth is making all of the decisions. It is her obsession with herself that she can't let go off.
That is why it's such a great movie. It doesn't only show the misogynistic reality we have to face, that tale has been told multiple times. What's original is showing us what our own selfishness will bring us, what self-worship is truly like, what is left if we live our lives only for ourselves.
In the end it will be just you, and you will grow to hate even yourself.
Elizabeth has no friends, no family, no partner, no children. The only portraits in her home are of herself. She's her own favorite person, her idol, her god. And it doesn't matter that it's only her younger version. They are one. Sue's terrible nature is her nature.
She thinks she'll be alone, just her, on her own, if she kills Sue, but Sue is her. She already is alone. This idea that just loving yourself, even a small part of yourself, is gonna save you, is a lie.
That is why the substence could've never worked for Sparkle, because she is too egomaniacal.
And I think that, in the age when so many movies, commercials, books, influencers etc. are trying to tell us that all we need on this planet is just ourselves, it's a very important messege to send.
You need other people. You are going to grow old and sooner or later you're gonna need help. You will have to quit your job. And in the end, you'll die, and all that will be left of you is the memory of your loved ones or nothing at all.
