Written by: Emily Sharkis
The 2025 Oscars were held on March 2, 2025, and for the third year in a row, I challenged myself to watch all of the Best Picture nominees…and failed. I did, however, watch four of the Best Picture nominees: Wicked, The Substance, A Complete Unknown, and the winner, Anora. In my opinion, none of these films were bad; in fact, I really liked all of them. But if I were an Oscar voter (in a hypothetical world where these four were the only nominations), I would’ve given The Substance my Best Picture vote. Here’s why.
To me, what makes a great Best Picture winner is a film that excels in multiple categories. The Substance is a film that I have no hesitation placing in that category. First and foremost, it has a unique and thought-provoking plot. The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkles, a woman in the entertainment industry facing societal pressure to either preserve her youth or face the risk of being replaced. She takes an experimental drug, called “the Substance,” which creates a younger and more attractive version of herself named Sue. Elisabeth and Sue share a consciousness and must switch off bodies weekly…or at least, they’re supposed to.
I can hear the cinephiles with pitchforks yelling that the uniqueness of a film’s plot does not determine its quality from here. However, The Substance’s unique plot is what allows it to excel in other aspects. For example, the film’s screenplay, written by Coralie Fargeat, is like no other I’ve seen. It utilizes minimal dialogue, visuals, and colors to create the minimalist, yet ominous world of the film. The screenplay is unique in a way that could easily slip into cringe, but Fargeat manages to develop her ideas into a dark satire that feels both foreign and familiar at the same time.
The look and sound of this film are other standout aspects. The prosthetics alone are insane and actually won the film an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The minimalist sets juxtaposed with some of the most brutal body horror I’ve seen, personifying the film’s message in such a poignant way. The sound design is also quite good, with a constant blaring that simply creeps me out.
Finally, the acting performances in this film cannot be ignored. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley give incredible performances as Elisabeth and Sue, respectively. Representing different stages of womanhood, each actor portrays pain, confusion, self-loathing, and attempts at self-improvement in a very realistic and thought-provoking way. The scene in which Elisabeth prepares for a date is an incredible acting performance from Moore alone.
Overall, there are numerous reasons why The Substance would have been my personal pick for Best Picture this year. While I may be biased as a horror fan, I truly think each element of this movie came together to create an award-worthy film.