The campaign for awards heats up even more as we enter 2025. The one who is going strong and determined to get recognition is Demi Moore, the muse of the 1990s, a Hollywood legend, and the star of one of the most talked-about films of 2024, The Substance. And if there is one opportunity that will not be unfair, it will be this: her work is impeccable.

I put off watching the film as long as possible. I don’t like horror and even less the subgenre of “gore”, that horror or drama film that explores uncomfortable details of blood, violence, or disgust, with images and sounds. The Substance is 200% of this school, it was torture to get to the end of it, but it was worth every second of the sacrifice.

Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the film is a psychological thriller with touches of science fiction and horror. Its story revolves around themes such as obsession with youth, scientific ethics, and the consequences of a society obsessed with aesthetic standards. It is brilliant in its economy of dialogue, exaggerated colors, and objectivity.

Demi Moore, beautiful as ever, plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a celebrity in decline who, after being fired from her television fitness program due to her age, decides to try a clandestine drug that promises to replicate her cells, temporarily creating a younger and improved version of herself. This younger version, called Sue (Margaret Qualley), emerges from a homemade cloning process, bringing unexpected consequences and exploring themes such as obsession with youth and the aesthetic standards imposed by society.

The performances of both actresses have been widely praised by critics and fans, but Demi Moore‘s courage is even greater in one of the most remarkable performances of her entire career. Not only does she express everything in long takes of silence, with little or no makeup or even clothes. In key scenes, such as when Elizabeth struggles with the side effects of the drug or reflects on her own mortality, Moore displays remarkable emotional control, alternating between despair, anguish, and humanity.

It is no exaggeration to say that this is a triumphant return and an iconic role. She demonstrates artistic maturity and mastery. The film is hers.

It is all the more uncomfortable because having a star like Demi Moore and everything she still represents in Hollywood allows the film to explore the very symbolism she carries as a veteran actress in an industry notoriously obsessed with youth. It is a critical metaphor for her and many others, and absolutely stunning and important that it is being told with such a big star.

The Substance has been received with acclaim at film festivals, including the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Screenplay and many anticipated that Demi would win for Actress. And, at the moment, it seems to have established a subgenre that is horror with a feminist perspective precisely because it viscerally addresses the social pressures on the female body and aging.

It’s ironic that precisely because it’s so niche and critical The Substance could be a little too much to make Demi a favorite as one of the nominees for the Oscar for Best Actress in 2025, even if the campaign for her is still strong.

Opening 2025, Demi and Margareth are already among the nominees for the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards 2025, and other awards. A win on Sunday, January 5th, would greatly strengthen the chances of both of them at the Oscars.

Many experts and critics consider Demi a strong candidate for a nomination – it would be her first – and any and all wins could generate additional momentum in her campaign since the Academy often recognizes veteran actors who have not yet been awarded. Her problem? Very strong competition, from Nicole Kidman to Fernanda Torres and Cynthia Erivo, among others.

The Substance is not an easy film, and Demi Moore‘s performance in it is not either. It’s a work that demands the same sacrifice from the viewer that it seems to have demanded from its protagonist, but the return is equally rewarding. Demi transcends the screen, transforming her personal and professional journey into a universal narrative about resilience, relevance, and acceptance. Let the recognition come. Let the awards come. And let more stories come as bold and challenging as this one.

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