‘The Substance’ is Not Golden Globe Winner Demi Moore’s First Body Horror Film

After over 40 years in show business, actress Demi Moore was finally awarded for her work in a major motion picture last night. She won for best actress in a Musical or Comedy at the 82nd annual Golden Globe Award presentation for her part in The Substance. 

After winning, the 62-year-old accepted her prize on stage saying, “I’ve been doing this a long time, like over 45 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever won anything as an actor and I’m just so humbled and so grateful.”

The Substance is a body horror film underscored by a cautionary tale about the dangers of trying to recapture one’s youth. It is at the top of many critics’ “best of” movie lists and has gained Oscar buzz. 

Moore’s win seems almost like a full-circle moment; her career started with a body horror movie. 

In 1982 she starred in her second feature film called Parasite directed by Charles Band. Although not as graphic as The Substance, Parasite does have its gross-out moments. And what makes it more interesting is that it was originally presented in 3-D. 

After that Moore joined the cast of the hit daytime soap General Hospital for two years before doing some teen comedies in the 80s. Her second horror movie was The Seventh Sign in 1988 before she joined Patrick Swayze in the movie Ghost in 1990. From there she spent a few decades primarily making thrillers and dramas including a stint opposite Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men (1992). 

In 1996 she became the topic of controversy for taking the lead in the hyper-sexual Striptease. Much like the message of ageism in The Substance, people were harsh in their criticisms of Striptease because of Moore’s age — she was only 34 at the time.

In her speech last night Moore commented on industry leaders who once said she was a “popcorn actress” which back then she took to heart. 

 “At that time, I made that mean that this wasn’t something that I was allowed to have,” she said in her acceptance speech. “And I bought in and I believed that and that corroded me over time to the point where I thought a few years ago that maybe this was it. Maybe I was complete, maybe I’ve done what I was supposed to do.”

Moore’s Golden Globe may shift what people are expecting of Oscar nominations this year. The Golden Globes can be a predictor of how Academy members vote for its shortlist of nominations. Many had predicted Cynthia Erivo would take home the Golden Globe in this category since Wicked was such a theatrical success. Moore’s win not only subverts what type of movie is usually deemed Oscar-worthy but also celebrates the horror genre as one not to be taken lightly anymore.

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