Demi Moore believes that the United States is founded on Puritans, religious extremists, and criminals, and she sees parallels between this history and the current political climate in the country.
Moore made these comments at the French premiere of the film The Substance, a body-horror satire, at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris. She spoke about how the film’s themes reflect the ideological struggles happening in America.
She expressed her confusion about the fear and taboo surrounding sexuality and the body in American culture. Moore questioned why the celebration of the body is accepted in art but feared in cinema.
In The Substance, Moore portrays an older actress who uses a drug to transform into a younger version of herself, played by Margaret Qualley.
Moore emphasized the importance of embracing one’s true self, flaws and imperfections included, especially as one ages. She talked about the value of being authentic and not conforming to societal expectations of youth.
The Substance has been praised for its focus on body image and for being a horror film with a strong female perspective. Moore highlighted the unique perspective that a female writer brings to the story, suggesting that a man may not have been able to capture the same essence.