The Substance
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A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
What critics thought
Coralie Fargeat's body-horror satire drew near-unanimous critical enthusiasm for its escalating grotesquerie and Demi Moore's career-reviving performance, though a minority found its bluntness a liability — arguing the film substitutes shock and repetition for genuine subtlety. Audiences, however, were more divided than critics, and the film's extreme final act is clearly designed to repel as much as to thrill.
“an epic, audacious body horror masterpiece ... an instant classic. The most sickly entertaining theatrical experience of the year.”
David Ehrlich·IndieWire
“Coralie Fargeat works with the flair of a grindhouse Kubrick in a weirdly fun, cathartically grotesque fusion of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Showgirls.”
Owen Gleiberman·Variety
“Ripping into her best big-screen role in decades, Demi Moore is fearless in parodying her public image.”
Nicholas Barber·BBC
“a cheerfully silly and outrageously indulgent piece of gonzo body-horror comedy.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
Coralie FargeatDirector
Demi MooreElisabeth
Margaret QualleySue
Dennis QuaidHarvey
Edward Hamilton-ClarkFred
Gore AbramsOliver
Oscar LesageTroy
Christian EricksonMan at Diner
Robin GreerMale Nurse
Tom MortonDoctor
Hugo Diego GarciaDiego - Boyfriend
Daniel KnightCasting Director
Jonathon CarleyAssistant Casting Director
RaffertieComposer
Benjamin KračunCinematographyFrom the studio
The Substance
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
What critics thought
Coralie Fargeat's body-horror satire drew near-unanimous critical enthusiasm for its escalating grotesquerie and Demi Moore's career-reviving performance, though a minority found its bluntness a liability — arguing the film substitutes shock and repetition for genuine subtlety. Audiences, however, were more divided than critics, and the film's extreme final act is clearly designed to repel as much as to thrill.
“an epic, audacious body horror masterpiece ... an instant classic. The most sickly entertaining theatrical experience of the year.”
David Ehrlich·IndieWire
“Coralie Fargeat works with the flair of a grindhouse Kubrick in a weirdly fun, cathartically grotesque fusion of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Showgirls.”
Owen Gleiberman·Variety
“Ripping into her best big-screen role in decades, Demi Moore is fearless in parodying her public image.”
Nicholas Barber·BBC
“a cheerfully silly and outrageously indulgent piece of gonzo body-horror comedy.”
Peter Bradshaw·The Guardian
Accolades
Genres
Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
Coralie FargeatDirectorDemi MooreElisabethMargaret QualleySueDennis QuaidHarveyEdward Hamilton-ClarkFredGore AbramsOliverOscar LesageTroyChristian EricksonMan at DinerRobin GreerMale NurseTom MortonDoctorHugo Diego GarciaDiego - BoyfriendDaniel KnightCasting DirectorJonathon CarleyAssistant Casting DirectorRaffertieComposerBenjamin KračunCinematographyFrom the studio
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Rent & Buy