The Substance 2024
The Substance is a shocking and acclaimed feminist body horror film written and directed by Coralie Fargeat (Revenge). The dark satire follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a fading celebrity and host of a long-running fitness show who is brutally fired on her 50th birthday by her misogynistic producer, Harvey (Dennis Quaid). Desperate to reclaim her success and youth, Elisabeth turns to a mysterious, black-market cellular replication product called "The Substance." By injecting the goo, she creates a younger, physically perfect, and universally desired alternate self named Sue (Margaret Qualley). The catch: the two must strictly share time in the physical world, alternating every seven days. As the flawless Sue begins to rebel and exceed expectations, Elisabeth's jealousy spirals into a grotesque and intensely physical battle for control over their shared existence, pushing the film into extreme body horror territory. The film was met with massive critical acclaim, becoming one of the most talked-about and highly-rated releases of the year. It holds a Certified Fresh rating of approximately 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its audacious grossness and wicked cleverness. The consensus highlights Demi Moore's fearless and career-defining performance as "Elisabeth Sparkle" and credits director Fargeat for her unblinking use of body horror to deliver a fierce, cathartic takedown of societal beauty standards and ageism in Hollywood.The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay Award. It went on to win the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 97th Oscars (with nominations in 4 categories, including Best Picture).The Substance was a major box office success for its distributor, MUBI. Against a reported budget of $18 million, the film grossed approximately $77–82 million worldwide, becoming MUBI's highest-grossing film to date. The film had a wide theatrical release starting September 20, 2024.The film is streaming exclusively on the global platform MUBI, where it became available on October 31, 2024.
- 2024
- 2 h : 20 min
- 904 views
-
7.014
- R
- English (Canada)
Recommended
Starring
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Anu
2025-04-24 19:37:52
The movie starts off strong, with a solid story that suggests a clear narrative. However, as the plot unfolds, it begins to lose focus. Midway through, the film becomes disjointed and chaotic. Initially, it seems like the two main characters are connected, perhaps sharing a mind, but then the story abruptly shifts, revealing them as separate individuals in conflict with each other. By the time you reach the end, the movie veers completely off course, diving into B-movie absurdity. This had the potential to be a great film, but the third act desperately needed a rewrite. The overall execution feels as if Rob Zombie was brought in for rewrites and reshoots, lending it an uneven tone. Despite its flaws, Demi Moore delivers a strong performance, portraying her character with conviction. While the movie is okay, it ultimately falls short of its potential.