The Substance (2024)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A fading celebrity uses a black market drug to create a younger version of herself, leading to horrifying consequences.
The story
On her 50th birthday, faded Hollywood film star Elisabeth Sparkle is dismissed from her long-running aerobics TV show by her producer, Harvey, due to her age. After a distressing incident, she is offered a black market drug called 'The Substance' that promises a 'younger, more beautiful, more perfect' version of herself. Elisabeth chooses to use the serum, and a younger woman named Sue emerges. The two bodies must switch consciousness every week, requiring constant maintenance. As Sue becomes an overnight sensation, Elisabeth becomes a recluse, and the two begin to experience the physical and psychological consequences of their shared existence.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After using 'The Substance' to create a younger version of herself named Sue, Elisabeth Sparkle and Sue must switch consciousness weekly. While Sue becomes a sensation, Elisabeth becomes a recluse. The two begin to resent each other as Sue's disregard for the switching schedule causes Elisabeth to age rapidly. Eventually, Sue refuses to switch back, and when she finally runs out of stabilizer fluid, she is forced to switch back to a transformed, 'hag-like' Elisabeth. To stop Sue from aging her further, Elisabeth attempts to use a termination serum but fails to complete the process, leaving both conscious. Sue beats Elisabeth to death and takes over the show. However, due to the depleted serum, Sue's body begins to deteriorate. She attempts to create a new version of herself, resulting in a grotesque mutated being called 'Monstro Elisasue.' This creature attempts to host the show but is attacked by the audience, resulting in a bloody, chaotic scene. The film ends with Elisabeth's original face detaching from the gore and melting into a puddle of blood on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 141
- Production countries
- France; United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Coralie Fargeat
- Writers
- Coralie Fargeat · writer
- Cast and characters
- Demi Moore · Elisabeth Sparkle; Margaret Qualley · Sue; Dennis Quaid · Harvey
- Genres
- body horror; horror; thriller
- Themes
- societal pressures surrounding women's bodies and aging; body horror; addiction; male gaze; mind-body dualism
- Tone and mood
- satire; grotesque; hyperrealistic; disturbing
- Premise and plot tags
- body horror; aging; celebrity culture; transformation
- Source material / true-story basis
- loosely inspired by her short Reality+ (2014)
- Content notes
- body horror
- Reception
- The film received widespread acclaim, particularly for its special effects, the lead performance by Demi Moore, and its bold direction. It was praised as an audacious and visceral piece of body horror.
- Reported review scores
- AlloCiné · score: 3.6 · scale: 5 · review count: 39; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 80% · scale: percentage
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe Award · Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Win; Academy Award · Best Makeup and Hairstyling · Win; Academy Award · Best Picture · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · Nomination; Academy Award · Best Actress · Nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Director · Nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture · Nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Screenplay · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film used approximately 21,000 liters of theatrical blood.; The production used a 115 ft x 42 ft Rosco SoftDrop backdrop to simulate a Los Angeles skyline.; The costume for Sue's pink leotard was inspired by Beyoncé and Dua Lipa.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…