The Substance has garnered die-hard fans and is receiving praise at Cannes, with the movie poised to become the next big horror hit.
According to Deadline, The Substance, a body horror movie directed by Coralie Fargeat and starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, received a 13-minute standing ovation at this year’s Cannes. The film is known for its gruesome violence and feminist themes, pushing the boundaries of body modification to the extreme.
Elizabeth Sparkle, played by Moore, is a former acclaimed actress who now makes a living as a fitness instructor. After being unjustly dismissed due to her age, she contacts a mysterious number that was given to her. This leads her down a path of sci-fi body modification, which ultimately takes a sinister turn.
Utilizing supplied medication and instruments, her spine ruptures in a manner reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, producing a younger incarnation of herself. However, there is a caveat as only one version is able to venture out for a week while the other remains in hibernation.
This creates a Jekyll and Hyde scenario that breeds feelings of envy, jealousy, and horror. The Substance will be added to the roster of terrifying horror movies in 2024.
The film has received an almost perfect score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. The BBC praised the movie in their review, stating that “Fargeat’s twisted tale is entertaining, especially for those who enjoy hearing squelching, cracking, and crunching noises as gruesome things happen to human flesh.”
On X/Twitter, Beyond Fest stated, “Cannes has been taken by storm. THE SUBSTANCE is the craziest movie of the past two decades. It is so outlandish that it’s almost unbelievable. Demi Moore pushes the boundaries and @coraliefargeat has created a modern horror film unlike anything else.”
Despite the hype surrounding the movie, an official trailer for The Substance has not been released. Fans have only been given a teaser and a harrowing still image, leaving many frustrated. One fan took to X/Twitter to express their disappointment, stating, “I hate when tweets like this come out of festivals & I can’t find a trailer or anything other than 1 still image. Grrr.”
According to the movie’s current reception, fans are eagerly anticipating watching it for themselves. One fan commented, “I may not know much about it, but I must see it.”
Moore’s debut at Cannes has resulted in her first success story, as Variety praised her fearless on-screen performance.
The Substance premiered at Cannes on May 19, 2024, with a global release date still to be determined. However, it is expected to debut in the latter half of 2024, along with other upcoming films.
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