The Substance

<p><em><strong>The Substance</strong></em> is a 2024 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_horror">body horror</a> film written and directed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralie_Fargeat">Coralie Fargeat</a>. It follows a fading celebrity, Elisabeth Sparkle (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demi_Moore">Demi Moore</a>) who, after being fired by her producer (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Quaid">Dennis Quaid</a>) due to her age, uses a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_market">black market</a> drug that creates a younger version of herself (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Qualley">Margaret Qualley</a>) with unexpected side effects.</p><p>Noted for its <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire">satirical</a> elements and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grotesque">grotesque</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperrealism_(visual_arts)">hyperrealistic</a> imagery, <em>The Substance</em> is Fargeat&#39;s second feature film, after <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_(2017_film)">Revenge</a>. Motivated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Societal_attitudes_towards_women">societal pressures on women&#39;s bodies and aging</a>, she wrote the screenplay over two years, assembling a team to co-produce the film between France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_photography">Principal photography</a> in France lasted 108 days. It made extensive use of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosthetic_makeup">prosthetic makeup</a> designed by Pierre-Olivier Persin and primarily <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Practical_effect">practical effects</a>; these included suits, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppetry">puppetry</a>, dummies, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insert_(filmmaking)">insert shots</a>, and approximately 21,000 liters (5,500 US gallons) of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatrical_blood">fake blood</a> to portray Elisabeth&#39;s drug-induced transformation. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_score">film score</a> was written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffertie">Raffertie</a> and features a cover of &quot;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump_It_Up!">Pump It Up!</a>&quot; by DJ Endor.</p><p><em>The Substance</em> premiered on May 19, 2024 at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Cannes_Film_Festival">77th Cannes Film Festival</a> main competition, where Fargeat won <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannes_Film_Festival_Award_for_Best_Screenplay">Best Screenplay</a>. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom and the United States by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mubi_(streaming_service)">Mubi</a> on September 20, 2024, and in France by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Filmexport">Metropolitan Filmexport</a> on November 6, 2024. At the box office, the film grossed $77 million on a $17.5 million production budget and became Mubi&#39;s highest-grossing film. It was a critical success and received <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accolades_received_by_The_Substance">numerous accolades</a>, including five nominations each at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/97th_Academy_Awards">97th Academy Awards</a> (including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Picture">Best Picture</a>) and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/82nd_Golden_Globe_Awards">82nd Golden Globe Awards</a> (including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Motion_Picture_%E2%80%93_Musical_or_Comedy">Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy</a>). For her performance, Moore won the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Actress_in_a_Motion_Picture_%E2%80%93_Musical_or_Comedy">Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy</a> and earned Best Actress nominations