The Substance

2024
R
2h 21m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

139K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Elisabeth Sparkle is a former A-lister past her prime who is suddenly fired from her fitness TV show.

She is then drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug: THE SUBSTANCE. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn -- temporarily -- as the gorgeous, twentysomething Sue.

The only rule? Time needs to be split: exactly one week in one body, then one week in the other. No exceptions. A perfect balance. What could go wrong?

Play trailer2:31

2 Videos

99 Photos

Body Horror Dark Comedy Monster Horror Psychological Horror Drama Horror

A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

139K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 8 wins & 9 nominations

Videos2

Photos304

297

More like this

7.2

Alien: Romulus

6.7

Longlegs

6.9

Speak No Evil

6.8

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

6.4

6.4

8.3

7.1

7.0

7.0

Late Night with the Devil

6.5

Blink Twice

7.8

Poor Things

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Ray Liotta was cast in the film in February 2022, but he died in May that year before he could film his scenes. Dennis Quaid replaced him, but Liotta is still mentioned in the director's "Thank You Notes" during the credits.

Goofs
The toilet mirror reappears intact after being repeatedly smashed during the fight sequence.

Quotes
Elisabeth Sparkle: There's been a slight misuse of the Substance.

Crazy credits
A special thanks in the credits is given to the many extras in the theater scene, who got covered in blood.

Connections
Featured in The Project: Episode dated 20 September 2024 (2024)

Soundtracks
Pump It Up
Written by Michael Hall, Leonardo Stella
Performed by Earl Gregory
Produced by Julien Deguines

User reviews1.2K

Review

Featured review

9/10

Future cult classic

Every scene of this film wowed me at TIFF. The casting, atmosphere, visual and sound design, music, and, of course, the symbolism of it all.

Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley couldn't have been more perfectly cast as leads. Their devotion to the process and trust in their director was clear to me. Their vulnerability pulls this off and leads to a very compelling fever dream.

Everyone involved should be really proud of this film. To me, it's a future cult classic.

It is body/psychological horror, so don't expect jump scares. It's deeper than that. I found myself getting lost in reflection during the film (as a 47 year old woman it really spoke to me).

But it's also extremely fun to watch!

Take it seriously as a true work of art, but don't at the same time, and you'll have a blast.