The Substance

The buzziest film out of Cannes, where it won the Best Screenplay Award, The Substance stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid in a gloriously blood-splattered and hilariously satirical feminist body horror. A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Moore plays the former Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle, now relegated to presenting a workout show, though at least it’s a stable job. But ratings are everything, and when sleazy TV exec Harvey (Dennis Quaid) decides that new blood – or fresh meat – is needed, Elisabeth turns to a mysterious medical procedure involving The Substance. Soon there is a young and beautiful version of Elisabeth called Sue (Qualley). All that is needed for both to co-exist is a careful maintenance of the equilibrium – time has to be shared equally: Elisabeth gets one week, then Sue gets one. But when the balance is disrespected, the repercussions are both grave and irreversible. Fargeat made her debut with the memorable 2017 thriller Revenge, and she adeptly ratchets up the tension in this extremely clever and risqué tale of excess and vanity, eliciting squirms and laughs.

AWARDS

GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS 2025 | Winner: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Demi Moore)