Substance, The

Substance, The

With sharp wit and cathartic intensity, writer-director Coralie Fargeat turns toxic beauty culture inside out in her mind-blowing latest feature. Powered by a career-best performance from Demi Moore, The Substance fearlessly bulldozes its way into the midnight-movie pantheon and the feminist canon. Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore), a fading Hollywood actress, is struggling to maintain her career due to her age and is replaced on her fitness TV show by a younger woman. Desperate to regain her youth, she discovers a mysterious substance that allows her to create a younger version of herself, named Sue (Margaret Qualley), but with strict rules. They must switch bodies every seven days, sharing the same consciousness while one is dormant. As Sue experiences the thrill of renewed fame and beauty, she becomes increasingly to relinquish control, leading to a disturbing and grotesque battle for the body as the consequences of manipulating time and youth become increasingly horrific.