7.2
Summary
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
Cast
Demi Moore
Elisabeth
Margaret Qualley
Sue
Dennis Quaid
Harvey
Edward Hamilton-Clark
Fred
Gore Abrams
Oliver
Oscar Lesage
Troy
Christian Erickson
Man at Diner
Robin Greer
Male Nurse
Tom Morton
Doctor
Hugo Diego Garcia
Diego - Boyfriend
Daniel Knight
Casting Director
Jonathon Carley
Assistant Casting Director
Jiselle Henderkott
Girl Auditioning / New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Akil Wingate
TV Host
Vincent Colombe
Man in Suit #1 - Harvey's Office
Billy Bentley
Man in Suit #2
Lennard Ridsdale
Man in Suit #3
Jordan Ford Silver
Assistant Director - Pump It Up Show
Oscar Salem
2nd Assistant Director - Pump It Up Show
Viviane Bossina
Sue's Assistant
Matthew Luret
Floor Runner
Jana Bittnerová
Maria
Olivier Raynal
Alan - 2nd Agent
Tiffany Hofstetter
Stylist
Nicolas Royer
Guy in the Elevator
Nathan Rippy
Assistant Director - New Year's Eve Show
Manon Arizmendi
Little Girl - New Year's Eve Show
Virginie Kotlinski
Mother - New Year's Eve Show
Brett Gillen
Director of Photography - New Year's Eve Show
Charlotte Marquardt
Screaming Woman
Léa Hengl
Screaming Woman
Gaëlle Raymond
Screaming Woman
Claire Lemaire
Screaming Woman
Lila Boughoufala
Screaming Woman
Aurélien Lorgnier
Screaming Man
Ivan Sellier
Screaming Man
Philip Schurer
Screaming Man
Christian Bourmier
Shareholder
Martin Graham
Shareholder
Christian Bordeleau
Shareholder
Patrick Hamel
Shareholder
Didier Dhondt
Shareholder
Jacques-Yves Dorges
Shareholder
Jean-Claude Matthey
Shareholder
Olivier Jarcin
Shareholder
Jean-Luc Magneron
Shareholder
Charlotte Murray
Allison - Diner Waitress
Aaron Kahn
Greeting Person
Gabriela Arnon
Greeting Person
Nancy Josephson Lahoussine
Greeting Person
Andrew Eldridge
Greeting Person
Denise Powers
Greeting Person
Bryan Jones
Greeting Person
Adam Carage
Happy Birthday Person
Maria McClurg
Happy Birthday Person
Andrew Desmond
Happy Birthday Person
Rebecca Lafont
Happy Birthday Person
Laura Puech
Isabella
Ryan Chidester
Stagehand
Céline Vogt
Elisabeth (Young) - Walk of Fame
Yannick Guérin
Clumsy Burger Guy - Walk of Fame
Jean Miel
Worker Walk of Fame
Paul Descoings
Worker Walk of Fame
Benoit Lévêque
Worker Walk of Fame
Arthur Molinet
Cocktail Bartender
Manon Sachot
Cocktail Lounge Couple
Bastien Jorelle
Cocktail Lounge Couple
Kelly Hoarau
Female Assistant - Towel
Michel Juskiewicz
George - Harvey's Friend
Louise Greggory
Restaurant Waitress
Christophe Sartirano
Guy Looking at Sue
Florent Torres
Guy Looking at Sue
Romain Caldeira
Billboard Technician
Barthelemy Thomas
Billboard Technician
Axel Baille
Photographer
Ashley Lambert
Additional Voices (voice)
Ranjani Brow
Additional Voices (voice)
Chase Fein
Additional Voices (voice)
Shane Sweet
Additional Voices (voice)
William Calvert
Additional Voices (voice)
Michael Corbett
Additional Voices (voice)
Stephen Apostolina
Additional Voices (voice)
Yann Bean
The Substance (voice)
Audjyan Alcide
Pump It Up Show Dancer
Jonathan Jenvrin
Pump It Up Show Dancer
Mimi Maury
Pump It Up Show Dancer
Amelye Solange
Pump It Up Show Dancer
Kévin Table
Pump It Up Show Dancer
Laura Boera
Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer
Cissy Duc
Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer
Sophie Mercier
Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer
Marie Valton
Sparkle Your Life Show Dancer
Katrina Budzynski
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Alicia Maury
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Megane Adamik
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Annalisa Pagnotta
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Maelle Dantigny
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Aleksandra Fontaine Kedzierska
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Pauline Sagetat
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Agustina Fitzsimons
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Elena Shcheglova
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Eve Marchant
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Lola Donati
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Kate Matthews
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Ophélie Jonard
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Pauline Richard
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Laureen Cappelliez
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Daria Panchenko
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Delphine Beaulieu
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Victoria Brun
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Cara Chapman
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Katharine Matthews
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Alexandra Faget
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Clémence Juville
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Margot L'Entete
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Hillary Sukhonos
New Year's Eve Show Dancer
Matthew Géczy
Bob Haswell (uncredited)
Namory Bakayoko
Silhouette (uncredited)
Gregory Defleur
Happy Birthday Person (uncredited)
Coralie Fargeat
(uncredited)
Crew
Director, Writer
Coralie Fargeat
Reviews
msbreviews
September 20, 2024
8
The Substance delivers an intense, visually mesmerizing commentary on the entertainment industry's obsession with youth and outward beauty. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley offer remarkable, maybe even career-best performances, with Dennis Quaid excelling in his role as well. Coralie Fargeat explores how aging stars, particularly women, are discarded when they no longer meet the industry's strict beauty standards. Moore's character, haunted by the memory of her former fame and beauty, goes down a dark path in pursuit of a "better" version of herself. The story is also a sharp critique of power dynamics, with white men controlling who's in front of the spotlight, while women are pitted against one another for validation.
The film's production is equally impressive, especially the makeup and prosthetic work that elevates its body horror elements. While the first half of the movie is more subdued, the gore ramps up significantly as the plot unfolds, culminating in a chaotic "fourth act" that will leave audiences bewildered. The fast-paced editing, paired with an impactful score, heightens the tension and surrealism of the narrative. Though there's a part of me who prefers a version of the film that ends before the wild final act, the overall experience is an unforgettable, audacious exploration of vanity, control, and desperation in the entertainment world.
Rating: B+
Media
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$17,500,000.00
Revenue:
$77,629,508.00
