Name: The Substance
Release Date: September 20, 2024
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Cast:
- Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle
- Margaret Qualley as Sue
- Dennis Quaid as Harvey
- Gore Abrams as Oliver
- Oscar Lesage as Troy
- Robin Greer as the Nurse
Description: The Substance is a 2024 international body horror film that explores the dark side of Hollywood’s obsession with youth. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, it follows fading star Elisabeth Sparkle, who uses a dangerous black-market drug to temporarily create a younger, flawless version of herself.
The film is renowned for its visceral practical effects and biting social commentary on ageism and the pressures of fame.
Plot: On her 50th birthday, Elisabeth Sparkle, a once-celebrated TV fitness icon, is abruptly fired by her ruthless producer, Harvey.
Desperate to reclaim her former glory, Elisabeth turns to a mysterious black-market serum known as The Substance, which miraculously creates a youthful alter ego, Sue, intended to share her life in alternating seven-day cycles.
However, when Sue’s popularity soars and she refuses to revert to Elisabeth, the balance between the two selves unravels. As Elisabeth faces rapid aging and horrifying side effects, a brutal showdown ensues, exposing the dark price of defying nature and the exploitation ingrained in the entertainment industry.