Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story: Body horror written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. The Substance (2024) follows Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a former A-lister past her prime and suddenly fired from her fitness TV show by repellent studio head Harvey (Dennis Quaid). She is then drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug called The Substance. All it takes is one injection, and she is reborn, temporarily, as the gorgeous, twentysomething Sue (Margaret Qualley). 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.
Where to Watch:
Best Over-the-Top Moments from The Substance
Harvey: Look, I’ll make it simple. We need her young. We need her hot. We need her now.
Harvey: People are just people. And I have to give people what they want. That’s what keeps the shareholders happy. And people always ask for something new. Renewal is inevitable. And at fifty, well, it stops.
Fred: [to Elisabeth] You’re still the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world.
The Substance: Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger. More beautiful. More perfect. One single injection unlocks your DNA, starting a new cellular division that will release another version of yourself. This is The Substance.
The Substance: You are the matrix. Everything comes from you. And everything is you. This is simply a better version of yourself. You just have to share. One week for one. And one week for the other. A perfect balance of seven days each. The one and only thing not to forget. You are one.
The Substance: You can’t escape from yourself.
Casting Director: Great dancer. Too bad her boobs aren’t in the middle of her face instead of that nose.
Harvey: [to Sue] What a gorgeous little angel! You’re hired. We want a show that’s just like you. Beautiful and happy. People want to be happy.
Harvey: [to Sue] I want you for this show. And we will work around any mother, brother, f***ing sick puppy you need to take care of.
Harvey: [to Sue] Gorgeous, with a pure heart. People are going to love that.
Elisabeth: There’s been a slight misuse of the Substance. A few extra hours were accidentally used. Causing an alteration. So I’m just looking for the procedure to reverse it.
The Substance: What has been used on one side is lost on the other side. There’s no going back.
The Substance: Remember, there is no “she” and “you”. You are one. Respect the balance. And you won’t have any more inconveniences.
Man at Diner: [to Elisabeth] Each time, you feel a little more lonely. Don’t you think?
Man at Diner: [to Elisabeth] It gets harder each time to remember that you still deserve to exist! That this part of yourself is still worth something, that you still matter!
Sue: This balance is not working! I barely have any time to enjoy myself, while she wastes seven days, stuffing her face in front of the TV!
Harvey: [to Sue] People love you! They adore you! They want more, and more, and more of you.
Sue: [to Elisabeth] If you don’t open the door when opportunity knocks you won’t get another chance. You of all people know this.
Elisabeth: She didn’t respect the balance! She’s stealing more and more time from me. Completely without consideration to the consequences. She’s a selfish b**ch!
The Substance: What has been transferred won’t come back. But you can stop the experience as of now. Would you like to stop? To go back to being just you, on your own?
Elisabeth: The balance just needs to be respected.
The Substance: So respect it.
Sue: [being interviewed] But, ever since I can remember, it has always been my dream to be on the screen.
Elisabeth: This is my dream.
Sue: [referring to Elisabeth] Well, I can’t really say that I actually watched her show. You do know that we’re not exactly from the same generation. And you have to admit it was a bit old-fashioned. Jurassic Fitness, really. It needed a change.
Elisabeth: [watching Sue being interviewed] You wouldn’t exist without me.
Sue: I guess I just try to be myself. To be sincere and grateful for all that I have. And to always remember to lead with my heart.
Elisabeth: [watching Sue being interviewed] You’re taking it from me. That’s your little secret.
Sue: You have to control yourself!
Sue: I can’t go back inside her. Gross, old, fat, disgusting!
The Substance: You’ve reached the end.
Sue: What do you mean, the end?
The Substance: Once you stop, you can’t go back. You will simply remain on your own. Just on your own.
Elisabeth: [to Sue] I need you. Because I hate myself.
Elisabeth: [to Sue] You’re the only lovable part of me, you have to come back. You have to come back!
Harvey: [to Sue] Smile! It’s what we want tonight! Pretty girls should always smile.
Sue: I need a better version of myself. Please give me a better version of myself, please.
Harvey: You will not be disappointed. She’s my most beautiful creation. I have shaped her for success.
Monstro ElisaSue: It’s me! Just me. I’m the same.