Following the 2024 Cannes premiere, Coralie Fargeat‘s ‘The Substance‘ is now heading towards theaters in the United States. The film is now scheduled to be released in theaters on September 20, 2024, by Mubi. Watch the official clip below.
The film received a 10-minute standing ovation at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. According to the X User review, “Fargeat’s body horror ‘The Substance’ is being served with a tall glass of consumption, commodification of beauty, and the trends that need to continue to go out of style at a faster rate, telling women they are “nothing after 30” and to “smile.” After workplace ageism on turning 50 (her boss feels she overstayed her welcome even after a successful career), Demi Moore’s character falls victim to the temptation of aging backwards with a new “perfect” version of herself in a situation, to say it lightly, that slowly begins to glitch into a bloody, gory, self-absorbed, fame-chasing race to hold on to the strings of fan adoration, youth, and the indulgences that come with it.”
“Coralie takes the obscene to TILT, so much so that you won’t know where to look in the high octave opera-esque ending. Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley are sensational. Dennis Quaid perfectly nails a repulsive-looking sexist entertainment executive who’s also aging but doesn’t have the same ruler applied to him while he simultaneously lusts after younger talent. You will laugh out loud, wince, possibly get offended, but hopefully remind yourself that the poke at the grasping for straws in the run from deterioration doesn’t discriminate.”
The film is written and directed by Coralie Fargeat and stars Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, Qualley as Sue, Dennis Quaid as Harvey, Hugo Diego Garcia, Phillip Schurer, and Joseph Balderrama.
According to Mubi, the plot synopsis is, “Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? You. Only better in every way. You should try this new product, The Substance. IT CHANGED MY LIFE.”
Produced by Coralie Fargeat, Tim Bevan, and Eric Fellner, it is a production of Working Title Films and A Good Story. The film is distributed worldwide by Mubi and in France by Metropolitan Filmexport.
‘The Substance’ won Best Screenplay at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
