Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

The Substance

The Substance is a 2024 body horror film written and directed by Coralie Fargeat.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

The Substance is a 2024 body horror film written and directed by Coralie Fargeat. It follows a fading celebrity who uses a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself, with increasingly disturbing consequences.

What it is

The film centres on Elisabeth Sparkle, a former celebrity and fitness presenter who is fired because of her age. She turns to a mysterious drug called The Substance, which creates a younger version of herself named Sue. The two must share time under strict rules, but the arrangement unravels with violent and psychological consequences.

Why it matters

The Substance uses body horror and satire to explore ageism, beauty standards, and celebrity culture. It received extensive critical attention for its graphic style, performances, and feminist themes. The film was released theatrically in 2024 and later streamed through MUBI.

Key details

The film stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid. It is rated R for graphic nudity, gore, language, and strong violent content. Runtime is 2 hours 21 minutes. It was written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, whose previous feature was Revenge.

In short

  • A fading celebrity uses a black-market drug to create a younger self.
  • Body horror and satire critique ageism and beauty standards.
  • Stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid.
  • Released in 2024, distributed by MUBI.
Canadian angle

The Substance was reviewed and discussed widely by Canadian audiences through international film coverage, and it was available in Canada through its 2024 release and MUBI distribution.

Quick questions

What is The Substance about?
It is about a fading celebrity who uses a black-market drug to create a younger version of herself, leading to violent and psychological consequences.
Who directed The Substance?
The film was written and directed by Coralie Fargeat.
Who stars in The Substance?
The main cast includes Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid.

Sources

  1. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17526714/
    Supports: Release year, genre, plot premise, and U.S. release date
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Substance
    Supports: Writer, director, cast, and basic plot summary
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_substance
    Supports: Director, producer, screenwriter, distributor, rating, runtime, release dates, and genre
  4. European Film Academy — https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/the-substance/
    Supports: Plot premise and core character setup
  5. BBC Culture — https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20240920-the-substance-the-gross-horror-thats-2024s-most-divisive-film
    Supports: Themes, body-horror style, and social commentary
  6. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-substance-movie-review
    Supports: Plot details, rules of the Substance, and theme discussion
  7. The Guardian — https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/sep/22/the-substance-review-demi-moore-is-fearless-in-visceral-feminist-body-horror-coralie-fargeat
    Supports: Plot, genre classification, and thematic analysis