Cannes, France – The world of cinema was shaken to its core this week as the highly anticipated body horror film, “The Substance,” starring Demi Moore and John Fetterman, made its grand premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the movie is already being hailed as a groundbreaking work that combines visceral horror with a biting satire on beauty standards, toxic masculinity, and female self-hatred.
“The Substance” movie Demi Moore takes on the lead role of Elisabeth Sparkle, an acclaimed actress turned celebrity host of a daytime exercise program. Elisabeth’s life spirals into chaos when she is replaced by a younger, more beautiful star, played by Margaret Qualley, sparking a brutal confrontation. The film’s frequent and explicit nudity, along with its gruesome violence, has drawn significant attention and sparked conversation about the extremes of the beauty industry and societal expectations placed on women.
During the world premiere, the audience at Cannes gave the film a rapturous reception, with a nine-minute standing ovation that underscored its impact. Critics have lauded Demi Moore’s performance, with co-star Dennis Quaid calling it “the beginning of an incredible third act” for the actress. Moore herself described the role as requiring a “level of vulnerability and rawness” that pushed her far out of her comfort zone.
Adding to the film’s star power is the surprising casting of John Fetterman, the Pennsylvania Senator, in a cameo role. Fetterman’s involvement has sparked curiosity and interest, adding a unique twist to the film’s already eclectic cast.
In a particularly graphic scene that has become a talking point, Moore and Qualley engage in a naked, no-holds-barred bloody fight. This scene, like many others in the film, was designed to shock and provoke, holding up a mirror to the violent extremes women go to in their pursuit of beauty and acceptance. The film’s director, Coralie Fargeat, explained that the violence in the movie is a metaphor for the emotional and physical violence inflicted by societal expectations.
Speaking at the press conference following the premiere, Moore expressed that the film “pushed me out of the comfort zone” but emphasized that the explicit imagery was “necessary to tell this story.” She praised Fargeat’s sensitive approach to these challenging scenes, which established a “common ground of mutual trust” among the cast and crew.
The film’s storyline has drawn comparisons to Moore’s own experiences in Hollywood, where aging actresses often face diminishing roles and opportunities. However, Moore stated that she never saw herself “as the victim” and that “The Substance” is more about skewering “the male perspective of the ideal woman.”
Quaid, who plays a sleazy TV producer named Harvey, dedicated his role to the late Ray Liotta, originally cast in the role. He remarked on the film’s critical view of toxic masculinity, noting that the male characters represent different facets of this theme but that the filmmakers aimed to critique behavior rather than gender.
“The Substance” movie is set to get a U.S. release via Mubi, marking the largest theatrical release ever for the art house streamer. Produced by Working Title, the film was initially set for distribution by Universal before Mubi took over.