The Substance

2024
18
2h 21m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

192K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

Elisabeth Sparkle is a former A-lister past her prime who is suddenly fired from her fitness TV show.

She is then drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug: THE SUBSTANCE. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn -- temporarily -- as the gorgeous, twentysomething Sue.

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. What could go wrong?

Play trailer2:31

3 Videos

99+ Photos

Body Horror Dark Comedy Monster Horror Psychological Horror Drama Horror Sci-Fi

A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.A fading celebrity takes a black-market drug: a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

192K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 55 wins & 184 nominations total

Videos3

Photos343

+ 336

More like this

6.7

7.0

7.1

7.9

7.8

6.8

7.6

7.1

6.8

7.4

6.4

6.5

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Ray Liotta was cast in the film in February 2022, but he died in May that year before he could film his scenes. Dennis Quaid replaced him, but Liotta is still mentioned in the director's "Thank You Notes" during the credits.

Goofs
The toilet mirror reappears intact after being repeatedly smashed during the fight sequence.

Quotes
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. You are the matrix. Everything comes from you. 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. You can't escape from yourself.

Crazy credits
A special thanks in the credits is given to the many extras in the theater scene, who got covered in blood.

Connections
Featured in The Project: Episode dated 20 September 2024 (2024)

Soundtracks
Pump It Up
Written by Michael Hall, Leonardo Stella
Performed by Earl Gregory
Produced by Julien Deguines

User reviews1.5K

Review

Featured review

6/10

The substance reproduces the things that it wants to criticize.

The substance reproduces the things that it wants to criticize.

The criticism doesn't work because it's contradictory. It wants to criticize the beauty cult but reproduces the fear and disgust of aging. It shows us a tremendously disgusting old female body and places it next to a younger, thinner and wrinkle-free version. With a male gaze all over it.

The Substance shows us that the worst thing that can happen to a woman is getting old. If she's old, she's worthless, ugly and unloveable. So you have to do anything to stay young, thin and beautiful.

Instead of criticising the system and the society, who are responsable for this beauty cult, the movie emphasizes, how greedy and envious the female protagonist is.