One single injection unlocks your DNA. Starting a new cellular division that will release a better version of yourself. A film by Coralie Fargeat, starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid.

Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a former Hollywood movie star, has become a fitness icon through her long-running morning TV aerobics show, “Sparkle Your Life with Elisabeth.” However, shortly after her 50th birthday, she’s unexpectedly dropped from the program by producer Harvey (Dennis Quaid). He believes she’s too old for the role and that the audience needs someone new and fresh—a change he thinks will please the network’s shareholders.

While driving home, Elisabeth gets into a car accident when she becomes distracted by billboard workers removing a toothpaste ad poster featuring her as the presenter. She is rushed to a nearby hospital, where the doctor (Tom Morton) informs her that she has miraculously survived the crash without a scratch and is free to go. After the doctor leaves, a male nurse (Robin Greer) approaches to examine her spine. As he does so, he discreetly slips a flash drive into her overcoat pocket.

Later, Elisabeth discovers a flash drive labeled “THE SUBSTANCE” with a phone number on the reverse side. Accompanying it is a handwritten note that reads, “IT CHANGED MY LIFE”. Curious, she plugs the flash drive into her TV, revealing an advertisement for a cutting-edge drug called The Substance. The ad claims the drug can unlock human DNA, releasing a younger, more beautiful, and more perfect version of the user. At first, Elisabeth dismisses it as a bogus advertisement and tosses the flash drive aside.

However, after some consideration, she changes her mind and decides to call the number on the flash drive to order the drug. A male voice on the other end asks for her address and instructs her to write down another address. The following day, Elisabeth receives a mysterious black envelope with only a yellow logo on it, which she immediately recognizes as the same logo she saw on the flash drive. Inside the envelope is a white plastic card with the number 503 printed on it. She then realizes that she must go to the address the man gave her earlier to obtain the drug personally.

Elisabeth visits the address, which turns out to be a suspicious-looking place. She uses the card to unlock the gate and then opens the locker labeled 503, retrieving the package inside. The package contains a set of The Substance, which includes a single-use Activator serum, a Stabilizer set, a plastic tubing hose Switch, two packets of Liquid Food, and multiple instruction cards. One of the cards reads, “YOU SWITCH EVERY SEVEN DAYS WITHOUT EXCEPTION”.

After injecting herself with the Activator serum, Elisabeth loses consciousness. She wakes up in a younger version of herself that has emerged from a slit in her older body’s back. Using the pseudonym Sue (Margaret Qualley), she then auditions at the studio for a job advertisement seeking a young woman to be the next Elisabeth Sparkle on the same network that fired her. Her audition impresses Harvey so much that he decides to hire her, despite her scheduling issue. Sue claims she needs to be out of town every other week to care for her sick mother, which is actually a lie to cover her need to switch back. Sue quickly rises to fame, becoming a new fitness icon and effectively replacing Elisabeth Sparkle.

Every day, Sue must inject herself with stabilizer fluid extracted from Elisabeth’s spine to maintain her younger body for seven days. Sue thoroughly enjoys her youthful form and all the attention she receives. One night, despite clear instructions to switch back every seven days, Sue decides to stay in her younger body a little longer. When she finally switches back to her old body, Elisabeth is horrified to discover that her index finger has significantly deteriorated, appearing aggressively aged.

Panicked, Elisabeth calls the Substance’s supplier about the alteration to her body, blaming Sue for misusing the product and hoping he can fix it. She becomes terrified when the supplier insists that “What has been used on one side is lost on the other side, permanently.” He advises her to respect the balance and strictly follow the switching schedule to prevent further inconveniences. The supplier also reminds her that there is no “she” or “her,” as both versions share a single mind and are one entity.

Written and directed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, THE SUBSTANCE is an impressive satirical body horror film centering on Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading former Hollywood movie star turned renowned aerobics instructor. When she’s fired from her long-running TV show for being too old, Elisabeth decides to try a mysterious drug called “The Substance,” which promises to deliver a better version of herself.

Instead of rejuvenating her into a younger self like a fountain of youth, the drug splits her cells and generates another body — a young and beautiful version of herself.

However, the script suffers from some inconsistencies. The mysterious man who gave Elisabeth the drug keeps telling her that she and Sue are one. Initially, Elisabeth and Sue share the same memories, as they cannot be active simultaneously.

But as the story progresses, Elisabeth becomes jealous of Sue, as if she can’t remember or recall Sue’s actions or words. The film never explicitly explains why this happens — could it be a side effect of the experimental drug? It’s unclear how the drug works its magic; does Elisabeth swap her soul back and forth?

Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley deliver stellar performances as Elisabeth and Sue. At times, though, the film drags with repetitive scenes and unnecessarily long close-up shots, making me wonder if the film actually needs more than a two-hour runtime.

I enjoyed the big and unexpected twist in the final act, as the story becomes increasingly crazy and insane to such a degree that it becomes hilariously absurd. I found myself eager to see how it would all end.

THE SUBSTANCE is an instant cult classic — unexpected and incredibly visceral, featuring Fargeat’s signature unlimited streams of blood. The film is spectacular, with top-notch production values and a substantial budget. The screenplay is original and inventive. However, I liked this film slightly less than REVENGE, Fargeat’s directorial debut.

THE SUBSTANCE premiered at the Festival de Cannes on 19 May 2024, where it was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or and won the Prix du Scénario (Best Screenplay award).

The film was theatrically released in the United States and the United Kingdom on 20 September 2024. As of 13 October 2024, it has grossed over $25 million worldwide against $17.5 million production budget.