The Substance

2024
R
2h 21m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

144K

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

2 Videos

99+ Photos

Body Horror Dark Comedy Monster Horror Psychological Horror Drama Horror

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

7.5/10

144K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 8 wins & 11 nominations

Videos2

Photos303

+ 296

More like this

6.7

Longlegs

6.9

Speak No Evil

7.2

Alien: Romulus

6.8

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

6.9

6.4

6.4

8.3

6.5

7.1

7.0

Late Night with the Devil

7.7

Deadpool & Wolverine

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
Elisabeth Sparkle: There's been a slight misuse of the Substance.

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 reviews1.2K

Review

Featured review

Avoid please.

Possibly the most vile, grotesque, absurd film I've had the misfortune of watching. I'm glad I got to see it for free in my cinema as I'd be very upset if I had to pay for this. This must be the first screening I've been to where people left halfway through. I highly recommend you avoid this if you dislike needles or blood.

While the concept was interesting and had potential, the execution was very poor. The film very much lacked substance and felt very hollow. I wouldn't be surprised if this didn't take very much time to produce. It's quite disappointing that this film passed through multiple layers of boards, people, studios, financing and was approved.

This is a great film for hollow people with very few thoughts or zero internal monologue, it will appear deep, thoughtful and daring to them.