Demi Moore Stars in Grossest Movie at Cannes
“The Substance” got one of the largest ovations during the Cannes Film Festival. It’s also possible to bring the barf bag to see the film.
By Esther Zuckerman
May 21, 2024 07:45 AM
When I say The Substance , the Demi Moore -starring movie that rocked Cannes , is bloody that’s an understatement. Take the amount of blood you think could be in this movie and double it. No, triple it. At one point during the runtime you will think you have seen the bloodiest part, but just you wait. It gets bloodier.
The blood isn’t the only part of this amazing batshit body terror show that left me nearly throwing up. The music is a symphony of lurching flesh that will cause you to gag and clapping. The crowd during my screening at Cannes sure did. We gasped, we yelled and we were clapping. It’s the most disgusting thing you’ll see all year long.
The film is directed by Coralie Fargeat, who is also the director of the intoxicating Revenge The film’s premise is quite straightforward. Moore is locked to her character, plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading star who runs a gym empire dubbed Sparkle Your Life, where she moves her body as Jane Fonda back in the days of. But she’s also unhappy. Hollywood, or the fake version of Hollywood featuring ’80s-inspired flourishes Fargeat has invented–is putting her out. A shrewd executive, not insignificantly titled Harvey and played with a smug grin in the role of Dennis Quaid, wants to take her place. (An early snide moment is Quaid eating shrimp while keeping an enlargement of the inside of his mouth.)
After being involved in a car crash, distractedly gazing at a billboard depicting her being ripped apart A nurse who looks like he’s been run by an Instagram filter gives her an external flash drive that introduces the woman to “The Substance” with a note that reads “it changed my life.” She viewed the commercial and was enticed by the promise of a better younger, more youthful, and a better you through unlocking your genetic blueprint. There are, of course, warnings: Remember that even though you have two bodies, you’re still one human being. You must stabilize yourself using spinal fluid every day. Also, you should change your fluid each week.
In desperate need, she gives her a try, taking her equipment from a locker within an eerie white space from an unclean address. After injecting herself, from her back is her alternate persona, played in the role of Margaret Qualley, who is very tight when Elisabeth is a bit sluggish. (Though obviously, Moore is gorgeous, it is worth noting.) The new Elisabeth stitches up her creator’s back. makes sure that you can feel the sound of needles hitting skin and be able to see the result. After that, claiming to be Sue the self who is not Sue goes to a casting session in which she is subsequently selected as the replacement for Elisabeth. Naturally, the affection and acceptance results in Sue begins to violate the guidelines that are set by The Substance, forcing Elisabeth to decline in the process. In the beginning, it’s her fingers that deteriorates into the form of a woman who is in her 90s. Then, it’s so much more.
Two halves of the whole begin to argue and rant against each other However, they are continually being reminded by the voice on the other side of the the number of The Substance that they are actually the identical person. They are only responsible for any lapses in judgement. Because, ultimately the Substanceis about woman who is unhappy when she doesn’t feel appreciated and will do anything to be recognized for her beauty that she desires.
The message is clear during the movie and is reinforced through the fact that everything seems to take place in a single, alternate dimension universe in which fame has been defined in terms of “the morning show” and nobody is concerned whether a girl appears from nowhere and has only one name: Sue. The horror, however, is so imaginative and outrageous, you’re not apprehensive about the lack of world-building. In the same way, even though the script doesn’t really care about the background of Elisabeth You can feel the anger in her face when she is struggling with her fear of being a victim. One of the best scenes of the entire film features none of the icky ooze. It is merely the scene of Moore prepping for her a date with her makeup constantly changing until she stands on the shoulders of a fellow high school student and awestruck by her.
It’s this gore factor that make the Substanceworth watching to determine if you’ll end up liking or not. The prosthetics and visual effects work are amazing in their brutality. The moment when Qualley is able to feel something inside her butt, and takes a chicken leg off her stomach button as an example it truly disgusting.
Fargeat has created a film about beauty that is utterly unattractive in its re-imaginings on the body. There are those who will say that it reprimands Elisabeth because of her vanity, in a manner that is unfair, however it also offers relief from the horrifying contortions. Be prepared, however. You might require an empty barf bag.
Demi Moore Addresses Extreme Nudity, Violence in Cannes Shocker ‘The Substance’
The co-producer Dennis Quaid called Moore’s performance in Coralie Fargeat’s horror film about bodies “the beginning of an incredible third performance’ for the actress.
By Scott Roxborough
May 20, 2024 11:21 AM
Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid KRISTY SPAROW/GETTY IMAGES
Demi Moore said performing in Coralie Fargeat’s body horror shocker The Substance required accepting a “level of vulnerability and rawness” with regard to her own body on screen.
Moore put everything on the table for the film that is a dark, gory comedy about the beauty standards as well as male self-hatred and toxic masculinity as well as the film’s often-repeated and well-known nakedness as well as its brutal violence that has garnered an enormous amount of attention following its premiere at Cannes. Moore portrays Elisabeth Sparkle, an acclaimed actor who became a famous host of an exercise show that is broadcast during the day. She is changed by a newer and more attractive model (Margaret Qualley) and sparks a battle with the other women. One of the most graphic scenes in the film is a scene that shows Moore and Qualley fighting naked in a unrestrained bloody battle. The Cannes audience was thrilled and gave the film an enthusiastic reception on Sunday night.
“I had someone who was a great partner,” said Moore of Qualley. “We were definitely close at certain moments…and in some cases, naked. However, there was a sense of humor filming these scenes.”
In a press announcement at the press conference for The Substance, Moore said the film “pushed me out of the comfort zone” however, she knew from the beginning that explicit images “was necessary to tell this story” and Fargeat approached the scene “with a lot of sensitivity” in establishing an “common ground of mutual trust.”
Although many made comparisons to the plot of the film as well as Moore’s own experiences as an older actress in a youth-obsessed Hollywood The Ghost as well as the G.I. Jane actress said that she didn’t see her “as the victim” and she believes that The Substance is more about dissecting “the male perspective of the ideal woman.”
Fargeat remarked that the violence of the film was a metaphor to the physical and emotional violence physical, that men impose on women, as well as the violence women themselves inflict as they strive to achieve unattainable ideals of beauty.
“I don’t know any woman that doesn’t have an eating disorder or some other thing that they do that does violence to their bodies,” said Fargeat and said she chose to depict the violence onscreen “in an extreme way because I think this violence is very extreme.”
Male characters from the movie The Substance aren’t portrayed well, and each is depicted as a different version that is toxic to masculinity. The filmmakers have said that they didn’t intend to denigrate all genders. “We’re not anti-men, we’re anti-jerks,” Moore claimed. Moore.
“People say [Fargeat] hates men,” said Dennis Quaid who portrays Harvey who is a devious production manager in the film. “No she is not a fan of assholes. Assholes can be so much fun to play with.”
Quaid was also quick to praise Moore for praise, describing the performances “the beginning of an incredible third act” in her career. Quaid also dedicated his character to tragic Ray Liotta, the actor who was originally selected to portray Harvey. “It was this week, two years ago that he passed,” Quaid said. Quaid. “He was an amazing actor. I dedicate this part for him.”
The Substance was created through Working Title and originally set to be released by Universal. It will instead receive an U.S. release via Mubi and will mark the biggest theatrical release for the art house streaming channel.
