Demi Moore dreams of a 'better version' of herself in The Substance teaser

The acclaimed body horror film The Substance from director Coralie Fargeat just received its first teaser trailer (shown above) ahead of its September release date and we could not be more excited for this film.

Starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qually, and Dennis Quaid, The Substance centers on aerobics star Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) after she loses her job upon turning 50. With her morale at rock bottom, Elisabeth jumps at the opportunity for a seemingly "miraculous" substance that can turn her into the best version of herself, someone younger and more beautiful. But as the teaser shows, Elisabeth's decision is likely to have horrifying side effects.

The plot sounds a bit like the recent Cabinet of Curiosities episode "The Outside," but I'm hoping The Substance pushes the boundaries of body horror to the extremes.

Even more exciting than the plot and cast is the involvement of Fargeat, who wrote the script in addition to directing. Fargeat's debut film Revenge is considered one of the best rape revenge movies of all time and premiered to universal acclaim in 2017. The Substance premiered this past May at the 77th Cannes Film Festival where it was chosen to compete for the Palme d'Or and won Fargeat the Best Screenplay award.

Critics have praised The Substance as an audacious and often gross horror movie featuring one of the greatest performances of Demi Moore's career.

Justin Cheng of The New Yorker says, "Whether the outlandish premise and its blood-gushing fallout withstand intellectual scrutiny, there’s no doubting the ferocity of the two leads, Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, or Fargeat’s sheer filmmaking verve."

The Daily Beast says it's "the grossest thing you will see all year."

Apparently there were also some walkouts during the initial screening due to the sheer intensity and carnage of the film's final act. Sounds like a hit to me!

The Substance has been acquired by Mubi and will be distributed theatrically later this year, beginning on September 20, 2024. To stay up to date on thrillers, sci-fi, and horror, bookmark 1428 Elm and follow our Facebook page and Twitter account!