The Substance, a new horror film from French director Coralie Fargeat that received rave reviews after premiering at Cannes Film Festival this year, has released its first trailer. The film arrives in theaters on September 20th.
Demi Moore stars as Elizabeth Sparkle, an established actress whose career is declining; bigwig studio head Harvey (Dennis Quaid) reminds her of such over a grotesque-looking lunch meeting. She opts to try a new drug that promises a “better version” of herself that will make her “younger and more beautiful,” and upon injecting it, she assumes the body of a young woman named Sue (Margaret Qualley). However, after enjoying the newfound attention, Elizabeth begins to spiral as she notes a “slight misuse of the substance” and descends into some body horror madness.
The film’s official logline reads “Demi Moore gives a career best performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister past her prime and suddenly fired from her fitness TV show by repellent studio head Harvey (Dennis Quaid). 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 (Margaret Qualley). 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?”
Labeled as a “be-careful-what-you-wish-for fable for the ages,” The Substance is Fargeat’s second film after her 2017 vengeance thriller Revenge. Upon premiering at Cannes this year, The Substance won the festival’s Best Screenplay award, and Demi Moore received particular praise for her turn in the Jekyll-and-Hyde-esque tale.
Watch the trailer below.