Seven years have gone by since director Coralie Fargeat made her feature directorial debut with a very cool revenge movie that was appropriately titled Revenge – you can read our 8/10 review of the film at THIS LINK. Now Fargeat is back with an “explosive feminist take on body horror” called The Substance, which stars Demi Moore (Ghost) and Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). The film had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival over the weekend, earning rave first reactions and an 11-minute standing ovation from the audience. (While also catching media attention with its scenes of Moore and Qualley displaying full frontal nudity.) We have assembled some of the reactions (several of which aren’t in English, so you might need to run a translator) here:
My friend looked at me during the big NYE moment of #TheSubstance and said I was like a kid at Disneyland smiling like it was my birthday. That also tells you how much I’m a sicko! Best film so far #Cannes pic.twitter.com/GcdJ2GQOrG
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stevie wong
stevie wong Muy a favor de que un festival como #Cannes2024 programe a concurso una propuesta tan de género, tan histriónica y tan sangrienta como #TheSubstance. Fargeat no hace prisioneros. O entras o te expulsa. Fantástico todo
— Carlos Elorza
(@Carlos_Elorza) #Cannes2024 Salimos ensangrentados de #TheSubstance, la película de Coralie Fargeat de la que se va a hablar muchísimo. Menuda reina Demi Moore en esta historia sobre envejecer, la dictadura de la imagen y la violencia de los cánones de belleza
— El cine en la SER (@ElCineEnLaSER) May 19, 2024
Of course, no film is for everyone, so there were some less positive reactions as well:
Mubi having recently acquired theatrical distribution rights to The Substance, but a release date has not yet been announced. The film is said to be gory, but also humorous. Here’s the official synopsis: It generates another you. A new, younger, more beautiful, more perfect you. And there’s only one rule: You share time. One week for you. One week for the new you. Seven days each. A perfect balance. Easy. Right? If you respect the balance… what could possibly go wrong?
Moore and Qualley are joined in the cast by Dennis Quaid (Lawmen: Bass Reeves). At one point, Ray Liotta was attached to appear in the film as well, but he passed away soon after his casting was announced. He was replaced by Quaid, who dedicated his performance to Liotta.
Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan produced The Substance for the company Working Title. Alexandra Loewy of Working Title and Nicolas Royer of A Good Story serve as executive producers.
Are you interested in The Substance after seeing the positive reactions that have come out of the Cannes Film Festival screening? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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