The Substance is a satirical body horror film that explores the extreme lengths a fading celebrity will go to reclaim her youth, with a significant focus on the implications of body image and identity.
Due to its intense themes and graphic content, the film has received an R rating from the MPAA and an 18 rating from the BBFC, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. Parents should be aware of the film’s strong, violent scenes, graphic nudity, and mature language when considering it for viewing.
- Title: The Substance
- Release Date: September 20, 2024
- Genre: Satirical Body, Horror, Drama
- Directed by: Coralie Fargeat
- Starring: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid
Why The Substance is Rated R?
MPAA (US): The Substance is Rated R for strong, bloody, violent content, gore, graphic nudity, and language.
BBFC (UK): 18 for strong bloody violence and gory images.
Language
The movie contains around 20 uses of the F-word and some milder profanity. Insults like “monster,” “freak,” “stupid,” “gross,” and “old” are used, and there are a few religious exclamations (e.g., “Oh God”).
Sexual Content
There is frequent full female nudity, with many scenes showing breasts, buttocks, and pubic regions in non-sexual contexts. Scenes of implied sex include passionate kissing, fondling, and a man removing his shirt. Dancers in skimpy outfits perform suggestive moves, and several close-up shots focus on women’s bodies. Dialogue contains some sexual innuendos, and one scene features a man ogling a server in a short skirt.
Violence and Gore
The film is extremely graphic, featuring numerous scenes of bloody violence and grotesque body horror:
- A monstrous creature sprays blood over a live audience. Later, it breaks apart, leaving behind a puddle of gore.
- A woman injects herself with a substance that causes her back to split open, revealing a creature emerging from within.
- A fight scene involves brutal head-bashing and kicks, resulting in mutilated faces, exposed bones, and torrents of blood.
- Self-harm is depicted, including a woman pulling out her own teeth and fingernail, with graphic close-ups of bleeding and broken flesh.
- Injections and transfusions are frequent, with large needles shown puncturing skin.
- A woman’s organs spill out of her back during a horrific transformation.
Substance Use
Characters frequently inject themselves with a fictional drug that resembles intravenous drug use, leaving visible, infected wounds. Alcohol is consumed in some scenes, and one character smokes cigarettes throughout the film.
Suicide and Self-Harm
There are scenes where a character harms herself by repeatedly slapping her own face and pulling at her hair.
Frightening & Intense Scenes
The film contains graphic depictions of injuries, blood, and gore, along with unsettling scenes of food consumption. Additionally, sudden intense moments, such as a car crash, contribute to a disturbing atmosphere in the second half of the movie.
Is It Suitable for Teens?
“The Substance” is not suitable for children or younger teens. Its intense body horror, explicit nudity, and disturbing themes make it appropriate only for mature audiences. Additionally, the film’s portrayal of self-harm and substance use may be triggering for some viewers.
Parent/Guardian Insights
What Parents Should Know?
Parents should be aware of the film’s graphic content, including strong violence, nudity, and mature themes related to identity and self-worth. The portrayal of drug use and the extreme consequences of body alteration may be disturbing.
Potential Conversations:–
Discussion topics can include the pressures of societal beauty standards, the impact of fame on mental health, and the ethical implications of body modification.
Is It Worth Watching?
Watch or Skip: This film is best for adult audiences who appreciate dark satire and body horror, but it contains intense scenes that may be too graphic for sensitive viewers.
The Substance Official Trailer
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ)
Q: Why The Substance Is Not Suitable for Kids?
A: The film features graphic violence, nudity, and intense themes that are not appropriate for younger audiences.
Q: Is The Substance suitable for kids?
A: No, it is rated R and contains content that is unsuitable for children.
Q: Is The Substance suitable for kids?
A: No, it is rated R and contains content that is unsuitable for children.
Q: Where to watch The Substance?
A: It is available in theaters in the UK and the US, with a scheduled release in France on November 6, 2024, and also you can watch The Substance movie on Amazon Prime Video.