Demi Moore's gory new film is the 'most graphic film ever' according to disgusted Brits, who have been left walking out of the cinema.
The Substance is slated as the feminist horror film of the year, tackling the issue of Hollywood beauty standards and the pressure to stay looking as young as possible - at any cost. Ghost star Demi plays the role of Elisabeth Sparkle, an ageing actress, who is unceremoniously sacked from her fitness show job when she hits her 50th birthday by her unscrupulous boss, played by Dennis Quaid.
So when the fading celebrity is offered a black market drug by a young, handsome nurse that promises to restore her youth, she jumps at the chance, despite its gruesome rules. Her 'younger self' is played by Maid star and daughter of Andie MacDowell and Paul Qualley, 29-year-old Margaret Qualley.
The Sun reported that one cinema-goer said: "At least 20 people walked out of my screening in Leicester Square before the end. It was brutal. Most people watched it through their hands. It was the most graphic film I’ve ever seen."
Meanwhile other people have reported vomiting after seeing the movie. On X, one viewer said that after watching the film her date "wouldn't let her drive him home" - which lead to him being sick in front of her. She wrote: "My date wouldn’t let me drive him home after The Substance because 'we haven’t been seeing each other long enough' for him to throw up in front of me. He literally just walked home in the rain to vomit with dignity. Five star movie."
Speaking about The Substance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, alongside her chihuahua Pilaf, Demi said: "It is almost impossible to fully describe because it is dealing with some serious subject matters. The best way I can sum it up is that it is like The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Death Becomes Her meets a Jane Fonda workout video."
When quizzed on how it felt not to have to worry what she looked like for the role, she added: "I was very much pushed out of my comfort zone, but it was great to show up and be allowed to look bad!"
When she was offered the role of Elisabeth Sparkle, there was no doubt in Demi's mind that she wanted to get involved with the critically acclaimed 'feminist' horror.
She said: "When I read The Substance I thought, wow, this could be really amazing — or it could be a f***ing disaster. So, of course, I had to say yes. I feel like Ghost was very similar, but I think when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone and it makes us afraid it always makes us a little better. Even if it fails. The reviews for Ghost were disastrous."
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