Summary

An aging Hollywood actress, discarded by an industry that once adored her, discovers a black-market treatment that allows her to regenerate into a younger version of herself — but with a catch: the new and old bodies must share time in the real world. As jealousy and desperation mount, the experiment spirals into grotesque extremes.

About the Author

Coralie Fargeat dissects the commodification of women’s bodies and the horror of self-division in a society that worships the unattainable. Fargeat, known for the revenge thriller Revenge, has said she is inspired by works like Kill Bill and Rambo that exist outside the realm of reality. In The Substance, she pushes body horror to symbolic and literal extremes, forcing audiences to confront their own complicity in beauty culture.

When you should watch this

• Viewers grappling with the realities of an aging body

• Anyone questioning the costs of youth obsession

• If you are considering plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons