The Substance director Coralie Fargeat has squashed hopes of a second instalment to the hit body horror.
READ MORE: ‘The Substance’ review: bombastic body horror with plenty to say
Following its release, The Substance received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, and became MUBI’s highest-earning movie at the box office, taking in more than £26million ($34million) worldwide.
Having premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May last year, where it won the Best Screenplay award, it also landed a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, and more recently was named on NME’s 20 best films of 2024, coming in at Number Two.
However, it seems the film’s runaway success isn’t enough to convince its director to make another.
Margaret Qualley as Sue in ‘The Substance’. CREDIT: MUBI
When recently asked by Variety if a sequel was in the works, Fargeat laughed and said no, explaining: “No, the point of this movie is to present fresh things to the world. Like, no sequels, no prequels, no number two [or] number three. So, I’m going to be still happy to bring something fresh to the world in a bit.”
The critically acclaimed film, starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, follows Moore’s Elisabeth Sparkle, a fitness TV show host who is abruptly fired by her boss Harvey (Dennis Quaid) when she turns 50.
She then receives a mysterious offer to take part in using a new drug called ‘The Substance’, which promises to create a younger, better version of herself through a series of injections. Elisabeth must learn to live harmoniously with the new version known as Sue (Qualley) or suffer dire consequences.
Demi Moore as Elisabeth in ‘The Substance’. CREDIT: MUBI
In November, Fargeat pulled the film from the Camerimage Film Festival, citing the “highly misogynistic and offensive words of the director”, something she said the film touched on. “The Substance is about the impact of exactly these types of behaviours on our world,” she continued. “We shouldn’t tolerate them anymore. We send our support to all involved in the festival and hope this decision will help create a much needed change.”
The Substance scored a five-star review from NME, with Nick Levine writing: “With help from some memorably grotesque prosthetics, [Fargeat] offers a hellish vision of what women will do to themselves in pursuit of men’s idea of perfection. Filled with visual nods to iconic movies including Carrie and Showgirls, The Substance is that rare thing: a future cult classic that also packs a real punch now.
“It’s horrifying in the moment and gnawingly haunting when you process it fully: a sickening satire of society’s obsession with youth and beauty.”
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