‘The Substance’ Lands Theatrical Re-Release Amid Oscar Season
Samantha Bergeson
It’s never too late to consume “The Substance” — especially during awards season.
IndieWire can announce that the breakout, record-making “The Substance” will be getting a theatrical re-release from Mubi. The film, which is written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, was the biggest Mubi release ever; it debuted in theaters September 19 and was available to stream October 31. Now, fans (and those who still have yet to be radicalized by the acclaimed feature) can watch the film in more than 350 theaters nationwide starting January 17.
“The Substance” is led by iconic star Demi Moore, who recently won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for her turn as aging actress Elisabeth Sparkle. While her career is floundering as she reaches middle age, Elisabeth is presented with an opportunity to undergo an experimental treatment to share her consciousness with her younger, more perfect twin, Sue (Margaret Qualley). Of course, Elisabeth and Sue torment each other in the ode to self-sabotage.
“The real anchor and throughline for me was the violence that we have against ourselves,” Moore told IndieWire. “And I think that is universal.”
She added during a career tribute at the French Cinematheque that the film “felt risky, scary” and “certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone.”
“Sexuality is always taboo,” Moore said. “And there’s a lot of fear in America around the body. That’s something I’ve never understood or related to. I’ve certainly stirred the pot in a few of the films I’ve chosen, which is partly because [I’ve never understood that fear] of the body. It never made sense why we can celebrate the body in art, but fear it in cinema.”
“The Substance” has grossed $16.5 million in the U.S., with a global gross of $78.1 million. The film has been nominated for a slew of awards, including Moore landing a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role. The feature is also recognized by guilds with nods at the respective ADG, ACE, CDG, and the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild.
“The Substance” previously won Best Screenplay at Cannes and the People’s Choice Award for Midnight Madness at TIFF. Check out the making of the film below.
