THE SUBSTANCE Trailer: Demi Moore Grossly De-Ages Into Margaret Qualley in Cannes-Winning Body Horror

Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? One of the most talked about films from this year’s Cannes Film Festival was writer-director Coralie Fargeat’s Revenge follow-up, The Substance. Demi Moore stars – in what is said to be the best performance of her career – as a TV personality whose fear of aging and being dispensable results in her getting her hands on a black-market drug that [literally] sheds her skin into her much younger self (Margaret Qualley). As she once again climbs the ladder to fame and success, the shit begins to hit the fan as use of the drug begins to spiral out of control. Dennis Quaid also stars as a revolting studio executive.

The film took home the Best Screenplay award at Cannes, and will soon open TIFF’s Midnight Madness section on September 5. Ahead of its September 20 theatrical release, a new official trailer has arrived courtesy of MUBI.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Demi Moore gives a career-best performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister past her prime and suddenly fired from her fitness TV show by repellent studio head Harvey (Dennis Quaid). She is then drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug: THE SUBSTANCE. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn – temporarily – as the gorgeous, twentysomething Sue (Margaret Qualley). The only rule? Time needs to be split: exactly one week in one body, then one week in the other. No exceptions. A perfect balance. What could go wrong?

Watch the trailer below.

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