The first red band trailer for director Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance has landed. Although the teaser is short and doesn’t give too much away in terms of plot, it’s shaping up to be a unique cinematic experience, described as a body horror. Fargeat previously made waves in Hollywood with her 2017 movie Revenge, which quickly became known for its brutal violence and disturbing subject matter.
The Substance revolves around a former Hollywood actress who enters the realm of fitness show territory due to her declining career. After being let go on her 50th birthday, she receives an offer for a treatment known as “The Substance”, a cutting-edge medical procedure that claims to make her younger and more attractive. Rather fitting to the movie’s plot, The Substance boasts an ensemble of Hollywood heavyweights and up-and-comers. So, let’s break down the cast.
Demi Moore as Elizabeth Sparkle
Demi Moore was once one of the biggest stars of the 80s and 90s thanks to movies like Ghost, Indecent Proposal, and G.I. Jane. In recent years, her career has slowed down somewhat, becoming much more of a supporting actress. However, in The Substance, she once again takes centre stage as the film’s lead, Elizabeth Sparkle, a once famous actress desperate to reclaim her youth. At the beginning of the trailer, Moore’s Elizabeth stares deeply into the mirror, tears running down her face, dreaming of a life of beauty and youth. This is overlaid with a male’s voice, saying “Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?”.
From here, pulsing techno music kicks in and carnage unfolds as Moore’s character doesn’t speak a word. However, without even speaking, it’s clear that she delivers an immersive rendition, with one shot in particular seeing Elizabeth smear lipstick across her face fiercely while once again staring into her own soul in the mirror. The Substance premiered at Cannes on May 15, 2024 and has been met with a string of positive reviews. So, we can safely assume that this role may be a comeback for Moore if it performs well when it is released in cinemas on September 20, 2024.
Dennis Quaid as Harvey
Much like Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid is another star who reached peak fame in the late 80s and early 90s. His most notable roles come from movies like Innerspace, Wyatt Earp, and The Day After Tomorrow. In The Substance, Quaid stars as Harvey, a network producer who kicks Elizabeth from his show in search of a younger actress. From his brief moment in the trailer, Harvey seems cartoonish and over the top in a hyper close up that feels urgent and claustrophobic. Quaid stepped into the role after the sad passing of Ray Liotta, who was originally set to star as Harvey.
Hugo Diego Garcia as Diego
Hugo Diego Garcia is a newcomer in Hollywood with very little roles under his belt. However, he became known to larger audiences after his role in the crime mystery series, Death and Other Details. The series was met with critical acclaim and Garcia was praised for his rendition as well. In The Substance, he stars as Diego. However, he is not featured in the trailer and nothing is known about his character as of yet.
Margaret Qualley as Sue
Margaret Qualley was born on October 23, 1994. She began her professional acting career in 2013 starring opposite Emma Roberts and James Franco in the critically acclaimed indie movie, Palo Alto. In 2016, she starred in another critically adored movie, The Nice Guys, where she shared the screen with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. These two roles put her on the Hollywood map and led to her role in Quentin Tarantino‘s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, playing the enigmatic and feisty Pussycat. In The Substance, Qualley stars as Sue, the younger spawn of Elizabeth. However, the two cannot exist at the same time, meaning as one walks the earth, the other is placed into a coma.
Oscar Lesage as Troy
Oscar Lesage is another relatively unknown actor who has joined the cast of The Substance. Born in France, he began his carer in commercials before attracting attention with his role in his own short film, Farm Wars – Episode 1: The Farmer, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. Since this project, he has starred in episodes of acclaimed series like The Crown, Monsieur Spade, and Marie Antoinette. He is not seen in the trailer for The Substance, but he is credited in the top-billed cast as Troy. Before the movie hits theaters on September 20, read about Coralie Fargeat’s first feature film, Revenge.
Check out the teaser trailer for The Substance:
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