A cycling instructor weighs in.
Want to inject some satirical gore into your veins? The recent horror film The Substance, starring Demi Moore, skewers our youth-obsessed culture and the extreme things we do in the name of beautyâlike, ya know, vampire facials? After the movie’s buzzy Cannes 2024 debut, it hit theaters in September. But now you donât have to leave your house if you canât bear the idea of others seeing your repeatedly shocked face. You can now stream The Substance in the comfort of your home.
What’s it about?
Clips of The Substance have gone viral on TikTok for just how applicable the horror film is to many women’s relationships with their bodies, the beauty industry, and agingâand because the film’s visuals are just so whacked out. Demi Moore plays an aerobics icon whose star is fading. She learns about “the substance,” an age-reversing injection which will return her to her “prime”âwith a huge, Margaret Qualley-sized catch. It all works out great, until it really, really doesnât. Think of the magical “substance” as a facelift gone too far, but on a whole other grotesque level. Pressing play now!
How can I watch it in my PJs?
The filmâs distributor is Mubi, which also has its own streaming platform. You can get a Mubi subscription with plans starting at $14.99 per month, and it includes a free 7-day trial. Youâll be able to hit play on The Substance as soon as you subscribe. Youâll also be able to roll up Mubi as a subscription within your Amazon Prime.
If youâre not feeling the commitment of another subscription, you can also buy The Substance on Amazon or Apple for $19.99. Youth may be fleeting, but your digital ownership of The Substance will last forever.