Traumitised film fans today gave their verdicts on Demi Moores controversial body horror film The Substance - after dozens of cinemagoers walked out in minutes.
TikTokers were united in the belief that the film was gory and stomach-churning, just for some this proved to be an attraction.
The Substance aims to tackle the issue of impossible Hollywood beauty standards and sees Demi play the role of Elisabeth Sparkle.
Unceremoniously sacked as she hits her 50th birthday, Elisabeth discovers a black-market drug which can create a younger, more beautiful, more perfect version of its user - but the drugs strict conditions are gruesome.
Among those reacting to the film was TikToker Kevin Jacobs, who declared himself a fan despite admitting to finding it repulsive.
Among those reacting to the film was TikToker Kevin Jacobs, who declared himself a fan despite admitting to finding it repulsive
TikToker ceryslovesfilm was horrified, complaining of the medical gore, physical violence and thrown-up organs
Demi Moores gory new film The Substance is leaving cinemagoers walking out after mere minutes as they say its the most graphic film theyve ever seen
This film is disgusting, repulsive and I loved it. Its so so good that its probably in the mix in Oscar season but its probably too weird, he said.
If you are a freak, this is a film for you. Also, Dennis Quaid - who plays the Harvey character - is so gross. When he eats shrimp, its one of the grossest things Ive seen on film.
If you love body horror, this is a great entry into the canon but dont bring anybody whos queasy.
Other TikTokers shared videos of themselves looking happy going into the movie and queasy and disturbed afterwards, while one declared it the most traumatising movie of 2024.
Many reacted negatively to the movie, with crazy.babooshka questioning the producers thinking.
I watched the substance yesterday and have a pit in my stomach. Its also made me scared to age, she wrote.
I just found it so sad bar the last 10 minutes where I dont know what the producers thought they were doing.
Movie reviewer ceryslovesfilm was equally horrified, complaining of the medical gore, physical violence and thrown-up organs.
TikToker such.polina offered a more nuanced take, insisting the film had so much to offer despite being messed up.
The Substance is a very specific type of messed up, she wrote in a caption. Theres body horror, loads of needles, lost of skin opening up, disturbing depictions of aging and A LOT of blood and visceral sounds, however if youre able to get past that, this film has SO much to offer.
Between the stunning cinematography, amazing soundtrack and stellar performances The Substance really has it all, but only if you can handle it.
At least 20 people are understood to have walked out of a screening in Leicester Square in London before the movie finished, branding it brutal - while American viewers have also told of people quitting their seats in dismay.
The Substance tackles the issue of impossible Hollywood beauty standards and sees Demi play the role of Elisabeth Sparkle
This is the official movie poster for The Substance, which has been dividing critics
One cinema-goer at a showing of The Substance in Leicester Square, central London, said: Most people watched it through their hands. It was the most graphic film Ive ever seen
Social media comments have included calling the film a raw, gory, grotesque, WILD depiction of the effects of ageism and the beauty standards set on women
One cinema-goer at the showing in central London said: At least 20 people walked out of my screening in Leicester Square before the end. It was brutal.
Most people watched it through their hands. It was the most graphic film Ive ever seen.
X users also shared comments about just how gory and disgusting they found the film - though with many praising it and Moores performance in particular.
Comments have included calling the film a raw, gory, grotesque, WILD depiction of the effects of ageism and the beauty standards set on women.
One X user cautioned cautioned: Be warned: Very gory & disgusting imagery.
Another, from the US, wrote: Ya shoulda seen the faces on the two women who walked out of the theater behind me. I guess they thought they were going to see a nice new Demi Moore movie.
A separate poster wrote: The Substance: not entirely sure what I just watched. Felt faint. Almost walked out. But also still enjoyed? Ageism is real. And despite at times feeling overly sexualised, it highlights that we can try to stop it - its impossible. Demi Moore is a force!!!
Another said: Three people walked out at my showing (which was quite full), each one during different scenes that were increasingly more graphic.
Demi discussed the film and her character on her first ever appearance on The Graham Norton Show on Friday.
The Ghost star was joined on the show by her canine companion Pilaf, a chihuahua who attends many of her public events with her.
Her little dog proved to be an instant hit with Lady Gaga, who was also on the show alongside Colin Farrell and Richard Ayoade.
Movie-goers have been describing on X, formerly Twitter, how gory and disgusting they found The Substance - and also told of fellow viewers walking out of cinemas mid-screening
Talking about the critically acclaimed film, she said: It is almost impossible to fully describe because it is dealing with some serious subject matters.
The best way I can sum it up is that it is like The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Death Becomes Her meets a Jane Fonda workout video.
Asked whether it was liberating not to worry about what she looked like for the role, Demi said: I was very much pushed out of my comfort zone, but it was great to show up and be allowed to look bad!
Elsewhere in the conversation, she reminisced about being nude on the cover of Vanity Fair when she was seven months pregnant with daughter Scout.
She said: It really was taken just for me but then I got the call to say they would like to use it. I said yes, never thinking it would have the impact it did.
The Substance has been hailed by critics for what has been dubbed its deliciously unhinged and dread-inducing levels of gore, with one describing it as a shocking assault on the senses.
The film sees the character Elisabeth dealt a devastating blow on her birthday when she is fired by a ruthless executive played by Dennis Quaid.
Feeling rejected by a town that once loved her and despairing over her bygone star power, Elisabeth learns from a handsome young nurse about a black-market drug that promises to turn the user into a younger, more beautiful, more perfect version of them self.
Though Elisabeth initially tosses the phone number in the bin, she soon fishes it out in a desperate panic and places an order.
Demi admitted it was refreshing to be allowed to look bad in new body horror film The Substance during an appearance on The Graham Norton show
The film sees Elisabeth dealt a devastating blow on her birthday when she is fired by ruthless executive, played by Dennis Quaid
The one rule to follow is that Elisabeth and her better self Sue (Margaret Qualley) must trade places every seven days.
So for one week at a time, she is forced again to live as her 50-year-old self.
But the allure of youth and a made-for-TV butt proves too strong to resist that she tests the boundaries to see what the worst that can happen is if she squeezes an extra day or two in.
Earlier this month, Demis new film was described as the most disgusting film ever by some viewers after it debuted on global streaming platform Mubi, having been generating buzz since its Cannes premiere in May.
It picked up the prize for best screenplay at the prestigious French film festival, as well as critical acclaim, with reviewers branding it demented as well as the most bats*** f****** insane movie of the last 20 years.
Of course this chatter related to some of the movies unsavoury practices - which include 61-year-old Moores character Elisabeth Sparkle going as far as injecting herself in the spine.
This is all in a bid to stave off the physical effects of ageing by using a protocol described as the substance - but leads to some unexpected outcomes, including a scene described by some as boob vomiting.
Following its Cannes premiere The Substance received positive reviews and, at the time in May, had a 92 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Earlier this month, Demis new film was described as the most disgusting film ever by some viewers after it debuted on global streaming platform Mubi, having been generating buzz since its Cannes premiere in May
In order for the protocol to work, the two versions of Sparkle have to inject themselves daily in the spine (pictured)
The gore fest features huge amounts of blood - as well as other body parts including a vomited-up breast
Body positivity is just one of the things that had critics raving about The Substance - in which Demi and Margarets characters have a nude bloody fight - which received a 13-minute standing ovation at the festival.
Tim Robey, reviewing the movie for the Daily Telegraph, said: Its the casting of Moore and her willingness to denude herself at 61 – emotionally, as well as physically– that gives The Substance a startling connection with its themes.
Not for 30 years has she owned a film with anything like this certitude.
Other critics have praised Qualley, Quaid and Fargeats direction.
[Coralie Fargeat] draws on much of the hyperbolic flamboyance thats come to define megaplex horror, wrote Owen Gleiberman for Variety.
But unlike 90 per cent of those movies, The Substance is the work of a filmmaker with a vision. Shes got something primal to say to us.
Not all critics were fond of The Substance - with Kevin Maher of the Times calling it puerile, pointless and intellectually specious in his review.
Hannah Strong, for Little White Lies, wrote: The Substances execution of its supposed themes is as shallow as the very thing its critiquing, a stab at feminism without actually saying anything other than women are held to excruciating beauty standards.
Theres no compassion here, and certainly no catharsis – just more and a sense weve done this all before.
Following its Cannes premiere, The Substance received positive reviews, and at the time in May, had 92 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Body positivity is just one of the things that had critics raving about The Substance - in which Demi and Margarets characters have a nude bloody fight - which received a 13-minute standing ovation at the festival
Speaking to BBC News, Moore herself said: It was a completely unique, out-of-the-box script - you could tell it was visually stimulating and at the same time, we had no idea how it would end up, which made it even more risky and juicy.
I felt like that was why I wanted to do it, in a way. Part of what made it interesting was going to such a raw, vulnerable place, to really kind of peel away. And it was quite liberating in many respects.
After taking the experimental substance, a new version of the actress - played by Margaret Qualley - bursts out of Sparkles body.
There are then two versions of Sparkle, who have to hide from the public, to keep their secret - which, if discovered, will result in grotesque consequences for both of them.
And while Sparkle and her alter-ego who calls herself Sue live in separate bodies and lead separate lives, they have to stabilise every day. They are connected by Sparkle, who is the matrix.
Every day, they must inject themselves with spinal fluids via a nauseating process.
They each enjoy freedom every week on an alternative basis - so while one of the two characters is out living her life, the other is comatose locked in a bathroom.
The rule that they must never take more than their seven days each in the real world is emphasised - and so when the two inevitably so, the other becomes increasingly frustrated, leading to a vicious physical fight in Sparkles apartment.
In more recent reviews, the Evening Standards Nick Howells described it as the best and maddest film of the year so far as he gave it five stars.
He added: Caveat: as long as you like a full portion of body horror and are happy to be spattered head to toe in blood and mutant body parts.
It all climaxes way beyond where you could dare imagine it might end, in a riotously hilarious torrent of blood the likes of which you might never have witnessed before.
A sledgehammer parable for the Ozempic generation, The Substance, with all confidence, is an instant classic.
Demis film, in which she co-stars with Margaret Qualley, is a blood-soaked dystopian satire of the male gaze, which takes graphic approach to speaking truth to power
Starring Hollywoods highest paid actress Demi , The Substance tells the story of Elisabeth, a famed aerobics instructor with a televised show
Meanwhile, Krysta Fauria of AP described it as disgusting and deranged as she wrote: The films deliciously unhinged, blood-soaked and inevitably polarising third act is what makes it unforgettable.
What begins as a dread-inducing but still relatively palatable sci-fi flick spirals deeper into absurdism and violence, eventually erupting — quite literally — into a full-blown monster movie.
For the Mail, Brian Viner wrote of the films snapping, bursting, oozing and squelching in his three-star review.
He said: Theres plenty of popping in The Substance. Popping, in fact, might be the least of it, alongside snapping, bursting, oozing and squelching, in a grotesque body-horror satire that isnt for the squeamish but might be for the ticklish, if you can find the funny side.
Yet for all its dystopian grisliness, Oscar Wilde would have recognised this story, which echoes The Picture Of Dorian Gray, but of course has particular resonance in todays looks-obsessed society.
RTEs Bren Murphy added: Coralie Fargeat, the French director of 2017s powerfully violent Revenge, returns with The Substance, and when it comes to delivering more shocking visceral images with a message, shes not holding back.
Darkly funny, intense, and extremely graphic, this is a shocking assault on the senses, in a good way - on second thoughts, in a masterful way.
However two critics werent entirely sure its critique of the male gaze had landed.
Financial Times journalist Danny Leigh said: The longer the movie plays, the more you find other flaws. How gross beauty standards are, we are told, while for reasons that would be a spoiler, also being invited to shudder at elderly womens bodies.
The Evening Standards Nick Howells described it as the best and maddest film of the year so far as he gave it five stars
A satire of the male gaze this filled with young women twerking, they said, can look a lot like what it is meant to be satirising.
While Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent noted: The Substances final stretch descends into a full-blown, blood-fountain homage to gross-out cult classics like Brian Yuznas 1989 horror film Society.
It turns the body into a public spectacle and invites the audience in, a little too eagerly, to gawk at what has elsewhere been presented as such intimate, secret disgust.