Coralie Fargeat's satirical portrayal of Hollywood, featuring Demi Moore in the lead role as an actress willing to go to any lengths to safeguard her public image, has garnered a unique blend of rave reviews and disgusted applause. The film, which skewers the shallowness and narcissism of the film industry, is a gripping tale of ambition and desperation that leaves audiences both entertained and unsettled.
Certainly, the most grotesque and outrageous film to hit the Cannes competition thus far, "The Substance," the sequel to Coralie Fargeat's "Revenge," made its debut at the Palais on Sunday night. Earlier in the day, a press screening witnessed numerous expected departures, as the film's unsettling content pushed some viewers to their limits. It's likely that a similar number of disgusted viewers chose to exit during the premiere public screening, where Greta Gerwig's jury got their first glimpse of this otherwise shrouded mystery. The film's synopses and press notes offer scant details, leaving much to the imagination. MUBI holds the distribution rights, having acquired them just before the festival kicked off. David Ehrlich of IndieWire has hailed it as an "instant classic," testament to its captivating yet challenging nature.
