Demi Moore’s latest horror movie has apparently prompted walkouts in theatres due to its disturbing content.
The 61-year-old actress stars as long-time Hollywood icon Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance, which was released in theaters on September 20.
The critically acclaimed horror, directed by French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat, tackles the issue of impossible Hollywood beauty standards.
It follows Sparkle as she uses a black-market drug to create a younger, better version of herself after being forced out of her TV show.
Margaret Qualley, 29, plays Sue, who is the younger version of Elisabeth, while Dennis Quaid, 70, stars as Harvey, the TV executive and one of the antagonists of the film.
Watch The Substance trailer below:
The Substance has scored an exceptional 91% rating on Rotten Tomato’s Tomatometer and has been heavily praised by audiences.
However, not everyone was left impressed as one moviegoer revealed on X that many viewers “walked out” of the theater due to the film’s gory content. “As far as I’m concerned we don’t have enough movies where that might happen,” they added in the post.
A second user shared a similar experience at their local venue, penning: “Some people walked out of the screening of The Substance we were at last night. One of the most violent films I’ve ever seen.”
A third viewer added: “I’ve seen thousands of films and it’s very hard to shock me, but this gloriously demented movie was cray-cray on 11. ‘The Substance’ is not for the faint of heart (during my viewing, several people walked out mid film), but is an instant cult classic. You’ve been warned.”
Meanwhile, other people were left stunned by what they had witnessed.
“After #TheSubstance ended the entire theater was dead silent and motionless as the credits rolled and then someone was just like ‘is everyone okay?’ And everyone in unison said ‘no’” one person shared.
Another person spoke about the divisive nature of the film: “The Substance is the only time I’ve ever been in a cinema and everybody clapped at the end. Two people walked out 20 minutes in. Three more walked out later.”
During an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Moore, who is a mother of three, confessed that she knew the film would spark conversation.
“When I read The Substance I thought, wow, this could be really amazing – or it could be a f***ing disaster. So, of course, I had to say yes,” she told the host. “I feel like Ghost was very similar, but I think when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone and it makes us afraid it always makes us a little better. Even if it fails.”