Directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance follows Elisabeth Sparkle, a once-celebrated actress whose career is waning due to ageism in Hollywood. Desperate to reclaim her youth and stardom, she turns to a clandestine drug that replicates her cells, producing a younger, idealized version of herself named Sue. As Elisabeth and Sue navigate their intertwined existence, tensions escalate, culminating in a grotesque and tragic confrontation that critiques society's obsession with youth and beauty.