With the movie being hailed as a career-best for her, Demi Moore recalls she had the same fears forThe Substanceas another acclaimed hit in her past. Moore leads the body horror movie as former Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle who, in an effort to reclaim her popularity, discovers a black market drug that allows her to transform into a younger version of herself, though comes with dangerous consequences when the instructions aren’t adhered to. Also starring Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid,The Substancehas garnered rave reviewsfrom critics and become a sleeper box office hit.
During a recent appearance onFirst We Feast’s “Hot Ones”, Moore was asked about her potential fears going into filmingThe Substance,considering its experimental nature and heavy content.The star equated her concerns about the movie to that of 1990’sGhost, particularly due to how both feature a variety of tones and genres balanced within them. Check out what Moore said in the quote and video below:
It really means that it was holding something that was worth the risk. And I felt that way, also, about Ghost, because it had so many different genres mixed together that, truly, I thought, “This could either be amazing, or a f——ing disaster.” I thought that, either way, it’s the kind of juice that says, “Step in, take the risk, roll the dice, and let’s see what happens.”
What Moore’s Ghost Comparison Means For The Substance
They Both Came Amidst Key Points In Her Career
While the comparison of a twisty body horror to a supernatural romantic drama may seem like an odd one, when looking at the overall trajectory of Moore’s career,The SubstanceandGhostshare some similarities in when they were released. ThePatrick Swayze-co-starring moviecame amid Moore’s ongoing rise to fame following her young adult-oriented titles with everything fromSt. Elmo’s FiretoAbout Last Night…. Coralie Fargeat’s movie, on the other hand, comes amid her resurgence on screen, having found success just earlier this year withFeud: The Capotes vs. The Swans.
10 Horror Movies To Watch Next If You Loved The Substance
The Substance is one of the best horror movies of 2024, and here are 10 others that are perfect to watch after Coralie Fargeat’s body horror film.
The other major similarity that bothThe SubstanceandGhostshare is thatthey both bring with them major awards consideration for Moore. Since the movie’s world premiere at Cannes in May, critics have listed her as a serious contender for the Best Actress award at both the Oscars and Golden Globes. Though she may not have landed a nomination for the former for her performance inGhost, she did land a Globe nomination, with Julia Roberts taking home the award forPretty Woman.
Our Take On Moore’s Fears About The Substance
It’s Certainly Not The Safest Movie To Make
While she may have ultimately worked through her fears to make it, it’s understandable whyMoore had concerns aboutThe Substance. Even for its time,Ghost’s innovative concept made way for a generally heartwarming experience, whereas the body horror movie is far more of a confrontational story regarding beauty standards, addiction and the dangers of popularity, thus making it far riskier of a project for her to undertake. That said, I’m thrilled she overcame her fears and took a chance on the movie, because she is truly masterful in it, and I hope she gets the awards recognition she deserves.
Ghost
Cast
Ghost is a romantic thriller directed by Jerry Zucker, featuring Patrick Swayze as Sam Wheat, a man who has been murdered and becomes a ghost in order to protect his girlfriend Molly Jensen, played by Demi Moore. With the assistance of a reluctant psychic named Oda Mae Brown, portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, Sam attempts to uncover the truth behind his death and bring closure to his unfinished business.
