On November 1st, the highly anticipated 18+ film *The Substance* officially premiered in theaters across the country, delivering a visually stunning and gory horror experience to its fans. Audiences were thrilled and excited to see this body horror masterpiece, marking its debut in the domestic market. However, due to its extreme violence, the film faced heavy cuts to pass the censorship process. Consequently, the outrageous scenes that were “left on the cutting room floor” have sparked curiosity among netizens.
The first notable cut occurs when Sue repeatedly slams Elizabeth’s head into a mirror and sink for 20 seconds. This moment is abruptly cut right after Sue delivers the first blow, jumping to a scene where Elizabeth collapses to the floor in pain and despair. Following that, a one-minute sequence of Sue relentlessly kicking Elizabeth was also removed. Instead, the film transitions from Sue’s first kick to the title card “You Are One,” showcasing Sue dazed and covered in red blood. Particularly, Elizabeth’s “unrecognizable” body is left intact and uncensored after the brutal altercation.
Additionally, around 10 to 15 seconds of sensitive areas of the characters were cleverly obscured and hard to notice. However, this does not detract from the film’s unique essence or create a disjointed feel, thanks to the seamless editing that ensures viewers unfamiliar with the original version will perceive it as a complete cut. From this, it is evident that the Film Department has become more adept at censorship and selection of violent works, resulting in a more diverse range of films being showcased, attracting a larger audience.
As of 11 AM on November 7th, *The Substance* grossed over 60 million VND on its opening day, a decent figure but not impressive compared to the film’s “top-tier” quality. After more than a week of screening, including two early preview days, the 18+ blockbuster from MUBI has surpassed 2.8 billion VND in the Vietnamese film market. The film continues to receive enthusiastic attention across social media platforms, with hopes of achieving even greater success in the future.
Explaining the lackluster ticket sales, *The Substance* explores body horror, a subgenre of horror that remains relatively unfamiliar to Vietnamese audiences. The unsettling and terrifying scenes typical of this genre may deter some viewers. Furthermore, the promotional activities were not executed effectively, unintentionally keeping the film’s recognition at a mediocre level. Moreover, the artistic elements woven throughout its 141-minute runtime add a significant weight, which may not align with the preferences of Vietnamese audiences, who tend to favor more straightforward, entertainment-focused horror films over those rich in deeper meanings and challenges for the viewer.
On an international scale, *The Substance* is gradually establishing itself as a formidable contender in the 2024 horror film race, directly competing with renowned titles such as *Late Night With The Devil, Oddity, Abigail,* and *Longlegs.* Currently, the film’s global box office has exceeded 43 million USD, with the North American market accounting for 15 million USD and the international market contributing the remaining 28 million USD. With a production investment of 17.5 million USD and various promotional campaigns, the film is projected to start yielding substantial profits.
*The Substance* follows Elizabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), a once-prominent star clinging to her fading fame as an aerobic coach on television. Despite her superior looks compared to her peers, Elizabeth ultimately succumbs to the harsh passage of time, resulting in her dismissal by the producers. Unwilling to accept her obsolescence in the showbiz world, she turns to a series of mysterious black-market serums to grasp onto the last remnants of her celebrity status.
This miraculous potion generates a younger, more alluring version of herself – Sue (Margaret Qualley). The condition imposed is that both cannot coexist simultaneously. The balance must be maintained; when the new body awakens, the original must “hibernate.” Afterward, they will swap positions after seven days. Sue must continuously inject nutrients to nourish Elizabeth for those seven days while utilizing the original body’s marrow to prevent decay. This setup ignites a brutal and raw narrative exploring the themes of desire and obsession with beauty.
Overall, *The Substance* stands out as one of the most impressive films of 2024.