The Substance Screenplay

by Coralie Fargeat

A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.

Genres: Horror

146 pages, Unknown Binding

First published May 19, 2024

Reviews

[Theresa Michele]

Coralie Fargeat is a visionary. After watching The Substance several times following its release, reviewing the vision board she created while imagining the film, and generally watching and reading anything I could about this work (and her work generally), I knew I had to read the screenplay.

In some scenes, the guidance for the shots gave me more information about what she intended to portray. Equally as illuminating were the few changes and omissions within certain dialogue and scenes. I can see that the film was a progression from this script; perfected audiovisual media.

I loved the screenplay and what an incredible film. “It changed my life.” 😉

🧪💉❤️‍🔥

[Lea ⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎]

4.75 / 5 ✮⋆˙

❝ As if she was TRULY seeing herself fot the very first time, and finally, accepting herself ❞

In my humble opinion, this should've won Best Original Script.
The way is so clear what every scene and dialogue represents, and while you read it you have so clear what shots needs to be.
The changes that the made in the movie and to the script are so genius, but still understanding why were written there in the first place.

[Ross Bonaime]

The Substance is an absolutely wild movie that I love for how it starts off pretty wild, then only grows even more bonkers as it goes, hitting levels that I never expected it would go. But what surprised me so much about reading Coralie Fargeat's screenplay for The Substance is just how internal this film is. As we spend time with Elisabeth, and then eventually, Sue, so much of their story is told through the world around them, and not directly to us. They're always the focal point of the story, and with almost no other characters having much of a presence besides Elisabeth and Sue, it's wild how silent this absolutely unhinged story truly is.

I also love how Fargeat uses the screenplay format to maximize this film's wildness, playing with fonts, making certain segments jump off the page, and enhancing what she'll be doing on the screen through the page. I've never read a screenplay like this that is trying to actively present us with how extreme this story will be simply through the way the words are written.

Definitely one of the best screenplays of 2024, and I'm so glad the Oscars are finally giving more attention to horror films like this one.

[Adam F.]

this was so good!!! demi moore deserved the oscar in my opinion, although I loved mikey madison. coralie fargeat is a genius, the substance is brilliant!!

[MJ]

This is a masterpiece. It's brilliant.

[Asger Koefoed]

Extremely creative, well structured and articulated script
Better than watching the movie

[Olandis]

There was so much in here that I wish was in the movie. Absolute *chefs kiss* of a screenplay. It’s so insane to think someone came up with this. The hymn mind is truly remarkable.