The Substance was the seventh-highest-grossing movie of 2024. Not only did it become the most successful box office release for arthouse distributor and streamer Mubi so far, but it also received massive critical acclaim. Besides the film’s satirical themes, the intense performances by Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, and its allegorical depth, the graphic body horror also stood out with its extreme, disturbing prosthetics. While they surely provided a chilling experience for viewers, the actors faced a much more challenging ordeal.

Margaret Qualley recently opened up about the toll The Substance’s prosthetics took on her skin and how tough it was for her to recover.

In an episode of Happy Sad Confused, Margaret Qualley talked about the lasting effects of wearing prosthetics for The Substance. She recalled scenes in the film that were shot from low angles, or in her words, “when they’re shooting up my skirt in the beginning credits,” which were taken after the prosthetics left her face completely “—-ed up.” Qualley added, “They couldn’t shoot my face anymore.”

Qualley revealed how the acne and other effects from the prosthetics lingered well beyond The Substance, and carried over into her next project, Kinds of Kindness. These tough experiences seem to have inspired her to push for a shift in her future roles, moving away from more "obscure, artsy films". Despite the struggles, the experience was still rewarding—especially for veteran actress Demi Moore.

The Substance (2024) Review: Body Horror, Comedy, and the MONSTROus Price of Perfection

After helping Moore secure her first major award, the Golden Globes, The Substance is now catapulting her onto the Academy’s radar as well.

Demi Moore has long been overlooked for major acting awards. Many critics saw her roles as more commercially driven or ‘popcorn’ films. However, with The Substance, Moore shifted that perception. Now, at 62, she is gearing up to earn her first-ever Oscar nomination for Best Actress. But this is not just a personal milestone. It is a breakthrough moment for a genre that has been unfairly snubbed by awards bodies.

Horror has traditionally been dismissed by the Academy as too graphic, too niche, or too lowbrow for their refined tastes. If Moore does get recognized by the Academy this year, as she has been with Golden Globes and SAG nods, it could be a game-changing moment for the genre as a whole, making all the prosthetic suffering worth it. 

“My --s looks awful”- A 60-Year-Old Demi Moore Gets Candid on Nudity in Acting

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