The Substancehas made history as only the seventh horror movie to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Directed by Coralie Fargeat, the 2024 horror-drama has earned a total of five nominations, including Best Director (Coralie Fargeat), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Demi Moore), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. The film stars Demi Moore as Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity who takes an experimental drug that creates a younger, idealized version of herself named Sue, played by Margaret Qualley, unleashing grotesque and horrifying consequences.
The Academyhasnominated Fargeat’s critically acclaimed body horror as the seventh horror movie in history for Best Picture, followingThe Exorcistin 1973,Jawsin 1975,The Silence of the Lambsin 1991,The Sixth Sensein 1999,Black Swanin 2010, and Jordan Peele’sGet Outin 2017.The Substancereviews praised the film’s practical effects and biting commentary, though its intense and shocking gore made it an unlikely Oscar contender.
What The Substance’s Nominations Mean
The Year Of Horror Became Unstoppable
As the medium has steadily evolved into a vehicle for complex social commentary on humanity’s darkest impulses,horror still remains largely overlooked by prestigious institutions. With the awards buzz behindThe Substance,it appears the tides against horror have begun to change. Earlier this month, Moore—best known for her work in the 1980s and 90s—won her first Golden Globe for her role as Elisabeth. Following her breakout success with the rape-revenge filmRevenge(2017), Fargeat has also become one of the first female horror directors to achieve an Oscar nomination—a much-needed force in modern cinema.
The 25 Best Body Horror Movies Of All Time Ranked
The best body horror movies come from brilliant and far-out directors who are fascinated with the beautiful and disturbing nature of the human body.
This year,The Substanceis not alone in representing the genre. Robert Eggers’Nosferatureceived nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Production Design, whileAlien: Romulusscored nods for Best Visual Effects. Altogether, these films illustrate the growing respect for horror within the industry, with a range of subgenres and styles moving beyond the clichés of blood-gushing slashers and one-dimensional characters. The success ofThe Substance,Nosferatu, andAlien: Romulusat the Oscars (and the box office) signals a golden era for genre filmmaking, cementing horror’s place as a vital part of modern cinema.
A Historic Leap Onto Hollywood’s Biggest Stage
Horror is finally getting the recognition it deserves, andThe Substanceis leading the charge. Its nominations not only highlight the genre’s potential for an intellectual and emotional depth to rival any drama, but also reflect a broader shift in the industry’s values. This year’s Oscars feel like a celebration of horror’s artistry, withThe Substance,Nosferatu,andAlien: Romulusdemonstrating the genre’s incredible range—from psychological terror to gothic reimaginings to sci-fi monsters.The Substancestands out as a daring, visceral experience that will leave a lasting impression, both on the Academy and on the genre’s unapologetic legacy.
The Substance
Cast
Elisabeth Sparkle, a fading celebrity, turns to a mysterious drug that promises to restore her youth by creating a younger, more beautiful version of herself. But splitting time between her original and new body leads to horrifying consequences as her alternate self, Sue, begins to unravel her life in a disturbing body-horror descent.
