The Substance

Name: The Substance
Released: 2024-09-07
Rating: 7.2

Released 7 September 2024

7.2 out of 10

No. 22 on the Scare Scale

Based on 2 ratings

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Where to watch Trailer

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

How it scares

Each kind of scare is rated out of 10. Hover over a score, or use the info button, to see what it means.

Gore
8.5 out of 10,Extreme
Blood, injuries and body horror shown on screen. Violence that happens off-screen barely counts.
Gore 8.5 is extreme (9-10 on the scale):
- Long, explicit and unflinching gore that is the centrepiece
- Nothing is held back from start to finish
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Creepy
5.5 out of 10,Strong
Unsettling images, atmosphere and things that feel wrong. Not sudden shocks (Jumpscares) or waiting for something to happen (Suspense).
Creepy 5.5 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- Disturbing images and an atmosphere that feels wrong
- Comes back often, and some scenes stay with you afterwards
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Jumpscares
4.0 out of 10,Moderate
Sudden shocks designed to make you jump, usually a fast movement or a loud noise. Not slow-building dread (Suspense).
Jumpscares 4.0 is moderate (3-4 on the scale):
- A handful of jumpscares that land
- Spaced out, with long gaps between them
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Suspense
6.0 out of 10,Strong
Tension and dread while you wait for something to happen. Not the scare itself when it arrives (Jumpscares or Gore).
Suspense 6.0 is strong (5-6 on the scale):
- High tension that keeps you on edge
- Calm moments are short and don't last
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme
Psychological
7.0 out of 10,Intense
Horror that gets in your head: paranoia, madness, doubting what's real and ideas that stay with you. Not how a scene looks (Creepy) or feels in the moment (Suspense).
Psychological 7.0 is intense (7-8 on the scale):
- Disturbing ideas about the mind, identity or reality
- Present throughout, and leaves you uneasy long after
1. 1-2Mild
2. 3-4Moderate
3. 5-6Strong
4. 7-8Intense
5. 9-10Extreme

How the overall score of 7.2 is worked out

A film doesn't need to do every kind of horror to be scary, so the overall score only uses its three strongest categories. Any of those three scoring 3 or lower counts as zero and takes off another 0.5.