The Substance ending explained after 'horrifyingly disturbing' film leaves viewers traumatised

One of the most intense body-horrors of the year hit cinemas late last month and it's sparked an equally intense reaction in 'horrified' viewers.

The Substance, starring Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid, has everything you want from a good horror flick: strong atmosphere, gruesome imagery, prosthetic boobs and around 36,000 gallons of fake blood.

Yep, filmmaker Coralie Fargeat did actually use that amount of fake blood to shoot just one single scene - and it's clear it was more than worth it given just how traumatised people were after digesting it.

Check out the official trailer here:

Now, you can't deny the cinematic impact of the absolutely insane end scene - which saw a mutant version of protagonist Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) and her 'better, younger' self named Sue (Qualley) have somewhat of a breakdown on stage to a totally petrified crowd.

The monster in question was lovingly named Monstro Elisasue.

Demi Moore starred as protagonist Elisabeth Sparkle (MUBI)

After battling with bulls**t female beauty standards, patriarchal producers and a severe nosedive in health for the majority of the film (which is nearly two and a half hours btw) the tripartite character is finally able to bare all and expose herself for what she is - someone looking for unconditional love free from judgement.

Monstro Elisasue's hunchback body oozes with pus complete with spotted skin, yellowed nails, a sagging liver and boobs literally everywhere (including her face).

The end scene used 36,000 gallons of fake blood (MUBI)

Ironically, this is the only moment where Elisabeth or Sue were ever comfortable in their own skin, even if it is a monster's skin.

However, things take a turn when the audience heckle and jeer at Elisasue where she quite literally snaps - in half.

Her body then explodes spouting a spray of blood and flesh everywhere in OG horror Carrie style.

Director Coralie Fargeat opened up about the film's wild ending (MUBI)

Fargeat told Entertainment Weekly a few weeks back that the end scene depicted, at long last, the moment where Elisabeth was finally 'free'.

"Finally, it’s the moment where she’s free from her human body and appearance," she shares. "It’s the first moment where she’s able to love herself.

"It’s the moment she sees herself, and it’s not disgust, but in fact, it’s as if she’s seeing her true self for the first time."

The end scene was the only time Elisabeth truly felt 'free' (MUBI)

Carrying on with the touching explanation, the French screenwriter highlighted: "Finally, she doesn’t have to care what she looks like, she doesn’t have to care what people are going to think. For the first time, there’s self-indulgence, tenderness.

"It’s the first time she looks at herself in the mirror and doesn’t criticise herself. She decides, OK, 'I’m going to go out there, this is me, I have my right to have my place in the world'."

And as for the Carrie-style blood spray which saw Elisabeth's mutant body spurt her juices all over the horrified audience?

Well, Fargeat says this was once again another in-your-face metaphor.

"Thematically, to spray that crowd was like, 'OK, this is what you’re doing to us, so, now, f**k off. Enough'."

It's all one big metaphor guys (MUBI)

She explained that the crowd, who at this point were practically swimming in blood and guys, were all 'complicit in crafting this violence, so this is the violence back'.

"It’s symbolic," Fargeat urged. "Look at the violence, don’t shy away.

"All the violence that you project on me, the monster, at some points, it’s projected back on the audience, which is all of us."

All I can really tell you, reader, is you've simply got to see for yourself just how chaotic 2024's most provocative body horror actually is.

The Substance is available to watch in selected cinemas across the UK now.