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Scene Map 60
# PG SLUGLINE
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Scene Map
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# PG SLUGLINE
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THE SUBSTANCE Written by Coralie Fargeat “EVERYTHING FLOWS, NOTHING REMAINS” - HERACLITUS “DON’T YOU KNOW PUMP IT UP
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3 INT. TV STUDIO / SPARKLE YOUR LIFE SHOW - DAY 3 PAIRS OF FEET WITH FLUORESCENT DANCE LEGGINGS stomping the floor. A BLINDING WHITE LIGHT. A small blinking red dot indicates that this is being filmed
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4 INT. BACKSTAGE HALLWAY - DAY 4 ...as she walks down the long backstage corridor of the tv station with an energetic stride. EVERYONE she meets or bumps into wishes her a "Happy Birthday" with a broad smile. Elisabeth smiles back and
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6 INT. RESTAURANT - DAY 6 Greasy fingers that rip the head off of a shrimp: SHLACK! The thick sweaty nape of a man’s neck, on which a fly sporadically lands. A pudgy hand tries to flick it away. It’s Harvey’s hand. Facing camera, he is in the midst of
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8 INT. CRAIG SILVER MANAGEMENT OFFICE - DAY 8 A huge picture of Elisabeth with an ultra bright smile, praising the merits of a whitening toothpaste: WITH TOOTHBRITE (check clearance) YOU GOT IT!
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9 EXT. AVENUE - DAY 9 Elisabeth is at the wheel of her car. We can almost hear the billion thoughts firing through her mind, knocking back and forth. She's speeding along a road lined with palm trees.
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11 EXT. HOSPITAL. - DAY 11 Elisabeth walks out of the hospital. A beat to breathe in the fresh air. An ear-splitting chorus of car horns and traffic. She puts her hands in her coat pockets as if to comfort
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12 INT. ELISABETH’S APARTMENT / LIVING ROOM - END OF AFTERNOON 12 Elisabeth is standing in front of an oversized picture window with a magnificent view of the city in a spacious, elegantly decorated living room. Hanging on the wall opposite the window is a huge full-length
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13 INT. COCKTAIL LOUNGE BAR - NIGHT 13 EXTREME CLOSE UP SHOT OF AN OLIVE FLOATING inside a transparent liquid. The olive is suddenly pierced by a wooden toothpick in a muffled, distorted sound, like a heart pierced by a sword,
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15A INT. BEDROOM. NIGHT 15A Elisabeth sits on the side of her bed on the phone, lit only by the small bedside lamp whose soft glow lights her face. The sound of the line ringing. Slow. Regular. The line crackles slightly.
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19B INT. DEPOSIT / LONG NARROW CORRIDOR - DAY 19B She’s now in a long narrow decrepit hallway. On the other side of the shutter door, a notification flyer from a pest control company. Nice...
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21A INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT 21A Elisabeth, naked, faces her bathroom mirror. She looks at the sight the mirror reflects back at her without clothing and makeup. Her breasts. Her belly. Her face.
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22 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT 22 NewElisabeth at the kitchen table in her bathrobe. We see her sitting from behind, perfectly still. Then we hear her start to make guttural sounds, which run up and down the scale: bass / treble / bass hhh…hel…
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31 EXT. STREET (ELISABETH AREA) - DAY 31 We follow NewElisabeth from behind, walking in the street. Her mustard yellow coat pulled tightly around her waist, but the coat is now too big for her new, thinner and slender frame, giving her a shapeless silhouette.
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37 INT. HARVEY’S OFFICE - DAY 37 The shot widens and we discover that we are now in a large office where the CLOSE-UP IMAGE OF SUE’S LIPS is multiplied on a wall of screens. Sue is standing in the middle of the room while we hear a
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38 EXT. STREET (FULL GLAM & POP) - DAY 38 SUE FROM BEHIND WALKING DOWN THE STREET - there is a full assurance in her swaying gait, she exudes a newfound confidence. Heads turn outright as she passes by. 39A INT. FRIDGE/KITCHEN - DAY 39A
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45 INT. BATHROOM - EVENING 45 On the floor, the last drops of liquid are sucked from the matrix’s perfusion bag. On the bathroom cabinet shelf, the syringe’s compartmentalized barrel is now empty, the seven vials have
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52 INT. BATHROOM - DAY 52 Facing the bathroom mirror, Elisabeth twists and turns to look at the stitches on her back: The scar tissue has healed. She picks up the surgical pliers and starts to extract the sutures (slightly painful and
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61 INT. KITCHEN/LIVING ROOM - DAY 61 Elisabeth sits at the kitchen table crossing out days on a monthly calendar in black. She crosses out seven days in a row... then writes “SUE” in each of the next seven days... then the same thing again
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73 INT. PHOTO STUDIO - DAY 73 PROFILE of Sue’s face in a photo studio. SUE ON THE RIGHT! She turns her head towards the camera. THE BLACK EYE OF A LARGE CAMERA FLASH!
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77B INT. LIVING ROOM - JOUR 77B ...we follow her, swaying as she walks back down the hallway. Entering the living room, we discover through the picture window that a PUBLICITY BILLBOARD WITH A HUGE PHOTO OF HER has been set up outside.
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81 INT. SECRET ROOM - DAY 81 Sue stores the large framed poster she took down next to Elisabeth inside the little secret room. A moment with Sue staring at the matrix lying on the ground, before she starts to close the heavy secret wall.
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83 INT. HARVEY’S OFFICE - DAY 83 On the wall of screens in Harvey’s office. 84 INT. TV STUDIO / SUE’S SHOW “PUMP IT UP” - DAY 84 The group moves in rhythm, a constant crescendo, until the music ends and in a final motion which freezes the group,
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87 INT. BEDROOM /HALLWAY /BATHROOM /SECRET ROOM - END OF DAY 87 POV FROM INSIDE A BIG RECTANGULAR BOX whose cover is being removed. Sue’s face is looking inside it with sparkling eyes. It’s a leather catsuit that she slowly takes out from a big white rectangular box lying on the bed.
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91 INT. SECRET ROOM - NIGHT 91 Elisabeth's body in stasis lying on the floor, her inert, empty and glazed eyes, staring into nothingness. Attached to her arm, the nutrition bag is almost empty. The yellow liquid is slowly reaching the SWITCH mark.
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96 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 96 They kiss more and more greedily... plip ... a drop of blood falls on the guy’s white t-shirt... But Sue decides to ignore it; her eyes glowing more feverishly every second, she takes off the guy’s t shirt...
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103 INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 103 The man opens his eyes and Sue is once again straddling him, like an apparition, very close to his face. MAN Mmmm...
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110 INT. CORRIDOR / LIVING ROOM - DAY 110 She walks down the hallway dragging her feet. It’s day now. A beat as she discovers... Sue’s clothing strewn on the floor: her boots... her leather catsuit... her lingerie... They make a trail down the hallway all the way to the bed, which we see
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113 INT. KITCHEN - DAY 113 Elisabeth sits at the table, on the phone. The insistent ringing tone... Bri-ing...Bri-ing.. Through the picture window, Sue’s gigantic billboard staring
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114 INT. BATHROOM - EVENING 114 It’s night. Elisabeth, in her nightgown, looks at her reflection in the mirror with a harsh expression, as she brushes her teeth. THE GNARLED FINGER ON THE TOOTHBRUSH brushing back and
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119 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 119 Elisabeth, concentrating on her vacuum cleaner sucking up the carpet as though hunting for the smallest piece of dust would help her avoid becoming overwhelmed by her thoughts. She looks up, about to turn around in the opposite direction,
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120 INT. APT ENTRANCE / APT CORRIDOR - DAY 120 She approaches the door without making any noise. HER GNARLED FINGER opens the peephole cover, and she looks through it: The neighbor.
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126 INT. DINER - DAY 126 She sits down in a booth. Moves to another. She’s hot. Takes off her coat. Starts removing her glove... then decides against it, readjusting the right glove in particular. WAITRESS (O.S)
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127A EXT. STREET (DINRE AREA) - DAY 127A Elisabeth returns home with a hurried step... 127B EXT. STREET (ELISABETH BUILDING) - DAY 127B ...looking over her shoulder several times to check that she hasn’t been followed when- BAM!
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131 INT. BATHROOM - DAY 131 Elisabeth has “isolated” herself in the bathroom, sitting on the closed toilet lid. She dials the number. We hear the sound of the line ringing and after a beat someone picks up.
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132 INT. BEDROOM - EVENING 132 Lots of activity in the apartment. All the boxes have been taken out - clothing, shoes, accessories are scattered across the bedroom floor. CUT TO:
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136 INT. CORRIDOR / ENTRANCE / LIVING ROOM - EVENING 136 Walking down the hallway, she forces herself not to look in the living room... but just when she is about to open the front door... Her face tenses... she is struggling as she is about to grab
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141B INT. SHOWER - DAY 141B THE SHOWER HEAD SPITS OUT its powerful stream of water on... SUE. A long moment during which she revels in the gush of hot water.
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146 INT. TV STUDIO / BACKSTAGE HALLWAY. DAY 146 We follow her as she walks with a hurried step down the long hallway. 147 INT. TV STUDIO / DRESSING ROOM - DAY 147 She comes to her dressing room, shuts herself inside and
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153 EXT. STREET (GLAM & POP) - DAY 153 THE GREEN PALM TREES that pass by like KNIVES SKEWERING the BLUE sky. We follow Sue walking briskly while on the phone. The piercing sound of the line Bri-iiiing Bri-iiiing
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156 INT. HARVEY’S OFFICE - DAY 156 Sue arrives in the office. Harvey’s armchair is turned towards the plate-glass window; we can only see the imposing back of his chair. THE SUBSTANCE - May 3rd 2022 - 95 -
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157 INT. SECRET ROOM - NIGHT 157 For a long moment. Then a ray of light appears through the gap of a door that slowly opens... And Sue’s head appears in the gap.
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159 INT. SECRET ROOM - DAY 159 AND THE DOOR OPENS AGAIN... and Sue walks into the room in a new outfit... She takes off the bandage - there’s a little pus oozing from the puncture site, which is now infected.
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162 INT. KITCHEN - DAY 162 THE ATROCIOUSLY OLD FOOT WITH ITS HARDENED YELLOWED NAILS paces back and forth. Bri-ing Bri-iiing On top of the table is the Vogue issue with SUE, ALL SMILES
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163 INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING 163 The silent apartment plunged in darkness. IN THE LIVING ROOM we see Elisabeth from behind huddled up in the big armchair. THE SUBSTANCE - May 3rd 2022 - 104 -
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165 INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT 165 CHEESE BUBBLING IN A SAUCEPAN Elisabeth’s DECREPIT FOOT shuffling back and forth across the kitchen floor. TV HOST
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166 INT. HALLWAY /BATHROOM - NIGHT 166 THE LONG DARK HALLWAY at the end of which we see the bathroom. Elisabeth, wearing Sue’s silk bathrobe, paces back and forth in front of the mirror, making faces and mocking Sue’s nasal voice and affected mannerisms. She simpers and
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169 INT. SECRET ROOM - DAY 169 POV FROM INSIDE THE SECRET ROOM - Sue’s feet going back and forth, carrying a variety of containers, glass jars and empty bottles that she gathers in the room. SUE (O.S.)
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171 INT. NYE FITTING ROOM - DAY 171 The camera pans up A MAGNIFICENT PRINCESS DRESS IN TAFFETA, chiffon and rhinestones that sparkles gloriously. Sue is in the fitting room. Her hair is different, time has passed.
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178 INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT 178 The man sits on the side of the bed, not sure what he has just heard. BOYFRIEND Babe?
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187A EXT. STREET (ELISABETH AREA) - DAY 187A THE BLINDING LIGHT OUTSIDE. ALL THE EXTERIOR STIMULI ARE LIKE A PHYSICAL AGGRESSION. WE FOLLOW THE LIMPING YELLOW COAT IN EXTREME CLOSE UP. 187B OMITTED 187B
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190B INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 190B And all of a sudden Sue throws herself at Elisabeth... who dodges her in the nick of time and runs away inside the apartment. Elisabeth throws something right at Sue’s face before running away from her again: fuck fuck fuck... she
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195 INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY 195 BACK TO THE SCENE INSIDE THE LIVING ROOM Sue looks down fixedly at her bloody hands in the foreground above a blurry Elisabeth in the middle of a pool of blood in the background. (tinnitus starts up in her ear - it gets
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198 INT. WINDING CORRIDORS - DAY 198 We follow her making her way down the hallway. Walking past the soundstage, we see Harvey shouting at a technician, pointing to a cable hanging from the ceiling. HARVEY
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200 INT. WINDING CORRIDORS - DAY 200 She walks quickly through the corridor with her head slightly lowered and her fist closed along her thigh, trying not to be noticed by anyone in the busy hallway. HARVEY (O.S.)
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201 INT. NEW YEAR EVE / BATHROOM - DAY 201 Locks the door shut. She puts her teeth down on the sink and exhales out deeply, opening her mouth and letting a large quantity of blood gush out and into the sink in the process...
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203 INT. ELEVATOR - DAY 203 ...and slips into the elevator. Once inside, she hits the lobby button repeatedly... and the more she pushes the button nervously, the more she notices that... one of her fingernails is less and less lined up with
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208 INT. LIVING ROOM - EVENING 208 Facing her, through the picture window is the huge billboard: NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW TONIGHT 9PM Elisabeth lies dead on the living room floor.
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214B EXT. STUDIO LOT ALLEY / STUDIO DOOR - NIGHT 214B ...Bursting this completely fictitious bubble she just invented. She's still standing in front of the studio door. Her badge has just opened the secure door.
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217 EXT. STUDIO LOT ALLEY - NIGHT 217 She runs outside in agony... 218A EXT. NIGHT STREET 1 - NIGHT 218A ...wheezing more and more as she rushes into the street in a panic.

The substance

A fading Hollywood star injects herself with a serum promising eternal youth, unleashing a terrifying battle for her very soul.

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

The screenplay uniquely blends body horror with social commentary, creating a narrative that not only entertains but also provokes thought about the lengths individuals go to for societal acceptance. Its exploration of duality through the characters of Elisabeth and Sue offers a fresh perspective on the pressures of beauty and youth in modern society, making it particularly relevant to today's audience.

AI Verdict & Suggestions

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Gemini
 Recommend
Claude
 Recommend
GPT4
 Recommend
Story Facts
Genres:
Drama 45% Horror 40% Science Fiction 20% Thriller 15%

Setting: Contemporary, Primarily set in Los Angeles, California, including locations like the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a TV studio, and various apartments.

Themes: The Destructive Pursuit of Perfection, The Corrosive Nature of the Entertainment Industry, Identity and Self-Acceptance, The Fleeting Nature of Fame and Beauty

Conflict & Stakes: Elisabeth's struggle against aging and the pressure of the entertainment industry, leading to a dark rivalry with Sue, who represents her lost youth and success.

Mood: Dark and unsettling, with moments of introspection and horror.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The transformation of Elisabeth into a younger version of herself through a dark and grotesque process.
  • Plot Twist: The revelation that Sue's success is built on the destruction of Elisabeth's identity, leading to a violent confrontation.
  • Innovative Ideas: The exploration of beauty standards and the psychological impact of fame through a horror lens.
  • Distinctive Settings: The juxtaposition of glamorous Hollywood locations with dark, claustrophobic spaces representing internal struggles.

Comparable Scripts: Black Swan, The Stepford Wives, The Hunger Games, The Devil Wears Prada, Fight Club, The Invisible Man, The Others, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Requiem for a Dream

Script Level Analysis

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Overall Score: 8.05
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Loglines
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