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Running Time: 2hrs 20mins

Seating: Allocated - See Seating Plan for More Details

The screening on Thu 21 Nov at 2pm will have descriptive subtitles, and will also be relaxed for people living with dementia.

Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?
You. Only better in every way.
You’ve got to try this product: The Substance.
It changed my life.

Demi Moore gives a career-best performance as Elisabeth Sparkle, a former A-lister past her prime and suddenly fired from her fitness TV show by repellent studio head Harvey (Dennis Quaid).

She is then drawn to the opportunity presented by a mysterious new drug: The Substance. All it takes is one injection and she is reborn – temporarily – as the gorgeous, twenty something Sue (Margaret Qualley).

The only rule? Time needs to be split: exactly one week in one body, then one week in the other. No exceptions. A perfect balance. What could go wrong?

Deliriously entertaining and ruthlessly satirical, Coralie Fargeat’s Cannes sensation turns toxic beauty culture inside out with a be-careful-what-you-wish-for fable for the ages. Explosive, provocative and twisted, The Substance marks the arrival of a thrillingly visionary filmmaker.

Director: Coralie Fargeat

Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.

  • Access Information - Cinema

    Cinema

    Seat size

    Seats in the Cinema are 45cm (172/3“) wide and 46cm (18“) deep, are 40cm (152/3“) from the floor, and have 12cm (42/3“) between seats.

    Armrests

    Seats in the Cinema have armrests that do not fold away, and cannot be completely removed.

    Legroom

    Seats in the cinema have 30cm (112/3”) of legroom in front of seats, with additional legroom on row A and seats B1-B4 and B11-B14.

    Further information

    If you have any questions about accessibility our Box Office team are always happy to help and can be contacted on 01642 525199 or by emailing [email protected] - you can also tell us about your access requirements when prompted to do so during the online booking process.

  • Companion Ticket Scheme

    A free ticket is available to a companion accompanying a disabled person to an event, where it is an access requirement. To book a companion ticket or accessible seating as part of your order please contact the Box Office team on 01642 525199 or email [email protected]

    You can tell us about any other access requirements you have at the time of booking.

  • Information about descriptive subtitles

    Descriptive subtitles, sometimes referred to as subtitles for D/deaf and hard-of-hearing people or captions, transcribe dialogue and relevant aspects of the soundtrack, including music and sound effects, attempting to give D/deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers an equal experience to those who are able to watch films without descriptive subtitles. Descriptive subtitles would include speech identifiers and descriptive elements such as [door slamming] and [kettle whistling].

  • Information about relaxed screenings

    We offer a number of daytime cinema screenings designed to make trips to ARC a more relaxed experience for learning disabled people, people with autism and people with sensory or neurological conditions

    Relaxed performances have a number of distinguishing features:

    • Lower volume levels
    • No foyer music
    • Consistent lighting with auditorium lights on throughout
    • There is a relaxed attitude to noise and moving around the auditorium
    • You can reserve extra seats if you need space to be comfortable
    • If you prefer not to queue please let us know when booking
    • We can provide a chill out space should you need a break.
  • Information about screenings with audio description

    Audio description is commentary that aims to describe body language, expressions and movements to blind or visually impaired audience members, thereby offering additional information about the film through sound. Our cinema is equipped with a system that delivers audio description through a headset. The audio description runs each time the film is shown and is undetectable to anyone not wearing a headset.

    Many of our cinema screenings have an audio description facility. If you would like to use it when visiting our cinema, please let the Box Office know when booking your tickets. You can also let us know this by using the access requirements box when booking online.

  • BBFC Rating Info (May contain spoilers)

    Violence

    A person is beaten in prolonged and brutal fashion in a sequence which also emphasises blood and injury. A character is decapitated and blood gushes from the victim’s neck stump.

    Threat and Horror

    Scenes of threat include those in which a frightened character locks herself inside a bathroom while her pursuer smashes her way into the room. A terrified character runs naked from a woman’s apartment. A vehicle crashes into a person’s car, spinning the vehicle around.

    Language

    Strong language (‘f**k’) occurs, as well as milder terms (‘bitch’, ‘shit’, ‘God’, ‘damn’, ‘butt’).

    Sex

    Two people passionately kiss and grope each other during foreplay; however, the couple remain clothed and there is no strong detail. Sexualised images feature during scenes in which dancing and gyrating is suggestive of sex.

    Discrimination

    Negatively presented characters make sexist and ageist comments.

    Drugs

    Characters inject unnamed drugs intended to renew and preserve their youth.

    Suicide and Self Harm

    In one sequence, a person slaps herself repeatedly, and in another sequence she pulls at her hair.

    Injury Detail

    There are several scenes in which gore and injury detail are emphasised. People are drenched in blood which erupts from a person’s wrist after their hand detaches. A character’s leg falls off, and blood and viscera bursts from their body. A person pulls out her teeth with their bare hands in a scene filmed in close-up, which also includes blood subsequently pouring from the character’s gums. Characters mutate in scenes which include a foreign object removed from a person’s stomach and a breast growing out of an eye socket. A person’s back splits open and a younger version of themself emerges. There is subsequent emphasis on the younger version stitching her former host’s body together. There is close-up sight of infected wounds.

    Nudity

    There are several scenes of full body nudity. These often include close-up emphasis, as well as sexualisation in scenes in which characters run their hands over their naked bodies.

    Flashing/Flickering Lights

    This work contains flashing images which may affect viewers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy.