The Substance Director Finally Explains What’s Going On With All Those Butt Close-Ups

The Substance has undeniably become one of the most talked-about movies of the past year thanks to its grisly gore and violence, scenes of full nudity and career-best performances from leads Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.

But there’s one other thing that plenty of viewers picked up when watching the graphic body horror.

Yes, we’re talking about all of those arses.

Coralie Fargeat’s film is littered with close-ups of bums, whether it’s Demi Moore’s Elisabeth Sparkle in the shower, Margaret Qualley clad in lycra for her energetic aerobics routine or just the man that Sue sleeps with the night before her big New Year’s Eve show standing in the buff in the hallway.

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finally watched the substance and wow i feel like i was wholly unprepared for the butt closeups in every scene

— 𐂃pezlikethesweets (@auntiepezza) January 21, 2025

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finally watched the substance and wow i feel like i was wholly unprepared for the butt closeups in every scene

— 𐂃pezlikethesweets (@auntiepezza) January 21, 2025

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Just watched the substance and all ik is that director is obsessed with butts

— p8n (@ughp8n) January 12, 2025

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Just watched the substance and all ik is that director is obsessed with butts

— p8n (@ughp8n) January 12, 2025