TORONTO – The new body horror film "The Substance" is packed with shocking moments, but for star Demi Moore, the most unsettling scene involved co-star Dennis Quaid devouring shrimp with reckless abandon.

"Seeing that take after take? Absolutely disgusting," Moore laughed, reflecting on the experience after a midnight screening of the film (set for release on September 20) at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In "The Substance," Moore plays Elisabeth Sparkle, a former actress and middle-aged TV fitness guru whose “jurassic fitness” routine is mocked, leading her network boss (Quaid) to replace her with a younger star. Desperate, Elisabeth undergoes an underground process called "The Substance," designed to make a person their most beautiful and perfect self. This transformation results in Sue (Margaret Qualley), who then hosts her own show featuring even more provocative dancing.

Margaret Qualley humorously noted onstage that while she does dance, she’ll never perform like her character again. Joining Moore and French writer/director Coralie Fargeat for the discussion, Qualley described the script as "so singular and evocative and crazy" when she first read it. Moore admitted she was unsure if the film would turn out to be "extraordinary or an absolute disaster," but was excited by its bold approach to exploring age, beauty, and self-criticism.

Fargeat, who last appeared at the Toronto festival in 2017 with her action thriller "Revenge," wanted "The Substance" to offer a unique female perspective on violence and gore. Reflecting on her previous work and personal experiences, Fargeat shared that she felt a new strength and urgency to tackle these themes. “I was also past my 40s and starting to feel the pressure of disappearing. I wanted to scream out and push against the pressures that lead to a willingness to express violence,” she said.

For Fargeat, it was crucial that "The Substance" addressed violence from a female perspective, challenging the traditionally male-oriented horror genre. She recalled how, as a child, she felt excluded from the genre’s predominantly male audience. “Growing up, boys were allowed to do so much more, while girls were expected to be gentle and dedicated. For me, horror films were a way to fully express myself and break away from those constraints.”