The Substance, a ugly body-horror flick, had its world premiere on Sunday evening in competitors on the Cannes Movie Pageant and was greeted with a nine-minute standing ovation from the group on the Grand Lumiere Theatre.

The sophomore directorial effort and English-language debut of the French filmmaker Coralie Fargeat — she additionally wrote, produced and edited the movie — stars Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid and Margaret Qualley (Qualley additionally seems in one other competitors title at this yr’s fest, Sorts of Kindness), all of whom have been available for the screening.

A gory fantasia that may be a twisted cross between the basic movies Sundown Blvd. and Freaks, it is among the most out-there Cannes competitors movies since Titane — and, with the correct mix of jurors, may observe that movie to a serious competition award, if not for the movie then maybe for Moore.

Produced by Working Title’s artwork home professionals Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, the movie was initially set to be distributed by Common, however will now obtain a U.S. launch through MUBI. Different territories have bought to different distributors throughout the fest.

Along with solid, the viewers included Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Abel Ferrara and Carla Bruni.