Image Credit: IMDb
Leading 2024’s line-up of offbeat plots, The Substance features an ageing icon who resorts to a black-market drug to crawl back into her prime. However, that comes with eerie side effects. The body-horror film tackles societal pressures on celebrity beauty standards with a mind-boggling plot and grotesque visuals. With five Oscar nominations and an award for Best Screenplay at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the movie quickly created buzz for its storyline and glamorous sets. The filmmakers recreated LA in France, relying on studios, chic suburbs, and the French Riviera. In this story, we round up the filming locations of The Substance, which you can visit in real life.
Also, explore our guide to the most scenic villages in France that command a visit.
The Substance: Cast, trailer, and plot
Directed by Coralie Fargeat, The Substance narrates the tale of Elisabeth Sparkle (essayed by Demi Moore), a fading Hollywood celebrity who’s dropped from crucial projects because of her age. Soon after, she stumbles upon the ‘Substance’, a black-market drug that guarantees to restore her youth. Desperate, she gives in. In the following scenes, the body of a woman in her 20s is born from a slit in her back — the two bodies alternate and switch consciousness every seven days. The nail-biting side-effects are what lace this sci-fi film with peculiar horror.
This 2024 film features Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid, Edward Hamilton Clark, Gore Abrams, Oscar Lesage, Christian Erickson, Robin Greer, Tom Morton, Hugo Diego Garcia, and Yann Bean in key roles.
With an IMDb rating of 7.3/10, The Substance is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Exploring the French filming locations of The Substance
TSF’s Epinay Studio, Paris
TSF’s Epinay Studio, Paris | Image Credit: TSF
All the studio scenes were shot at TSF’s Epinay Studio, one of the most emblematic studios in the French industry. With towering ceilings, grills, carpentries, a terrace garden on the banks of the Seine, and plush walkways, the studio presents the perfect canvas for bringing cinematic dreams to life.
Also read | 20 Beautiful Places To Visit In France — From Normandy To The French Riviera
Nearby attractions are the Eglise Notre Dame des Missions (1.4 km away), the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris (10.9 km away), the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel (13.8 km away), Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris (15.3 km away), and the Louvre Museum (14.1 km away).
Address: 10 Rue du Mont, 93800 Épinay-sur-Seine, France. Find on map
How to reach: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is the nearest, 24.8 km away.
Nanterre, Paris
Paris La Défense Arena, Jardin de l’Arche, Nanterre, France | Image Credit: Amin Zabardast/Unsplash
Located along the east bank of the Seine River, the Parisian suburb of Nanterre also lent its modern landscape to The Substance. Home to residential areas, lush parks like Parc André Malraux and Le Parc des Anciennes-Mairies, sky-high buildings, and the revered Cathédrale Sainte Geneviève et Saint Maurice, Nanterre is a must-visit. When in the area, stop by the charming La Terrasse Espace D’ar art gallery.
Nearby attractions: Parc de Bois-Préau (3.9 km away), Château de Malmaison (6.1 km away), Étang de Saint-Cucufa (6.8 km away), and Parc des Princes (14.4 km away). A local recommends this guide to the 20 best museums in Paris.
Address: Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine department, western suburbs of Paris, France 92050/92000. Find on map
How to reach: Paris Orly Airport is the nearest, 30.1 km away.
Antibes, The French Riviera
Antibes, the French Riviera | Image Credit: Satvik/Unsplash
The seaside city of Antibes is tucked between Cannes and Nice, along the French Riviera. A charming filming location of The Substance, Antibes enchants with rampart walls, amphitheatres, thermal baths, and striking monuments. Beyond the straight-out-of-a-storybook old town and coastal strolls, key attractions in Antibes include the outdoor market of Marché Provencal, the Picasso Museum, Cathedral Notre Dame of the Immaculate Conception (Antibes Cathedral), Chapelle Saint-Bernardin, and Le Nomade.
Nearby attractions: Jardin des Poètes (1.4 km away), Plage de la Garoupe (4.3 km away), Le Sentier du Littoral (4.9 km away), Saint Paul de Vence (17.5 km away), and Cannes (11.6 km away).
Address: Antibes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France. Find on map
How to reach: International Airport Nice Côte d’Azur is the nearest, 16.7 km away.
Saint-Laurent-du-Var, The French Riviera
Saint-Laurent-du-Var, The French Riviera | Image Credit: Fred Romero/Flickr
Located close to Nice, the scenic commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Var also doubled up as the filming location of The Substance. The region is home to yacht clubs, malls, sea-soaked fun, historic villages, and the George Brassens theatre.
Nearby attractions: Parc Phoenix (4.6 km away), Escoffier Museum of Culinary Art (9.3 km away), Foret des Pugets (2.9 km away), and Paloma Beach (20 km away).
Address: Saint-Laurent-du-Var, west of Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France Find on map
How to reach: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is the nearest, 3 km away.
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(Feature image credit: IMDb)
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Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
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The studio scenes from’ The Substance’ movie are shot at TSF’s Epinay Studio in Paris.
Some films shot at the French Riviera include ‘Goldeneye’ (1995), ‘To Catch a Thief’ (1955), ‘Swimming Pool’ (2003), and ‘Never Say Never Again’ (1983).
Some Parisian destinations where famous films have been shot include Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, Ritz Paris, and Rue Saint-Georges.
Written By
Senior Digital Writer – Growth, Travel
Writer by day, reader by night, Yashita has a flair for all things travel, wellness and food. She has ..Read Morepreviously worked at Condé Nast India and Times Internet. When not working, you can catch her binge-reading the latest thriller on the block, re-watching Friends, trying a new recipe or hosting her friends. Read Less