Horror film that's 'incredibly difficult watch' and had audiences leaving cinema now streaming

A horror film that reportedly had viewers heading for the exits within just 20 minutes because it was so difficult to watch is now ready to disturb audiences from the comfort of their own home.

The Substance arrived earlier in the year receiving firm approval from critics but it didn't just make waves in reviews it also made headlines with tales of cinemagoers abandoning their seats long before the end.

It is now up available to stream on Mubi, a service celebrated as a hub for discovering bold cinema from innovative directors.

Not only can movie buffs subscribe directly but they can also access Mubi's roster of films through Amazon Prime Video where newcomers are treated to a seven-day trial at no cost, reports .

In The Substance, a star on the wane experiments with an underground drug touted as a cell-regenerating tonic that temporarily shapes her into a new, enhanced version.

Taking centre stage as Elisabeth Sparkle is Demi Moore, whose turn in the film was widely applauded upon its theatrical release, topping off with a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

An online review by a member of the audience sang its praises, stating: "A modern horror film that wholly lives up to it's promise and its premise. It's beautifully grotesque in all the right ways, with such bold artistic confidence on display that feels as if its creators had full control of this project."

Reports have surfaced that some viewers couldn't sit through the entire 140 minutes of The Substance, with a few leaving early during screenings.

A moviegoer took to social media to recount their experience: "The Substance is the only time I've ever been in a cinema and everybody clapped at the end like a pack of Americans."

"Two people walked out 20 minutes in. 3 more walked out later. Two girls behind us were asleep. 5/5. most movie ever."

Samantha King, reviewing for the Daily Star, added: "The Substance is an incredibly difficult watch, even for the most hardened horror fan."

"This film is exemplary, there's no doubt about that, but it pushed me to my absolute limit - perhaps even just beyond it. Don't be fooled by the big names in the cast, this does not operate in the boundaries of mainstream cinema, it shatters them completely and you'll feel like you're fighting for your life. Bravo."

Echoing this sentiment, The Indian Express critic mentioned: "It's the kind of film that requires courage from everybody involved, including the caterers who were presumably tasked with preparing a menu that wouldn't end up on the shooting floor everyday."

The Substance is streaming on Mubi.