Kate Bates praises Demi Moore’s ‘bonkers’ performance in the substance, calling it her best work yet

Demi Moore has left Hollywood in awe with her latest horror role, delivering a performance so intense that actress Kate Bates called it “bonkers” yet utterly brilliant. Speaking at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards, Bates couldn’t hold back her admiration for Moore’s work in The Substance, a chilling body horror film that has been turning heads.

“I always felt it’s the performance you can’t really substitute. It’s the work that always speaks for itself,” Bates told reporters, emphasising Moore’s raw talent.

The Ghost star, long known for her versatility, has taken a terrifying plunge into the horror genre, proving once again that she refuses to be typecast. Bates, known for her own spine-chilling roles, admitted she was floored by Moore’s performance. “I did see The Substance, I think it’s great. I never thought of Demi as a popcorn actress ever,” she said.

Moore, now in a career renaissance, has embraced roles that push artistic and emotional limits. Bates highlighted how The Substance isn’t just another horror flick—it’s a deeply unsettling, yet painfully human story. “She’s Demi. She’s done amazing work, and I love seeing her being recognised for this,” Bates added.

Moore herself has described the film as “an absolutely bonkers movie, but so true.” Bates agreed, saying, “When you make a real human being, no matter what the genre is, people connect to it. And that’s what Demi did.”

With The Substance receiving critical acclaim and industry praise, Moore’s performance is already being touted as one of the most gripping of her career. As the awards season heats up, fans and critics alike are left wondering—could this be the role that earns Demi Moore another iconic moment in Hollywood history?