Have you ever watched a deeply disturbing, fluids-heavy body horror movie and thought, “Man, I really wish I knew what that nastiness smelled like”? No? Well, too bad, because MUBI is making you smell it anyway.
In a move that is equal parts brilliant and deeply unhinged, an upcoming screening of Coralie Fargeat’s body-horror masterpiece, The Substance, is getting the full “Odorama” treatment. Channeling the chaotic energy of legendary cinematic trolls William Castle and John Waters, this special theatrical event will force attendees to scratch-and-sniff their way through the movie using special scent cards.
Distributor MUBI announced the fragrant festival of horrors on social media:
“As part of MUBI Fest Chicago, we’re presenting a one-of-a-kind scratch-and-sniff screening of Coralie Fargeat’s modern body horror classic. Each guest will receive a numbered scent card. When a number appears on screen, scratch the matching panel and experience the film through an entirely new sense.”
A Feast for the Senses (And a Threat to Your Stomach)
For those who haven’t seen the film, The Substance is a hyper-stylized, neon-soaked, relentlessly wet nightmare about Hollywood beauty standards, rogue anti-aging serum, and flesh-ripping transformations. It is a movie dominated by spinal fluid, decaying tissue, sweat, and monster meat.
While MUBI hasn’t officially revealed what the numbered squares will smell like, audiences can likely look forward to a delicate olfactory bouquet of:
-Freshly harvested spinal fluid
-Rapidly decomposing Hollywood starlet
-Industrial-grade neon bathroom disinfectant
-Whatever the hell is leaking out of Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley’s backsides
Smelling is Believing
If you have an iron stomach and a nose that craves violence, this very special Odorama Screening is taking place at The Salt Shed in Chicago on July 11, 2026, at 12:00 PM CDT. Get your tickets now!
Tickets are live now. Bring a breath of fresh air, maybe some Vicks VapoRub to put under your nostrils, and a barf bag just in case the funk hits a little too close to home. Happy sniffing!
