Death Becomes Her (1992), a Film Review
Death Becomes Her (1992) is a surrealist dark comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis. This PG-13 movie stars the iconic legends Meryl Streep, Bruce Willes, and Goldie Hawn.
Death Becomes Her (1992) is a surrealist dark comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis. This PG-13 movie stars the iconic legends Meryl Streep, Bruce Willes, and Goldie Hawn. As of this review, this classic left Amazon Prime but will remain rentable through Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movie, Apple TV, and more.
Helen (Goldie Hawn) and Madeline (Meryl Streep) have been frenemies for years, but when Helen introduces her husband (Bruce Willis as Ernest) to Madeline, that rivalry enters new heights. As Helen plans her revenge, Madeline receives an offer that might cure the pesky inconvenience of aging.
What I Like about Death Becomes Her
Death Becomes Her won Best Special Effects from the Academy Awards (1993), the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, BAFTA, and Awards Circuit Community Award. Isabella Rossellini won Best Supporting Actress from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.
Everyone delivers an outstanding performance worthy of note, creating a synergy and chemistry that provides a challenge in describing. A specific example is the toxic friendship between Madeline and Helen, a true pleasure to watch on screen. Their destructive friendship remains the key draw of Death Becomes Her.Ā
When all the performances are exceptional, itās hard to pinpoint one to focus on. Instead, viewers likely gravitate towards certain traits or archetypes that a character evokes. Madeline is the diva who hates her life. Helen provides a more reserved and passive-aggressive character, plotting her way to a bloody vengeance. Isabella Rossellini earns her award and recognition from a truly captivating performance as Lisle Von Rhuman, requiring charm and mystique in equal measures.Ā
The humor and delivery still have me cackling over Death Becomes Her. While not everything ages to perfection, thereās a timelessness to the film that will likely stand for years to come. Itās easy to claim this when the film proves a classic already.
I will comment on this point again, but the special effects hold up surprisingly well. Yes, certain scenes show age, but they mostly look believable to modern scrutiny. Perhaps the surrealist and dark comedic nature of Death Becomes Her helps with this longevity. From my understanding, Death Becomes Her pioneered many tricks and all-around film magic it displays on screen.
As of writing this review, Death Becomes Her remains largely spared from the cash-grab remakes all too common for successful or cult classic films. While it seems inevitable that Death Becomes Her will receive this punishment eventually, Hollywoodās restraint likely suggests respect for the filmās longevity. However, Sabrina Carpenterās “Taste” does boast a clear influence from the film.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
Madeline and Ernest have a horrifyingly dysfunctional marriage that results in a murder. I wonāt dive into more detail to avoid spoilers. I will mention that death holds a dark comedic tone, but that doesnāt change the toxic relationship.
An actress wears a fat suit. She later becomes the target of fat shaming and ridicule. The suit doesnāt last long, following only a few scenes to show the characterās spiral into depression.
What I Dislike about Death Becomes Her
The second half of the film pivots Ernest as the main character, having him learn the lesson and grow. While I donāt mind this in theory, and it seems a hard point to work around, it does remove focus from Madeline and Helen.
A character claims that Ernest began life at fifty with little known about his life before this time. Thatās a hilarious claim since he was a famous plastic surgeon who became an exceptional mortician and married an actress with some name recognition.
As mentioned, the special effects show age. While I still commit to the claim that it holds up surprisingly well, Death Becomes Her does have moments when viewers note the 1992 release date. Viewers shouldn’t expect the kind of CGI and film magic of the modern day. However, creativity and ingenuity give a timeless charm to Death Becomes Her.
Final Thoughts
Death Becomes Her remains a classic largely untouched by the passage of time. While it shows some age here and there, the film takes its own potion of eternal youth. If youāre eager for a dark comedy that doesnāt shy away from the surreal, Death Becomes Her remains an exceptional choice.
(5 / 5)
After taking a week off, Dexter Original Sin is back. And while no piece of art can ever be entirely perfect, this was as close to perfect as I think we can expect.
The story
We start this episode right where the last one left off. Dexter, with a body in his trunk, finds his dumping grounds swarming with cops. So, keeping his head as cool as ever, he pulls out his forensic badge and pretends he’s supposed to be there. Then, he feeds the remaining arm from his second kill to the alligators before anyone can print it. But, not before Angel recognizes a distinct ring on the hand’s finger.
Jewelry really will be the death of Dexter.
While he might have gotten himself out of that mess, he still has a body to deal with. He decides to take it to a dump in broad daylight. Sometimes he acts like he wants to get caught. But then, maybe he does.
Meanwhile, the police are still looking for whoever kidnapped Nicky. There’s a horrific scene in this episode in which the poor kid has his finger chopped off. But this finger might well be the evidence that Miami Metro needs to catch the kidnapper because Dexter notices a sense of hesitation before the cut on Nicky that wasn’t present on the first little boy.
He also finds a drop of blood that doesnāt belong to Nicky.
Once again, it all comes back to blood.
What worked
As Iāve watched this series, and after consuming all of the rest of the work this franchise has offered us, one thing has become more and more clear.
Harry Morgan is a terrible human being.
Letās just take this episode as an example. We see him strongarming a CI that he had an affair with, threatening to stick her in jail and drop her kids into foster care if she doesnāt keep risking her life for him. We then see him go home and lecture his wife, who he cheated on, for not forgiving him fast enough. And we know how this all ends for the Mosers. We know that Laura ends up dead and Harry takes the baby he liked, leaving Brian to the horrors of the foster care system.
- Michael C. Hall (Actor)
- Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The thing is, we were never supposed to like Harry. More and more I realize that Harry is the bad guy. Heās the antagonist of Dexter. And as Iām rewatching the original series, I see clearly that heās been the bad guy from the start. And I think thatās such a brilliant idea.
Not quite as cool, but still impressive was the serial killer advice scene in this episode. Dexter, struggling with where to hide his dead bodies, researches how other serial killers have done so. We see him talk to Ed Gein, David Berkowitz and John Wayne Gacy. This scene brought the absurdity of the series to the forefront. Our main character admires these men. These monsters did horrific things. And we still, somehow, against all decency, like him.
Let me also just say that Scott Reynolds who played Gacy did a fantastic job. The body language and line delivery were just so creepy. For someone who wasnāt on screen for more than a few minutes, he knew how to make a killer impression.
Finally, I want to applaud the twist in this episode. But, as always, I want to do so without giving it away! I will only say that there is a large reveal regarding the person who killed the judge’s son and abducted Nicky. And, I have to say, I didn’t see it coming. It was amazing and raised so many questions. Questions I cannot wait to have answers for.
Honestly, everything in this episode worked. It was well-written, well-acted, and well worth my time. My only complaint right now is that there are only three episodes left.
Of course, itās usually the last episode of a Dexter show that ruins the whole thing. Letās see if they can avoid that this time.
(4 / 5)
After the last episode of Goosebumps, I was concerned. I wasn’t sure where the season was going, and I worried I wouldn’t like it.
Thankfully, this episode got the story and my interest back on track.
For the most part.
The story
We begin our story with a flashback from Alex, finally finding out why she was sent to Juvie. She was at a party that resulted in a house fire, through no fault of her own. Rather than helping her, Alex’s mom Jen simply assumes she set the fire and refuses to help her. So, you know, ACAB.
When Alex gets back, she wants to clear her name. So she decides to find Murph, the person who actually set the fire. To do this, she needs a car. So she decides to borrow Treyās car.
You know, the car that is currently infected by the homicidal sewer spores.
What worked
One thing I’ve enjoyed about this season so far is that no one’s really at fault here. Yes, some of them are doing dumb things. I wouldn’t consider Trey breaking into Anthony’s basement and wrecking stuff to be a great decision. But I can also see how he got there, and why he was pushed to that. I love how we have the opportunity to see the motivations of almost every character.
I also enjoyed how Alexās character is being filled out. She is compassionate, funny and brave. I think sheās going to end up being my favorite character this season.
On that note, a lot of this episode revolved around Alex and her mother. This was important, as we needed to round out the cast. However, I appreciated that we got that focus while still moving the storyline along for the characters we already have established. It’s sometimes hard to strike that balance when we’re not telling a story in a linear fashion. But I think they pulled it off.
What didnāt work
As much as I love the Alex/Cece relationship, I donāt love how Cece is being portrayed.
Maybe I just donāt like Cece.
She is too perfect. She is too charming. Everyone likes her. And several times in this episode she batted her pretty eyes, tossed her blond hair, and got people to do things for her. While I am amused that Alex weaponized this, it’s also irritating. I’d like to see less pretty privilege.
Finally, in this episode, we saw this demonic or haunted spore (or whatever it is) transition from a car to, of all things, a cup of coffee.
What even is this thing? What are the dimensions? What are the rules? What the hell is it doing?
Suspension of disbelief can only take us so far. We have to have a set of rules for the world for us to buy into it. I can buy a sentient spore. I cannot buy it jumping from living creature to car to coffee cup.
Do better.
Even so, this was a really fun episode. Iām enjoying the story so far, and Iām interested to see how long it takes everyone to get the parts of their story together so they can see the whole picture.
(3.5 / 5)
Smile 2, a psychological supernatural horror, released in October 2024 just in time for Halloween, sees director Parker Finn (Smile, Laura Hasn’t Slept) return with a sequel starring Naomi Scott (Aladdin) as pop star and recovering addict Skye Riley. While Smile 2 boasts a talented cast, it ultimately falls short of its predecessor, offering a familiar storyline with minor variations and a predictable finale. The film attempts to introduce a new method to combat the parasitic ‘Smile Entity’, but this addition fails to elevate the sequel beyond a pale imitation of its chilling predecessor.
The Plot.
Smile 2 begins shortly after the end of the original; just six days after Rose Cotter’s death. During a short interlude scene, we watch as the now cursed Joel attempts to pass the Smile Entity on by killing one criminal in front of another. The plan backfires spectacularly, inadvertently passing the curse onto an innocent bystander named Lewis Fregoli.
The film then shifts gears, introducing Skye Riley, a singer and performer making a triumphant return to the spotlight with a comeback tour after a tumultuous past. During a candid interview on the Drew Barrymore Show, Skye opens up about her struggles with addiction and the devastating loss of her boyfriend in a car accident. Her sobriety journey, however, faces a severe setback when she seeks pain relief from her old high school friend, the unwitting Lewis Fregoli. In a chilling turn of events, Lewis takes his own life while Skye watches, passing the Smile Entity onto her.
Unaware of her new cursed existence Skye gets on with rehearsing for her tour, but she begins to notice that strange things are happening. People are smiling at her in an unnatural way and she becomes the target of anonymous attacks and aggressions. When text messages begin to arrive from an unknown number, Skye decides to get some answers.
Highlights.
Let’s not beat about the bush. I found Smile 2 difficult to finish and was struggling at about the hour-and-a-half mark to stay awake. That being said it’s worth watching because everyone needs to see the 3-minute scene of the āsmilersā chasing Skye through her apartment. This was possibly the creepiest thing Iāve seen on a screen. The buildup, the synchronicity of the movement of the actors and their positioning, the camera work, and the lighting. I have rewatched it several times and it doesnāt get old. If you are only interested in watching this, fast forward to the 123-minute mark and get ready to be impressed.
Drawbacks.
Where do I start?
My primary concern with Smile 2 is its striking resemblance to its predecessor. The narrative follows a familiar pattern: an attractive woman fleeing a supernatural force, grappling with hallucinations, experiencing a mental health decline, and culminating in the revelation someone close to Skye was the Smiling Entity after all. This repetitive structure diminishes the film’s impact.
- Sosie Bacon, Jason T. Usher, Kyle Gallner (Actors)
- Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
While the introduction of a new method for shedding the entity initially offered a glimmer of hope this concept wasn’t fully realized. It just served to add names to the line of people that the entity has infected in the past.
Furthermore, the film’s pacing suffers from excessive focus on Skye’s musical career. Scenes showcasing her stage rehearsals and music videos, while intended to establish her identity as a performer, feel unnecessary and detract from the narrative momentum. Yes, we understand sheās a performer, you told us, you donāt need to prove it. These scenes appear to artificially inflate the film’s runtime, suggesting a lack of confidence in the core story.
The Final Take.
Ultimately, Smile 2 fails to expand upon the established lore of the franchise. The film’s conclusion feels contrived, with a blatant setup for a third installment. Hopefully, if a ‘Smile 3’ is inevitable, the creative team will bring fresh ideas and avoid simply retreading familiar ground.
(2 / 5)
Both Cthulhu’s granted for that one scene.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Kyle Gallner, Naomi Scott (Actors)
- Parker Finn (Director) – Parker Finn (Writer) – Parker Finn (Producer)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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