Death Becomes Her

When Madeline runs off with Helen's fiance (Bruce Willis) Helen falls into a demented state and becomes obese and determined to get even with Madeline. After discovering a secret potion sold by a Hollywood witch (Isabella Rosellini) both Helen, and later Madeline regain their youth, vitality, and beauty. However, all this comes with strings involving immortality.

The wonderful script pokes fun at many stereotypes, rumors, and realities Hollywood is well-known for. From plastic surgery to the fact that no one has never met a neighbor in Los Angeles, the script is intelligent scriptwriting at its' best. The special effects by Industrial Light and Magic which has Helen walking with a hole through her midsection, and Madeline walking with a twisted neck are incredible to watch. One thing I adored about this film was the wicked, dark, and diabolical score by Alan Silvestri that incorporates harps and vengeful theme throughout the film.

The film's ending featuring a legion of Hollywood's undead (including Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, and James Dean)is hysterical and even the names of the two main characters, Madeline ("Mad" as in crazy) and Helen ("Hell" as in hellish) is genius. Personally along with "She-Devil," "Heathers," and "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills," this film ranks as one of the best black comedies to come out in recent years. A must-see for everyone!


A TERRIFIC MOVIE THAT WARRANTS A WIDESCREEN RELEASE ASAP!   August 28, 2006
Wayne Racine
10 out of 12 found this review helpful

This movie is a real hoot, with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn embroiled in a Bette Davis/Joan Crawford-type feud... the plot was pure genius and the special effects were ahead of their time. With terrific performances by all the leads, this one is an "essential video" for your collection.


Siempre Viva!   June 27, 2004
Gary F. Taylor (Biloxi, MS USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

The passage of time weighs upon us all: the loss of youth's energy, agility, beauty. But let us say there is a potion, an elixir, "a touch of magic in a world obsessed with science." Drink it and you will be forever young. Do not drink it and watch yourself rot away with old age. Just such a potion falls into the hands of two women who are not only consumed with vanity but fierce rivals, determined to best each other no matter the cost. Siempre Viva: Live Forever! Whether you like it or not!

With excellent performances, an invective-laced script, and remarkable special effects, DEATH BECOMES HER takes on several great philosophical and literary concepts--and subverts them into one of the most wickedly funny black comedies in recent memory, dishy, bitchy, mean spirited, and a tremendous amount of fun. Film buffs will particularly relish this film, which references everything from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW to THE WIZARD OF OZ and a host of classic horror films such as FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, and CAT PEOPLE--and also tacks in everything from Tennessee Williams plays to rock legend Jim Morrison for good measure.

Unfortunately, the DVD release is commonplace, offering the film in pan-and-scan only. To give the release its due, the shift from widescreen to pan-and-scan is expertly done and not in the least distracting--but still, a widescreen option for such a special effects heavy film would be preferred. And while this would seem to be an ideal film for a making-of documentary, the DVD offers only a handful of production notes as bonus. Even so, the film is so extremely well done that I wouldn't miss it on that account! Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer


Great movie - but dvd could have more features   December 17, 2002
KD (New Orleans, LA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I absolutely love this movie. It is great in so many respects and is much more than just fantastic special effects. It is laugh out loud funny. I never get tired of watching it, and every time I see it I catch something I didn't see before. Sometimes I really wonder if certain actresses who never seem to age really have taken some magic potion.

As far as the dvd goes, I have really been craving a "deleted scenes" feature for this movie. I have long heard about the alternate ending that was shot and dropped at the last minute - I remember someone telling me it involved Streep and Hawn's characters on a mountain in Switzerland trying to come up with new things to do or places to go and finding immortality to be quite boring. There are also entire scenes with Tracy Ullman that were fully cut from this movie when her character was completely deleted. And, there is the msytery of the Greta Garbo actress on the end credits. Someone is listed as having portrayed Garbo in the movie, but I have never been able to find her in the film. James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Andy Warhol, Elvis, and Jim Morrison are clearly at Lisel's party...but I don't know where Garbo is supposed to be (yet, a scene with her was evidently shot, since an actress is credited as playing her). That scene must also have been cut.

I think this would be a terrific film to have some behind the scenese featurette for as well. In 1992, the effects used here were revolutionary...though Forrest Gump, made a few years later, gets most of the credit for being groundbreaking in this field. I remember being totally blown away with what was achieved in Death Becomes Her and would love to know exactly what went into making it. I think it would also be interesting to hear from Zemeckis himself exactly what motivated him to make this movie - I bet he would have some interesting stories to tell about his own experiences with "the walking dead of Beverly Hills".

I doubt they will be making a special edition dvd of this movie any time soon. There isn't any great public demand for it. But, I hope that when the milestone anniversaries of this film come around someone will reconsider this dvd oversight and include all the cut scenes and other standard featurettes that go into dvds these days.

The movie is too good to skimp on this stuff. And I truly would like to be able to see how Greta Garbo was featured in this film. I think that scene could have been really interesting.


Cleverly crafted comedy...   May 24, 2003
Breck Stewart (San Francisco, CA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This one is a gem for sure. I must admit, I wasn't a big fan of Meryl Streep before seeing this. I know, she is the best actress of her generation and I always respected her talent but the movies she usually appear in, more in the dramatic and depressing range, are not necessarily what I want from "the movies". I admit it, I am always looking to be entertained first and foremost and here, Streep along with the whole cast succeeds brilliantly.

I usually don't like to give a synopsis of any film I review because other reviewers often do it. And I truly believe that the element of surprise is something most people enjoy when they watch a movie. What I can say though is that this little gem has been grossly savaged by critics at the time of its release for no good reason whatsover even though it was a minor box-office hit.

This is one thing that has always left me puzzled about "official" critics: the way to have of hating most movies that only want to entertain for the pure pleasure of it. I have absolutely no idea why they hated this wonderful production but I don't really care what they think. Audiences of that time loved the mix of fantasy and dark comedy with amazing performances by all the leads.

Streep really knocked me for a loop in this movie. The delivery of her lines in full camp mode, the subtle gestures, the way she struts and moves her body... It makes her portrayal of the vain, conceited Madeline Ashton extremely real and immensely enjoyable. It is a shame she doesn't star in many comedies because her timing is impeccable. Goldie Hawn, Bruce Willis and Isabella Rossellini all make their characters very memorable as well.

Robert Zemeckis did a great job in concocting a truly enjoyable story with just enough special effects (considered quite impressive back then and still adequate by today's standards) to keep it all together. There are many beautiful camera angle and elaborate sets adding to the satirical tone dictated by the subject matter which is a refusal to grow old gracefully.

One thing though that irked me profoundly about this DVD though is the fact that the movie isn't available in widescreen format. Why is that? I mean, for me the whole point of watching a movie on DVD is the pleasure I get to view the film in its original theatrical format and a full screen version doesn't quite cut it. I really don't understand the choice to exclude the widescreen version which should be a prerequisite on any DVD.

But I digress. If you want to get some laugh and be sucked into a wonderful dark world where backstabbing, bitchery and vanity all collide in a beautifully shot and intricate story, this movie is for you. I enjoyed it immensely and my gut feeling tells me you will as well.