Death Becomes Her Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two divas drink magic juice to stay young forever, only to discover eternal life means eternally dealing with each other’s high-maintenance shenanigans…and a surprising amount of body spray.

🍿 Death Becomes Her: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Madeline Steals Ernest

The film introduces Madeline Ashton, a Broadway star, and Helen Sharp, a writer. Helen is engaged to Ernest Menville, a plastic surgeon. Madeline, ever the attention-seeker, steals Ernest away from Helen, leading to their marriage. Helen spirals into depression and gains weight, consumed by hatred for Madeline.

Helen’s Transformation and Revenge

Years later, Madeline’s career is fading, and she’s obsessed with staying young. Ernest, now an alcoholic mortician, is miserable. Madeline and Ernest attend a party where they encounter a transformed Helen, now youthful and beautiful. This reignites Madeline’s insecurities and sets in motion a plan for Helen’s revenge.

The Immortality Potion

Madeline, desperate to regain her youth, seeks out Lisle Von Rhuman, who offers her a potion promising eternal youth. Meanwhile, Helen seduces Ernest and convinces him to kill Madeline. The potion works, but when Ernest pushes Madeline down the stairs, she survives with her head twisted backwards, revealing the potion’s catch: immortality, but with the fragility of a corpse.

Undead Rivalry

Helen arrives, intending to confirm Madeline’s death, but Madeline shoots her with a shotgun, leaving a gaping hole in her stomach. Helen also survives, revealing that she too took the potion. The two women, now immortal and effectively undead, engage in a violent and comedic battle, realizing they are stuck with each other.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep): A fading, narcissistic actress who desperately seeks eternal youth and beauty to maintain her status.
• Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn): A novelist consumed by jealousy and rivalry with Madeline, leading her to also pursue immortality.
• Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis): A plastic surgeon and the object of Madeline and Helen’s obsession and competition, becoming a pawn in their quest for eternal youth.
• Lisle Von Rhuman (Isabella Rossellini): The enigmatic and ageless woman who provides the immortality potion, representing the allure and danger of defying nature.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Madeline Ashton: “Now, a warning?” – Madeline’s sarcastic response after Lisle warns her about taking care of her body *after* she drinks the immortality potion.
• Lisle Von Rhuman: “Drink it, and remember… beauty is an illusion.” – Lisle’s mysterious advice as Madeline prepares to drink the immortality potion, hinting at the superficiality of eternal youth.
• Madeline Ashton: “I’m a has-been, Helen! I’m a corpse!” – Madeline’s dramatic outburst expressing her fear of aging and fading relevance in Hollywood.
• Helen Sharp: “Ernest, help me up, I think I’ve cracked a rib.” – Said by Helen after being shot with a shotgun, with a huge hole in her stomach, after being pushed into the pool.
• Helen Sharp: “Do you remember where you parked the car?” – Helen’s last line after both women fall down the stairs and shatter into pieces.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $55,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $58,422,650
• Worldwide Gross: $149,022,650

💥 Death Becomes Her Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, this movie is pure camp and I adore it. Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn are hilarious as these ridiculously vain women. The scene where Meryl’s head is twisted backward always gets me! And Bruce Willis as the put-upon Ernest? Genius casting. It’s not a deep movie, but it’s endlessly entertaining and makes me laugh every time. I think anyone who enjoys dark comedies should definitely give this one a watch.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedy”
  • “Viewers who appreciate special effects”
  • “Those interested in themes of vanity and aging”
  • “Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Gore”
  • “Suggestive themes”
  • “Alcohol use”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Zemeckis delivers a wickedly funny satire on Hollywood’s obsession with youth. Streep and Hawn are brilliant as the battling divas, and Willis provides excellent comedic support. The special effects, while groundbreaking, serve the story rather than overshadowing it. A darkly delightful romp.
• The New York Times: “A deliciously morbid comedy that dares to ask how far one might go to maintain a youthful facade. Though the narrative occasionally falters, the performances are top-notch, and the film’s visual inventiveness makes it a standout.
• RogerEbert.com: “”Death Becomes Her” is a wild, gleefully gruesome romp. Streep and Hawn are fantastic, playing their vanity to the hilt. It’s a unique movie, and a memorable one with dark comedy and brilliant special effects.

Audience Reactions

The special effects are so over-the-top, they’re hilarious!: Viewers consistently praise the innovative and humorous special effects, particularly the scenes showcasing physical damage and the characters’ reactions.

Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn have amazing comedic chemistry.: Many people love how well Streep and Hawn play off each other, bringing a unique energy and lots of humor.

Overall Consensus: A darkly comedic satire with standout performances and memorable special effects, though some find the humor too broad and the characters unlikeable.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Visual Effects)- 1993

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Meryl Streep accidentally scarred Goldie Hawn’s cheek with a shovel during the fight scene.”
• “The film’s special effects were groundbreaking for their time, winning the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.”
• “Several actors and actresses are known for their cameo appearences, such as Sidney Pollack.”

🖥️ How to Watch Death Becomes Her?

Death Becomes Her is available for rent or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for streaming options and availability.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Death Becomes Her, you might like these similar films:

• The Witches of Eastwick (1987): Dark comedy with supernatural elements and strong female leads.
• What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962): Explores the toxic rivalry between aging actresses, albeit with a darker, more psychological horror tone.
• The Addams Family (1991): Shares a similar macabre sense of humor and darkly comedic tone.
• The Age of Adaline (2015): Addresses the theme of immortality and its consequences, with a focus on the emotional and social challenges it presents.

🛒 Death Becomes Her Related Products

• Death Becomes Her [Blu-ray]: Experience Death Becomes Her in stunning high definition with this Blu-ray edition. Enjoy enhanced picture and sound quality, along with potential bonus features like behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.
• NECA Death Becomes Her Action Figure 2-Pack: Detailed action figures of Madeline Ashton and Helen Sharp, capturing their iconic looks from the film. Recreate your favorite scenes with these highly poseable figures.
• Death Becomes Her Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original movie poster. Perfect for framing and displaying in your home theater or office.
• Death Becomes Her T-Shirt: Soft and comfortable t-shirt featuring a memorable quote or image from the movie. Available in various sizes and styles.

🎧 Soundtrack

Death Becomes Her features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Main Title” – performed by Alan Silvestri
• “I See Me” – performed by Meryl Streep
• “Me” – performed by Meryl Streep

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

All the “Death Becomes Her” refs in Sabrina Carpenter’s new music video.

Hey, check out this video that breaks down all the references to ‘Death Becomes Her’ in Sabrina Carpenter’s music video. It’s really cool to see how the movie has inspired her and how it’s still relevant today.

Sabrina Carpenter & Jenna Ortega “Death Becomes Her” spoof

I found this hilarious video that shows how Sabrina Carpenter and Jenna Ortega are paying homage to ‘Death Becomes Her’ in their music video. It’s a fun watch, especially if you’re a fan of the movie.

10 Things You Didn’t Know About DeathBecomesHer

If you’re a fan of ‘Death Becomes Her,’ you’ll love this video. It’s full of interesting facts about the movie that I bet you didn’t know. Definitely worth a watch if you want to dive deeper into the film.

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