Review of Death Becomes Her (1992) by Stuart K — 27 Apr 2014

Directed by Robert Zemeckis, who at the time had just come of the hardships of filming Back to the Future 2 and 3 back to back, but instead of looking for an easier film to make, he chose this high concept black comedy written by Martin Donovan (Apartment Zero (1988)) and David Koepp (Jurassic Park (1993)).

It's not perfect, but it does have some amazing set-ups and a game cast. In 1978, scheming actress Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep), seduces and steals plastic surgeon Dr. Ernest Menville (Bruce Willis) from his fiance Helen Sharp (Goldie Hawn), an aspiring writer.

Madeline and Ernest marry, Helen falls into a slump and goes insane, but 14 years later, she returns, looking youthful and radiant. Madeline wants to know Helen's secret, and finds it in a potion she got from Lisle von Rhoman (Isabella Rossellini), which grants eternal life, but she has to take care of her body.

However, Ernest and Helen are back together, and plotting to kill Madeline. But, this proves to be harder than it looks, and Madeline gets her own back. It's a very silly film, but it makes it clear from the start that these are very unlikeable characters, all plotting against each other, but there are some very good dark laughs throughout, and Zemeckis has fun with the stars sending up Hollywood rivalries, and it has some brilliant special effects for it's day.