Mad and Hal (Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn, both absolutely fantastic and hilarious here) are both incredibly vain women who drink the potion that makes them young and immortal. The catch is that they have to take care of their bodies because they cannot regenerate. At the end of the movie it is evident that Mad and Hal failed at that - they both use paint to cover up the blemishes and they both look terrible.Then at the end of the movie they fall off the stairs and shatter into pieces.But they are still alive because the potion made them immortal.
I always thought this was one of the best, scariest, darkly comical endings. Imagine - being unable to die, shattered into pieces, looking awful, being a freak of nature. The funny and a tragic bit is that Mad and Hal are basically all of that even before they fall off the stairs - they attend the funeral of a character played by Bruce Willis who died but before that lived a whole, happy life, surrounded by friends and family. And while Hal and Mad are immortal they only have each other. And they hate each other.
Death Becomes Her is not just brilliant in that ending - the whole movie is practically criminally underrated and yet it is still, to this day so biting, clever and amusing. And how often a movie that is more than 20 years old can still astonish with visual effects? But it's that ending, that scary, disturbing and funny ending that is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of that film.
(for TheFilmExperience HWYBS series)
Yesss, great choice! Death Becomes Her has such a wonderful and memorable ending. Like you said, the film itself is incredibly underrated too. I think I need to rewatch it now haha
ReplyDeleteIt's such a funny and clever film, so cool that it was featured in HMWYBS series
DeleteHoly shit...I haven't seen this movie since it came out, but of all the scenes...this is exactly the frame I remember.
ReplyDeleteGod, I'm old.
You're not old! :P
DeleteThat is one of the great fucking endings ever. They fight over who forget the fucking spray can of paint. I'm sure those 2 ladies had a ball making this film.
ReplyDeleteOr really hated each other :) It's usually one of the two when there are female co-leads
DeleteDamn, even though I now know the ending this sounds like a brilliant movie. I'll have to get a hold of a copy, that ending sounds brilliant!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a fantastic and funny movie I think you will love it!
DeleteBoy I haven't seen Death Becomes Her in ages. That certainly was a memorable finale.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a good idea to rewatch this one :)
DeleteLOVE this pick! I love this movie to pieces, too...just one of the best comedies of the 90's.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I just adore the film, it's endlessly rewatchable. Glad you love it too!
DeleteHaha, this movie is so hilarious. Love how ironic it is that they've been fighting for the whole film and end up stuck together forever.
ReplyDeleteYeah it's such a fun comedy!
DeleteI though both Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn were ideally cast. They both looked like they were having a blast.
ReplyDelete