Death Becomes Her (1992)
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Two women who drink a magic potion that promises eternal youth find themselves in a bizarre struggle for immortality.
The story
In 1978, aging actress Madeline Ashton performs in a poorly received Broadway musical and meets her rival, Helen Sharp. Years later, Madeline is desperate to reclaim her youth and beauty. After discovering that her rival Helen has achieved a youthful appearance, Madeline seeks out a mysterious socialite named Lisle Von Rhuman. Desperate for rejuvenation, Madeline drinks a potion that promises eternal life and youth. This decision sets off a series of surreal events as Madeline and Helen navigate the consequences of their newfound immortality while dealing with their shared history and the physical reality of their situation.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1978, actress Madeline Ashton and her rival Helen Sharp are linked by a shared history involving Madeline's lover, Ernest Menville. Years later, Madeline, desperate to regain her youth, drinks a potion from the mysterious Lisle Von Rhuman. The potion restores her to her prime, but she soon discovers Helen has also taken it. After a series of violent encounters, both women are physically damaged but remain alive due to the potion's effects. They eventually force Ernest to become their permanent caretaker. The film concludes decades later with the two women, now decaying and grotesque, attending Ernest's funeral. They are eventually left as disembodied heads after a fall, still bound together by their immortality.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 104
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Zemeckis
- Writers
- David Koepp · writer; Martin Donovan · writer
- Cast and characters
- Meryl Streep · Madeline Ashton; Bruce Willis · Ernest Menville; Goldie Hawn · Helen Sharp; Isabella Rossellini · Lisle Von Rhuman
- Genres
- surrealist; black comedy; fantasy
- Themes
- immortality; vanity; aging; rivalry
- Tone and mood
- surreal; satirical; dark
- Setting
- Beverly Hills and other locations in the United States, spanning from 1978 to 2015.
- Premise and plot tags
- body horror; fantasy; comedy
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its special effects and lead performances, but some found it lacking depth and substance. It is regarded as a cult classic and a highly treasured film within the gay community.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 58% · scale: percentage · review count: 59; Metacritic · score: 56 · scale: 100 · review count: 24
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Visual Effects · win
- Production trivia
- It was the first film where CGI skin texture was used.; It was adapted into a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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