Demolition (2015)
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After his wife is killed in a car accident, a man's stoic exterior begins to crack as he starts dismantling his life and belongings.
The story
Davis Mitchell, a successful private equity investor, is left reeling after his wife, Julia, is killed in a car accident. While recovering in the hospital, he begins a series of interactions with a customer service representative named Karen Moreno. As they share details of their personal burdens, Davis begins to exhibit erratic behavior, including a compulsion to dismantle objects around him. He returns to work earlier than expected, maintaining an understated and unemotional style while grappling with his internal state. His actions become increasingly unpredictable as he struggles to process his grief and the sudden void left by his wife's death.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the death of his wife, Julia, in a car accident, Davis Mitchell becomes obsessed with dismantling objects, from household appliances to a 120-year-old clock. He forms an unexpected bond with Karen Moreno, a customer service representative he contacted regarding a malfunctioning vending machine. He eventually stays at her home, where he becomes a mentor to her troubled son, Chris. Amidst this, Davis deals with his in-laws and the logistics of Julia's estate. The tension peaks at a charity event where Davis reveals Julia was secretly pregnant and had an abortion. After a series of confrontations, including a physical altercation with Karen's partner, Davis finds closure after meeting the man responsible for the accident that killed his wife. He eventually finds peace and joy in a final moment of personal triumph.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 101
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jean-Marc Vallée
- Writers
- Bryan Sipe · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jake Gyllenhaal · Davis Mitchell; Naomi Watts · Karen Moreno; Chris Cooper · Phil Eastwood; Judah Lewis · Chris Moreno; C.J. Wilson · Carl; Polly Draper · Margot Eastwood; Malachy Cleary · Davis' father; Debra Monk · Davis' mother; Heather Lind · Julia; Alfredo Narciso · Michael (owner of green car); Mark Lewis · Doctor of Chris Moreno
- Genres
- comedy-drama
- Themes
- grief; loss; identity
- Tone and mood
- somber; dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- widowhood; road accident; fatherhood
- Content notes
- LGBTQ-related
- Reception
- Demolition received mixed reviews from critics, with a 54% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 49 out of 100 on Metacritic.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 54% · scale: approval rating · review count: 210; Metacritic · score: 49 · scale: 100 · review count: 42
- Production trivia
- The film was produced by Black Label Media and Mr. Mudd.; It was released on Digital HD on the same day it premiered in theaters.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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