The Film That Changed My Life: Death Becomes Her
So many films, so little time… there are some amazing films out there that have had a huge impact on my life, but I am under strict instructions to discuss just one. From a very young age, film and television was my escape. On a beautiful summer’s day when other normal children were climbing trees and scraping their knees, I preferred to draw the living room curtains, sit my chair as close to the TV as possible and watch film after film after film. Although I now have a chronic Vitamin D deficiency from the lack of sunlight, this continues to be one of my favourite pass times. If I think about the films that mean the most to me, that to this day still blow my tiny little mind, they all have a common denominator - ‘Death Becomes Her’.
Now, I hear all you wannabe film critics out there tut and shriek and pass out from the shock of this early 90s comedy horror being my ultimate, life changing cinematic experience - but hear me out. I saw this film when I was young, probably too young in retrospect, but from that point on it dictated my taste in films to this very day. There’s drama, there’s revenge, there’s stunts and scares and even a musical dance number - what’s not to like?
For those of you who haven’t found the time to see this flick (SHAME ON ALL OF YOU), I will give you a rough outline. Goldie Hawn (sporting an incredible red wig) and Meryl Streep (being the best actress ever, yet again) are frenemies that go way back. Streep plays Madeline, an actress and professional man eater whilst Hawn plays Helen, a struggling writer with a mousey disposition and some serious issues. After Madeline steals the bumbling Ernest (portrayed by Bruce Willis in a fetching brown cardigan) from Helen, madness ensues. Throw in a magic potion, a horrific death scene or two, and Isabella Rosellini in some kind of beaded bikini ensemble and you have yourself one very entertaining movie! I shan’t say anything more because of course, after reading this you will all be desperately ordering or downloading a copy to watch pronto. However there is so much about this film that influenced me as a youngster… but to be fair, I was a strange child!
Although it is supposedly a comedy, Death Becomes Her has an eerie, ominous tone all the way through. I loved the dramatic music, the perfectly timed lightning flashing through the mansion windows and the impressive visual effects - I still don’t know how they made that gaping hole in Goldie Hawn’s stomach? Always one to enjoy the macabre, this film paved the way for my addiction to Tim Burton, David Lynch and old school horror in its entirety. I am one of those people that spook easily, but simply cannot look away no matter how much my brain begs me to - a deadly combination! A moment I remember vividly from the film is Bruce Willis making his way to the hospital morgue, and as he hurries down a seemingly never ending corridor two floating, wailing nuns hover past him. As a child I was both intrigued and terrified by this - hovering ghost nuns, are you kidding me? It had no relevance to the plot, those nuns were simply there for the creep factor which I loved and hated in equal measures. It triggered a lifelong obsession of trying to freak myself out through films, and then severely regretting it afterwards - such a rush! From that point on I was drawn towards films with darker themes, unusual content and more gothic visuals, which as you can imagine did not win me popularity points at school (especially when I started dying my hair black in a bid to look like Winona Ryder in ‘Beetlejuice’ - cringe!).
Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rosellini - all beautiful, talented actresses who are thrown together in this twisted tale. I have always been more responsive to women in film, music and literature (sorry fellas), for example Goldie Hawn in particular was just one of those personalities that was a constant presence throughout my childhood. She fought against the dizzy blonde stereotype that had followed her since the 1960s by putting herself in situations way outside of her character’s comfort zone, and undertaking various impressive personal transformations.
The fact that these women were nobody’s love interest, sidekick or token female friend, but the driving force of the film made me crave more films with domineering female characters! The leading male character in this film is not a hero, heart throb or cool guy but merely a pawn in the women’s vicious game, which was something I had never seen in a film before. They also had complex personalities because none of them were heroes or villains, just people with troubled pasts and insecurities….and a willingness to kill to get what they want! The relationship between the two main characters highlights how complex female friendships can be, almost like sisters fighting over what they believe to be theirs, but once they hold their hands up and admit they're wrong they become best friends once again. No longer fighting over the man that neither of them really wanted in the first place, they can pull together and become a stronger force, and although it doesn’t end well for Madeline and Helen, at least they stuck together!
When I entered my later teen years I started to genuinely believe that I belonged to another era. Dressing in vintage dresses and watching Bette Davis movies became my two favourite things to do. I loved that golden era of Hollywood, the glamour and grit, the timeless stories, the extreme facial expressions, I devoured one film after another and refused to watch anything that was released after 1965. Of course, I now look back on my Louise Brooks haircut and flapper-esque dance moves with regret and embarrassment, but when I watched those films I recognised something I had seen before and enjoyed. All the way through Death Becomes Her there are nods to this ‘Go Big or Go Home’ era of filmmaking; the beautiful mansion that is filled with horrific murders and a bitter, loveless marriage, the stunning costumes (I still want Goldie’s red dress), and the over dramatised delivery of a seriously memorable script.
Although I can appreciate subtlety in film and music, I prefer painting with broad strokes rather than spending ages on the detailing. That is one of the many things that appeals to me about old school Hollywood, many of the actors then were not particularly understated in their performances, but it reminded you that what you were watching was only a story and not to take it too seriously. And you can’t take Death Becomes Her too seriously, it’s physically impossible because it’s borderline ridiculous!
Another thing I love about this film is that it’s a bit of an underdog. It had mixed reviews when it was first released (despite being number one at the box-office), but gained a huge cult following years after its release. One of my favourite quotes I found was from Tom Campbell who is an Executive producer on ‘Ru Paul’s Drag Race’, as he described why the film is so beloved within the LGBT community, “We root for the undead divas because they're trying to win a game that's rigged against them, and—to borrow an apocryphal quote from Ginger Rogers - they sort of have to do it 'backwards and in high heels.'”
The script is highly quotable, funny and scathing in equal measures, and the wonderful thing about a cult classic is that most people you meet might not have even heard of it, but when you do meet someone who gets your perfectly placed reference you feel like you’ve found a kindred spirit, and that feels great! This is definitely one of those films, and I am pleased to know I am not alone in loving this gory yet glamorous campy classic.
Is it an unusual choice of film for this given title, yes I suppose it is. However when I considered all the impressive films I could have discussed, the obscure and award winning masterpieces that touched my life in a different way, I always bounced back to this one. It is pretty much my perfect movie, and the first film I remember making a huge impression on me. It takes me back to a time when discovering a film like this was akin to finding a precious stone or a secret portal to Narnia! Give it a watch, go on I dare you; it might not give you (eternal) life, or it might just knock you off your feet (and down the stairs), but at the very least it will give you some great inspiration for next year’s Halloween costume and the perfect one liner for if you ever find yourself in a fight to the death, “En garde - BITCH!”
Written by Katie McFaul
After travelling from place to place (much like Madonna in ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’), Katie finally settled in Bristol and spends her time helping animals in need, eating biscuits and constantly being late for everything. Her likes include vegan cuisine, movies of any description and writing god awful poetry. Her dislikes include slow walkers, narrowmindedness and talking about herself in the third person.