In one small bottle… The fountain of youth. The secret of eternal life. The power of an ancient potion. Sometimes it works… sometimes it doesn’t.|Jul. 30, 1992|USA|104 Min.|PG-13
Genre: Comedy;Fantasy;Horror
Description: “Death Becomes Her” (1992) is a dark comedy film that explores themes of vanity, jealousy, and the pursuit of eternal youth. The story begins in 1978 with Madeline Ashton, a self-absorbed actress, performing in a poorly received Broadway musical. She invites her long-time rival, Helen Sharp, and Helen’s fiancé, Ernest Menville, a plastic surgeon, backstage. Ernest becomes infatuated with Madeline, leaving Helen to marry her instead.
Seven years later, Helen, now overweight and deeply unhappy, is institutionalized in a psychiatric hospital, where she plots her revenge on Madeline. Another seven years pass, and Madeline and Ernest are living in Beverly Hills, but their lives are far from glamorous. Madeline’s career has declined, and Ernest, now an alcoholic, works as a reconstructive mortician.
When Madeline receives an invitation to a party celebrating Helen’s new book, she is shocked to find Helen looking youthful and radiant. Desperate to regain her beauty, Madeline visits a mysterious socialite, Lisle Von Rhuman, who offers her a potion promising eternal life and youthful appearance. Madeline drinks the potion and is transformed, but there’s a catch: she must disappear from public view after ten years to keep the potion’s secret.
Meanwhile, Helen seduces Ernest and convinces him to kill Madeline. A confrontation ensues, and Madeline suffers a fatal fall down the stairs. However, the potion keeps her alive, even though she is technically dead. The film delves into the absurd and chaotic consequences of their actions, blending humor with a cautionary tale about the dangers of vanity and the desire for immortality.
Cast director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast actor: Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rossellini, Ian Ogilvy, Adam Storke, Nancy Fish, Alaina Reed Hall, Michelle Johnson, Mary Ellen Trainor
Original name: Death Becomes Her