The definition of a cult superhero film, Francis Lawrence and Keanu Reeves‘ 2005 DC adaptation, Constantine, has developed a second life among devotees of its star and ’90s-gothic style — and an upcoming sequel is among the most anticipated in recent superhero memory. Constantine did well at the box office, but seemed to drop off the cultural map after leaving theaters, despite its status as probably the single most visually striking comic book film ever made. Lawrence used it as his calling card for a variety of huge Hollywood projects (ranging from The Hunger Games to Stephen King‘s The Long Walk), but nothing ever approached his work with DC Comics’ John Constantine for sheer visual spectacle.
While many critics at the time dinged the film for its plotting and heavy reliance on visual effects, earning it a 46% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the story is quite different among cinephiles on Letterboxd, where an impressive 40% of viewers rated it at four stars or above. Reeves and Lawrence are on the same page as the film’s fans, and have talked for years about sequel ideas — including some in which they’d swing for the fences in terms of the R-rating. Fans of DC Comics or supernaturally-tinged noir who missed out on Constantine for the past 21 years owe it to themselves to check the film out on HBO Max today.
‘Constantine’ Is One of the Coolest Cinematic Depictions of Demons, Angels, and Hell
Constantine begins like a stylistic cross between an Indiana Jones film and The Exorcist … then proceeds into demonic film noir before ending up entirely its own thing: a confident, hyper-stylized superhero saga begging for sequels. Lawrence embraces a ’90s comic book-goth aesthetic without fear of goofiness, bathing exteriors and interiors alike in Se7en-esque greens, yellows, and browns while every angle that can be canted or birds-eyed tends to be so. Demons and angels alike walk the Earth: demons in the form of winged abominations that burst into embers when hit with holy light, and angels in the otherworldly Tilda Swinton, who gives her all in the role of Gabriel.
‘Constantine 2’ Director Francis Lawrence Reveals Sequel Is “Closer Than Ever” [Exclusive]
“I think we’ve actually come up with something really cool.”
There’s a priest besieged by demonic forces until he drinks himself to death, and is then cradled by an enraged and grieving celestial liquor store owner. The film even features a demonic nightclub, reminiscent of the one in Blade, in which patrons literally cannibalize victims on tables and turn white wine into blood. And this is all before Constantine descends into hell itself, which is envisioned as Los Angeles frozen mid-atomic blast, while thousands of sinners and demons alike writhe just beneath the blown-out surface. It’s all bold and beautifully visualized, and should still be catnip to genre enthusiasts today.
And character actor Peter Stormare‘s single, five-minute scene as Satan himself, should be the stuff of legend. Barefoot, dripping tar, and dressed in a crisp, white suit, Stormare’s Satan makes an incredible first impression. Stormare lays on the tics, like inhuman gulping, licking various objects, and twitching with the sheer ecstasy of being evil. This sequence, as Satan tries to take Constantine’s soul, elevates an already terrific picture into something genuinely special.
Keanu Reeves’ Aura Also Does a Lot of Heavy Lifting for ‘Constantine’
Despite Francis Lawrence’s obvious dexterity with visual spectacle and design, Constantine wouldn’t work quite as beautifully without its star. Reeves was already an icon upon its 2005 release from The Matrix trilogy, but he’d yet to don the iconic suit and pistols of John Wick. Still, he brings an unmistakable Wick energy to Constantine, constantly issuing patented, angry Reeves “Yeahs” to demons and angels alike, furiously lighting up at every opportunity, and eventually flipping off the devil.
Reeves manages to bring real pathos with precious little facial work to scenes in which oily black tumors are pulled from his chest, and in which he slices his own wrists in a bid to save a single doomed woman’s life. Watching Constantine today, especially with the hindsight of the John Wick films, it’s clear as day that sequels are warranted. Although it’s been a long road, Reeves and Lawrence have thankfully confirmed that one is finally on its way.
The 2005 Constantine remains a visual masterpiece, and one of the coolest superhero movies ever made. It also stands as a striking reminder of what comic book films could have been over the last two decades, particularly given the run of CGI slop-laden, televisual-looking features we’ve gotten as of late. Anyone who missed out on its demonic charms the first time should catch it now on HBO Max.
- Release Date
-
February 18, 2005
- Runtime
-
121 minutes
- Director
-
Francis Lawrence
