
Demise(2024) is one of those motion pictures that leaves one wondering whether critiques on the good/bad scale mean anything. Is it a good movie? Somewhat. But that also does not mean it is not a thrilling movie. Demise is the film version of junk food and that is fine with me. There are no serious undertones of themes to be explored. There is no deeper meaning to the story. It is not even a particularly higher-caliber film. However, Demise is not trying to provide a critique or make one think. Absolutely not, Demise is designed to be an escapist thriller overflowing with campy humor and lots, and lots of sex. And I am very happy to say, it succeeds in all those areas.
Caleb (Carlo Mendez), a hanging snack himself, in the film has a beautiful wife named Celine (Liz Fenning), and together they seem to be living the high life. They have a beautiful house and are looking to expand their family. But for Caleb, that never seems to be enough. The dirty DILF begins to burn bridges when he has a steamy rendezvous with aspiring fashion designer Fiona (Crystal Hernandez). True to form, Caleb loves the sizzling chemistry he and Fiona share, but is not rushing to cut ties with Fiona. Until, he knocks her up. Whoops.
The irony of this leave a lasting impact that proves to be sadistic when the circumstances allow Celine to discover her affliction regarding fertility on the same day she learns about the baby she will ever produce. As the events unfold further, it becomes quite evident that everyone’s life will be turned upside-down and this would happen in the most violent yet hilarious manner.
Let me make it even clearer, Demise is not a film that has countless accolades in the department of filmmaking. But writer-director Yara Estrada Lowe does not seem to have the drive to create an impeccable movie. I think these two purposes above all else are the main goals of hers with this particular film. And she delivers on both those fronts reasonably well. Demise is absolutely absurd, guaranteed to be in every sense of the word, utterly predictable, and quite the stretch away from any semblance of realism. But it’s enjoyable for what it is.
There are several pieces of Demise that work. But the most crucial of all actors in all of the scenes taken as the picture is Liz Fenning who responds with affirmation to Celine. She has this amazing epiphany where she thinks to herself that enough is enough with Caleb’s bullshit and he has to face the consequences of his action. Those moments of her transformation, caused by Fenning are just so much fun to watch. Therefore, it’s almost distracting to see the delight on her face as she puts in all the effort she can to wedge herself between Caleb and Fiona.
She’s truly eating the set and has the exact villain vibe necessary for this type of picture. The manner in which she transforms from self-effacing to sinister in split seconds is breathtaking. Also, how small of a gallon-sized jug of gasoline she possibly put into her handbag after doing a bit of arson made me roar with laughter. I wouldn’t be surprised if her character was directed by Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives, Why Women Kill) for television. Scene select and writing facilitate reviewers to grab the essence of the work in a few seconds and decide if the picture is worth their time.
Demise does abandon the traditional implementation of hero and villain storyline roles. Celine is pretty much the main character in the narrative. Fiona and Caleb are evil. They do not care for the suffering they have brought upon Celine. Anyone in her position would be furious. AA Celine goes way to far in resolving issues that shouldn’t even be addressed, but it sure is entertaining to watch her carry out her quest for revenge. For the reasons in her attitude, we may disregard few of the more eccentric features of the character.
While it would be great to see Celine in a better-behaved light, I would prefer that a few of her costars were a little more gripping. Caleb and Fiona both serve their purpose well. But neither is particularly thrilling. They’re written that way to allow us more easily connect and empathize with Celine. However, the duration that we have with both of them could be a lot better if they both had a slightly better attitude and a few more likable traits. There is no denying that we spend a lot of time with them so much so that it feels boring even after brief periods.
The movie could have been cut down to include more action and drama and be around 1 and a half hours long. In that case, if Fiona and Caleb were to be made more human and the movie was cut by 25 minutes, it would really have improved the rating of the movie.
The last area that I have a little problem with is the final scene. Celine would have fitted perfectly into a different conclusion to her narrative. While it is beyond outrageous and absurd what transpired, she could have been forgiven for being more brazen in her pursuits. In most cases, we would expect an antihero to be held accountable for their actions (think Walter White or even the main character in American Mary) and that is most likely why this film’s ending plays out as it does. But in this case, Celine has already paid a heavy price.
On the other hand, her arc could have been written in a better way at the finale.
Considering everything, Demise is not going to earn any awards for originality. However, this film is entertaining, ridiculous, over-the-top campy and sexy as well. If that’s what you’re into then the picture is available On Demand & Digital for viewing now.
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