“What would you do if you were sentenced to a prison where half the inmates were put there by you?” asks the titular character and demonic exorcist of this 2005 entry in the DC universe. We examine Constantine.
After a construction worker in Mexico unearths the tip of the spear that killed Jesus Christ and is possessed by an other-worldly spirit, exorcist John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is called on to find out how it managed to navigate its way out of hell and why.
John is on another mission as well, this one a bit more personal: He’s trying to save his own life. As a suicide survivor with lung cancer, John is well aware of his fate. As Constantine himself puts it, “I’m a suicide, Angela. When I die, the rules say I’ve got just one place to go.”
Gabriel (Tilda Swinton), a half-breed angel living on earth, acts as a neutral intermediary between heaven and hell. Gabriel confirms Constantine’s suspicions about his fate, saying that Constantine’s deeds will not earn him a spot in heaven because he is performing them for selfish reasons.
Despite this news, Constantine continues his pursuit of the escaped demon and eventually finds a partner in Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz), a detective who seeks Constantine out after her sister’s death is deemed a suicide. Suspicious about the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death, Dodson hopes Constantine will help her uncover the truth.
Though Constantine initially has no interest in helping Dodson, he later changes his mind after witnessing demons (who should never have made it to earth per the terms of a treaty between heaven and hell) attack Dodson openly on a city street.
The pair must investigate the hostilities coming from hell all while finding a way to save their own souls.
Should you stream Constantine this weekend?
Despite its less-than-stellar Rotten Tomatoes score of 46%, Reeve’s take on the Hellblazer has aged well for many fans, becoming a well-regarded cult classic in the 17 years since its initial release.
Directed by music video auteur Francis Lawrence, the film deals with weighty topics that the average comic book films of today would likely shy away from, including the Catholic doctrine, the nature of heaven and hell and what determines the character of those relegated to each, as well as ideas of sacrifice as a virtue that can lead to redemption. These themes also run heavily through the source material, leaving many fans appreciative of the film’s fidelity to its graphic novel roots.
In 2018 GQ ranked the movie as the “most underrated DC comics movie,” comparing the character with Doctor Strange. Polygon called Constantine “a reluctant hero, a con man, a wise ass,” proclaiming “Constantine is its own special thing, a film misunderstood at the time of its release. Over the years, though, it’s steadily gained the love and appreciation it always deserved.”
Final verdict: Totally worth a watch for super hero/comic book/DC fans as well as anybody interested in a fun romp that is also a classic showdown of good versus evil. Constantine is now streaming on HBO Max.
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