The film “Death Becomes Her” (1992), directed by Robert Zemeckis, is a dark comedy that uniquely blends black humor and supernatural elements. Starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, and Bruce Willis, the film stands out for its irreverent take on the eternal quest for youth and beauty. The plot follows two women, played by Streep and Hawn, who compete for the same magical formula that promises immortality and a perfect body, but end up facing unexpected consequences.

The film’s creativity is highlighted by its innovative special effects of the time and the charismatic performances of the cast. Death Becomes Her not only provides laughs and entertainment but also provokes thoughts on vanity and mortality.

By exploring universal themes with a touch of dark humor, the film continues to fascinate and entertain audiences to this day.

1 – A RISING DIRECTOR

The screenplay was written by Martin Donovan and David Koepp, who at the time were struggling financially and hoped to raise some money with the project. Koepp would go on to become one of Hollywood’s highest-paid screenwriters, with credits including “Jurassic Park”, “Mission: Impossible”, and “Spider-Man”.

Initially, they believed the film could generate around $5 million. However, the situation changed when Robert Zemeckis expressed interest in the script and liked the idea. Zemeckis was riding high after the enormous success of the “Back to the Future” franchise.

When he requested $55 million to produce Death Becomes Her, the studio did not hesitate to accept his proposal.

2 – BRUCE WILLIS ALMOST DIDN’T PARTICIPATE IN THE FILM

Bruce Willis was not the director’s first choice for the role of the plastic surgeon who ends up becoming a corpse-fixer in the hands of Madeline Ashton (Meryl Streep). Initially, the role was reserved for Kevin Kline, but he left the project due to salary issues. Jeff Bridges was then considered, but his audition did not impress the director.

The director was hesitant about choosing Willis due to his tough-guy image from Die Hard.

However, Willis’s audition was excellent, and he was ultimately cast in the role. The director overlooked the fact that Willis started his career as a comedy actor, which contributed to his convincing performance as the doctor.

3 – MERYL STREEP THOUGHT SHE WOULD PLAY A DIFFERENT ROLE

When Meryl Streep was approached for the film, she initially believed she would be playing Helen Sharp, a role that ultimately went to Goldie Hawn. Streep even mentioned in interviews that she saw Helen as a perfect fit for her—a more calm and introspective woman whose life is disrupted by a morally loose woman.

To her surprise, she was cast as Madeline Ashton instead. Today, it’s hard to imagine another actress in the role, as Meryl Streep fits the character perfectly.

4 – MERYL STREEP DIDN’T LIKE WORKING WITH SO MANY SPECIAL EFFECTS

Despite the audience’s appreciation of the film today, Meryl Streep didn’t enjoy working with so many visual effects. She found the process of using blue screens and special suits to create effects tedious and hated having to stay so still, acting in front of empty sets or blue backgrounds. Streep mentioned that this was her first, last, and only film with so many computer-generated effects.

Interestingly, despite her frustration, she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical, and the film’s innovative special effects were later used in “Jurassic Park”.

5 – A SPECIAL BRA

The iconic scene of Madeline in front of the mirror, observing her body transformation after drinking the potion, was created manually. The script described that Madeline’s breasts would be elevated while she looked at herself in the mirror. To achieve this effect, the team developed a special bra to lift Meryl Streep’s breasts.

However, the result did not satisfy the director. The solution was to position Streep’s dresser behind her, out of the camera’s view, to push the breasts into the desired position.

6 – BODY DOUBLE

Isabella Rossellini did not wear anything under the jeweled bustier and the waistband in her character’s costume. Her character displays a youthful body and likes to show it off. However, for the pool scene, where her character talks to Dr. Ernest Menville, Rossellini chose to use a body double.

Actress Catherine Bell, known for her role in the series JAG and the “Good Witch” film franchise, took on this role.

7 – REAL PUNCH

The famous fight scene between Ashton and Sharp required detailed choreography to ensure it worked in practice, as no stunt doubles were used in any part of the sequence. However, during the action, Meryl Streep accidentally hit Goldie Hawn on the side of the face, resulting in a small scar.

8 – REFERENCE TO “BACK TO THE FUTURE”

The film makes a subtle reference to the first film in Zemeckis’s successful trilogy. Helen Sharp mentions having taken the potion on October 26, 1985, the same date Marty McFly travels back to 1955.

9 – SIDE EFFECTS OF THE QUEST FOR YOUTH

The film did not win over male critics, but women quickly identified with Helen and Madeline due to the theme of aesthetic pressure. Anticipating current debates on how women, especially actresses, undergo surgeries and procedures to maintain youth in a competitive industry, “Death Becomes Her” goes further by showing that the side effects of this relentless pursuit can be extremely high.

Additionally, the film highlights the exploitation of these women. It has since become a cult classic, especially among drag queens who often recreate Streep and Hawn’s costumes, as seen on “RuPaul’s Drag Race”.

10 – THE ORIGINAL ENDING WAS MUCH DARKER

The original ending was much darker than the current one and was altered after a test screening. Initially, Helen and Madeline steal a car and chase Ernest to force him to take the potion. They then lose control of the vehicle and crash into a ravine, in a scene similar to what Helen had planned for Madeline. As the car burns, their skeletons would emerge from the flames, and the film would end.

The film was heavily edited to its current form. In one of the cut scenes, Ernest would fake his own death with the help of a bartender, played by actress Tracey Ullman, and then the two would escape together. If you watch the trailer, you can see some deleted scenes, like Madeline driving her Mercedes during the day and the bartender in a scene with Willis.

“Death Becomes Her” is a film that, in addition to entertaining with its comedy and innovative visual effects, offers a perceptive critique of the obsession with youth and beauty. With standout performances by Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn and creative direction by Robert Zemeckis, the film addresses profound themes through a satirical and engaging narrative.

The production, which faced challenges and technical innovations, has become a cult classic.

Its impact is evident not only in how it influenced the use of special effects but also in how it prompted reflection on the high costs of the pursuit of perfection. Thus, “Death Becomes Her” remains relevant and beloved, offering a unique blend of humor and social critique that continues to resonate with audiences.