Constantine (film)
A cynical exorcist battles demons and his own damnation.
Constantine is a 2005 American superhero horror film. It marked Francis Lawrence’s directorial debut, with a screenplay by Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello. The movie takes loose inspiration from the *Hellblazer* comic series. Keanu Reeves plays John Constantine, a jaded exorcist who can see and talk to half-angels and half-demons in their true forms, and also move between Earth and Hell. The supporting cast includes Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale, and Peter Stormare.
Released in U.S. theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures on February 18, 2005, *Constantine* earned mixed reviews from critics. It made $231 million worldwide against a production budget of $70–100 million. Over time, the film developed a cult following. A sequel is currently in the works.
**Plot**
In Mexico, a scavenger finds the tip of the spear that pierced Jesus Christ. After becoming possessed, he brings it to Los Angeles. There, cynical occult expert John Constantine exorcises a demon from a young girl. He witnesses the demon trying to reach Earth through her—something that should be impossible due to a treaty between Heaven and Hell. Suffering from terminal lung cancer, Constantine meets the half-breed angel Gabriel to bargain for a longer life. Gabriel tells him he is unworthy of such a gift because of his selfish choices.
Meanwhile, detective Angela Dodson investigates the death of her twin sister Isabel, who jumped from a psychiatric hospital roof. Angela, refusing to believe her devout Catholic sister would commit suicide and condemn herself to Hell, watches security footage. She hears Isabel say “Constantine” and seeks his help. He initially refuses, but changes his mind after witnessing demons chasing Angela and fighting them off. Constantine performs a ritual to see Isabel in Hell, confirming she killed herself. He reveals to Angela that as a teenager, he attempted suicide to escape the torment of seeing demons everywhere. He survived, but because suicide is a mortal sin, he is doomed to go to Hell when he dies.
At the morgue, Constantine’s friend Father Hennessy finds a mysterious symbol on Isabel’s wrist but is killed by the half-breed demon Balthazar. Constantine and Angela later discover that Hennessy carved the symbol into his own hand for them to find. Angela also finds a hidden message from Isabel referencing a
- release_year
- 2005
- director
- Francis Lawrence
- writers
- Kevin Brodbin, Frank Cappello
- starring
- Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale, Peter Stormare
- budget
- $70–100 million
- box_office
- $231 million
- based_on
- Hellblazer comic book series
Lore & Background
In the film, John Constantine, a chain-smoking occult expert with terminal lung cancer, exorcises a demon from a young girl in Los Angeles. He is damned to Hell for a past suicide attempt and seeks to bargain with the half-breed angel Gabriel for a longer life. Detective Angela Dodson, investigating her twin sister Isabel's apparent suicide, seeks Constantine's help after hearing her sister say his name on security footage. Constantine performs a ritual to see Isabel in Hell, confirming she killed herself to thwart the antichrist Mammon's plan to conquer Earth. Angela, a repressed psychic, becomes Mammon's host, and Constantine, with his apprentice Chas Kramer, battles demons to save her. Gabriel, resentful of God's favoritism for humanity, reveals they intend to unleash Hell on Earth using the Spear of Destiny. Constantine commits suicide to summon Lucifer, who banishes Mammon, destroys Gabriel's wings, and reluctantly restores Constantine to life, removing his cancer. In a post-credits scene, Constantine sees Chas in an angelic form.
Reader's Guide
Constantine was released theatrically in the United States by Warner Bros. Pictures on February 18, 2005, to mixed reviews, and grossed $231 million on a production budget between $70–100 million. Since its release, it has garnered a cult following. A sequel is in development. The film incorporated elements from Garth Ennis's 'Dangerous Habits' story arc and the Original Sins trade paperback. The title was changed from Hellblazer to Constantine to avoid confusion with the Hellraiser film series. The character of John Constantine was introduced by Alan Moore in The Saga of Swamp Thing #37 in June 1985, and given his own series, Hellblazer, in 1988. Producer Lauren Shuler Donner began developing the film in 1997, with several directors attached before Francis Lawrence took over. Keanu Reeves became attached in 2002.
Did You Know?
- The film's title was changed from Hellblazer to Constantine to avoid confusion with the Hellraiser film series.
- Keanu Reeves became attached to the film in 2002.
- The character of John Constantine was introduced by comic book writer Alan Moore in The Saga of Swamp Thing #37 in June 1985.
- A sequel is in development.
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