
With the second opus finally on the horizon, I figured it was high time to revisit "Constantine (2005)". It's a movie that somehow became one of my (many) daughters' all-time favorites, and honestly, I can kind of see why. Let's dig into what makes this strange, stylish movie tick—and where it stumbles along the way.

A Trip to Hell That Looks Great, Mostly
From the very start, Constantine leans hard into its dark, gothic vibe. The hellscapes are disturbing in all the best ways-think endless fire, twisted landscapes, and just enough grossness to make you squirm. Even regular old Los Angeles looks like it's teetering on the edge of some apocalyptic meltdown. For a movie from 2005, the visuals hold up somewhat surprisingly well, though a few of the CGI moments haven't aged quite as gracefully. They don't ruin the experience, but you might cringe here and there.
Keanu Does His Thing
Keanu Reeves plays John Constantine as this perpetually tired, chain-smoking exorcist who's clearly over everyone and everything. And honestly? It works. He's not really the Constantine of the comics, but something about his deadpan and general vibe works for the tone of the movie. Sure, sometimes it feels like Keanu's just being, well, Keanu, but that's part of the charm. You believe this guy has seen too much of the worst parts of the world-and the underworld-to care about much anymore.

The Supporting Cast: A Little Divine, A Little Infernal
Tilda Swinton as Gabriel? That's the kind of casting decision that makes you wonder how nobody ever thought about it before. She is unnerving, magnetic, and just plain cool every time she's on screen. Rachel Weisz, playing Angela Dodson, is solid too, adding some emotional weight as a detective dealing with her sister's death. Then there is Peter Stormare as Lucifer, who absolutely steals the show when he finally shows up. He's creepy, slimy, and weirdly funny-a devil you kind of want to see more of, even though you know you shouldn't.
The Highs and Lows of the Story
The plot is where things get a little messy. On the plus side, the movie's take on heaven, hell, and everything in between is fascinating. It's got big ideas, and some genuinely cool moments of theological intrigue. Then, however, there are stretches where the story feels like it's rushing along a bit, or it gets overly complicated, assuming prior knowledge. Scenes sometimes feel like they're throwing out lore for the sake of lore, leaving you to actually piece it together as you go. It's by no means a deal-breaker, but it does get frustrating at times.

Coolness Over Complexity?
If there's one thing that Constantine really nails, it's style. The trench coats, ominous Latin incantations, supernatural fight scenes-it's all just so cool. Yet, sometimes it feels as though the movie leans on that coolness a little too hard. It flirts with deeper themes about redemption and faith but doesn't quite commit to exploring them fully. Instead, it's more about exorcisms, explosions, and Keanu lighting up cigarette after cigarette, which, to be fair, isn't the worst thing in the world.
Worth the Trip
It's a movie, however, that is easily watched despite those flaws. Weird, visually striking, with memorable performances galore:. Sure, it’s not perfect—some of the CGI hasn’t aged well, and the story can be a bit clunky—but it’s got a unique charm that makes it worth watching (or rewatching). With the sequel finally confirmed, I’m curious to see how they’ll revisit this world. Hopefully, Keanu still has it in him to make battling demons look this effortlessly cool.
