The 1992 comedy "Death Becomes Her" made history with its visual effects, along with Meryl Streep's remarkable performance. Now, with its Broadway musical adaptation, let's explore its enduring legacy.

Your Basic Black Comedy with a Twist

This 1992 release was billed as a "basic black comedy," but it was far from ordinary. It was a screwball mix of satire, slapstick, and body horror. Starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as lifelong frenemies, they found immortality through a magic elixir. And Bruce Willis played the hapless cuckold caught between them.

Reviews and the Oscar Win

Reviews for "Death Becomes Her" were mixed. The New York Times called it "wildly uneven." However, a series of groundbreaking visual effects shocked and awed audiences. It earned the film its sole Academy Award and an enduring cult following. Doug Chiang, the visual effects art director, shared the Oscar with three collaborators. They didn't think they had a chance against "Batman Returns" and "Alien 3," as their project was relatively small in scale. But director Robert Zemeckis, known for his blockbusters like "Back to the Future" and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?", took on this spec script.

Inspiration and Setups

Screenwriter David Koepp didn't expect the script to land in Zemeckis's hands. They envisioned it as a $5 million independent movie with grotesquerie. Their inspirations came from "The Evil Dead" and "The Vikings." The fight sequence in "The Vikings" between Tony Curtis and Kirk Douglas inspired one of the most memorable setups in "Death Becomes Her." Streep's character, Madeline Ashton, a fading Hollywood actress, reunites with her old friend Helen Sharp.The visual effects in "Death Becomes Her" were truly groundbreaking. They added a new dimension to the story and made it a visual spectacle. The combination of satire, slapstick, and body horror created a unique viewing experience. Even though the reviews were mixed, the film's impact on audiences and its place in cinema history cannot be denied. It continues to be remembered and loved, and now with its Broadway musical adaptation, it lives on in a new form.