Constantine(2005)

Submitted by Evan B

Pooper:
Constantine foils the plot of the angel Gabriel and the Devil’s son Mammon to bring about the apocalypse. He also strikes a deal with the Devil to save Isabel’s soul. Constantine’s selfless acts finally clear away his sins and as he dies, Constantine begins rising up to Heaven instead of descending to Hell (where the Devil had been waiting to claim him). Not ready to give up his claim on Constantine’s soul, the Devil heals Constantine’s wounds and cancer (preventing him from dying), saying that this will give Constantine enough time to prove he is a sinner whose soul belongs in Hell.

Long Ending:
John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) is an exorcist that banishes demons back to Hell. Although seemingly heroic, Constantine only does god’s work because as a teen, he committed suicide (where he died for several minutes before being rescussitated). While dead, he learned that Hell was real and his sin of suicide condemned his soul to Hell. Constantine is hoping that his exorcism services will eventually cleanse his soul and allow him access to Heaven. The Devil (Peter Stromare), angry that Constantine interferes with his plots, vows to personally come to Earth when Constantine dies and claim his soul.

Constantine begins coughing up blood and, after seeking treatment, learns he has incurable lung cancer from smoking his entire life. He visits the Angel Gabriel (Tilda Swinton) to ask if his soul has been saved. She replies that despite all his work, he has not really atoned for his sins as his work as an exorcist is done out of selfishness (to save his soul), not selflessness. Meanwhile, a woman named Isabel (Rachel Weisz) commits suicide while fleeing an unseen force. Her last words are Constantine’s name. Isabel’s twin sister Angela (Rachel Weisz) is a detective. She tracks down Constantine and asks for his help. He declines to help, and even mocks Angela by explaining that her sister is in Hell for her sin of suicide. They are then attacked by demons who are hunting Angela. Given that the pact between Heaven and Hell prohibits any direct attacks on humans (both angels and demons are only allowed to indirectly influence humanity towards their side), Constantine realizes there is something bigger at play. He therefore agrees to investigate, and Angela and Constantine grow closer.

Ultimately, Constantine learns that Isabel had special powers and could see demons and angels (who appear to most of humanity as regular humans). Her family thought she was crazy and had her committed. Constantine reveals he has the same powers and, terrified by the angels and demons he saw, he too committed suicide. A saddened Angela says that she also has the powers but denied them as she didn’t want to be committed like Isabel. She swears she will save Isabel’s soul after wrongly abandoning Isabel in her lifetime. They redouble their investigation efforts, and several of Constantine’s allies are killed by supernatural forces.

The pair eventually identify a demon named Balthazar (Gavin Rossdale) as the architect of the plot against Isabel. They attack and torture him until he reveals that he is working for Mammon – a son of the Devil. Mammon has grown impatient that the Devil has not gone to war with god, so Mammon is seeking to be born into a mortal body so he can bring about the apocalypse himself. Mammon can only be born into a mortal body, however, by possessing the body of a psychic (like Isabel or Angela) and then being restored to his true form by an angel. Before any more secrets are revealed, an unseen being abducts Angela and Balthazar is killed by demonic forces.

Constantine and his assistant Chas (Shia LaBeouf) find Mammon’s lair and manage to kill most of the demons (by having holy water pour out of a sprinkler system onto them) and find Angela possessed by Mammon. They begin an exorcism, but it is interrupted when the unseen being that abducted Isabel kills Chas. Constantine performs a spell that forces the unseen being to be revealed, learning that it is Gabriel. The angel is assisting Mammon as she is jealous that humans are favored by god (even over angels) despite (in her opinion) not being worthy of god. She believes the apocalypse Mammon will start will bring out the best in humanity and finally make them worthy of god’s love. Angela then beats up Constantine and begins to bring Mammon’s form to life (killing Angela in the process).

Knowing he can’t stop them, Constantine slits his wrists. As he begins to bleed out, the Devil stops time and appears, ready to collect Constantine’s soul. However, Constantine exposes Mammon’s plot to the Devil. Learning of his son’s duplicity, the Devil beats up Gabriel and sends Mammon back to Hell. Gabriel is then abandoned by god for her duplicity, and the Devil burns off her wings (rendering her fully mortal). The Devil reluctantly agrees to grant Constantine one wish in exchange for foiling Mammon’s plot. Constantine wishes for Isabel’s sin to be forgiven, and the Devil grants it (sending Isabel to Heaven). As Constantine begins dying from blood loss, the Devil starts to drag him away. But the Devil is stopped as Constantine begins rising towards Heaven (and Constantine gives the Devil a middle finger). Realizing that Constantine’s selfless act in saving Isabel has redeemed his soul, the Devil screams in rage. Rather than let Heaven take Constantine, the Devil heals Constantine’s wrist and his cancer, thus saving Constantine’s life and preventing his ascension to Heaven. As the Devil descends to Hell, he says that he knows Constantine is a bad person that belongs in Hell. He further states that his new lease on life will give Constantine time to prove it. Angela and Constantine embrace as the credits roll.

In a post-credits scene, Constantine visits Chas’ grave and witnesses as he is transformed into an angel.