Cynical, R-Rated, Supernatural Sci-Fi Thriller Unreasonably Hated by Critics
Written by Robert Scucci | Published
I tend to be more forgiving than my peers when it comes to rating comic book movies because I don’t really read comic books. in 2005 Constantine comes to mind because there has been a well-documented disconnect between the source material and the cut-and-theater audience it ultimately received. Based on Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis’ Hellblazer series, Constantine took a lot of heat from longtime fans for straying too far from its roots. However, as a movie fan, I really enjoyed it Constantine when it first came out, so I was surprised to see that it currently sits at a 46 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Popcornmeter, on the other hand, tells a very different story with an approval rating of 72 percent.
I’m also a huge fan of The Tool and A Perfect Circle, so I briefly wondered if my teenage mind had clouded my judgment on that first viewing. I watched it again in 2025, Constantine it holds up remarkably well, and “Passive” is still a total banger, so I’m trusting my gut on this one. The film deserves a second chance if you historically side with the critics here. A neo-noir superhero film mixed with supernatural horror might sound like a misguided effort from 1997. Spawnbut in context, I liked that one too, so make the most of that information.
Demons, Half-Breeds, and Chainsmoking Badassery
John Constantine is only one type of character that Keanu Reeves can successfully portray. A terminally ill psychic with the ability to see half-angels and half-demons walking among us, he is an extraordinary hero who was condemned to hell following a failed suicide attempt earlier in his life. Still a chain smoker despite his lung cancer diagnosis, John works with his apprentice and driver Chas (Shia LaBeouf) while performing exorcisms in hopes of cutting a deal with Archangel Gabriel (Tilda Swinton) to extend his life and commute his eternal sentence based on his previous efforts.
Gabriel makes it clear that John is destined for fire and brimstone unless he sacrifices himself for the greater good, which sounds like a tall order given his unfaithful nature. When Angela Dodson (Rachel Weisz) comes to him about her sister Isabella’s sudden and disturbing suicide, John takes the case because, according to Angela, her sister was a devout Catholic who knew better than to kill herself.
Sensing that something dark is at play, John meets Father Hennessy (Pruitt Taylor Vince), an alcoholic priest with the ability to communicate with the dead, to uncover why his pets are running around and driving Catholics to kill themselves. At the same time, Gabriel’s plan to bring hell to Earth begins to take shape, while Balthazar (Gavin Rossdale), the half-descendant and son of Lucifer (Peter Stormare), hunts down John to keep him from distraction.
A Common But Strong Action Currency From The Early 2000’s
Constantine has a lot going for it thematically, no matter how faithful it is to its comic book origins. Reeves is completely dependent on criticism and self-reproach, and his death-fueled fight to save the world is totally worth it. The Journey to and from Hell leaves a little to be desired, but honestly, after watching Stranger Things season 5, the underworld sequence here doesn’t look bad compared to the X Dimension. For the visual effects of the 2005 season, it is far from unspectacular.
There is nothing in between Constantine it sounds dialed in, and the movie carries almost all of its performances. At its core, this is typical early 2000s action movie fare, but the on-screen chemistry between Reeves and Swinton alone is enough to keep things engaging from start to finish. I have to side with the audience over the critics on this one. Constantine It won’t change your life, but it’s a lot of fun because of its dedication to getting into all the weirdness.
Constantine currently streaming on Max.
