Demolition (2015) – Review

Demolition recensie

If we are really honest with ourselves, would there be parts of our lives we would change if we wouldn´t think about the consequences? Would you still work for the same employer? Stay in your relationship? Change your daily routine? We all have sometimes wonder about these questions, but we rarely make big choices which change our lives drastically. Sometimes we won´t face facts and have the feeling we have invested too much energy into something to get out of it. But what would happen if we did not hide our interests and desires and follow them completely? That is exactly what Davis Mitchell (Jake Gyllenhaal) does in Demolition.

Review Demolition

Davis is as a successful investment banker working for the company owned by his father-in-law. He has a nice car, a beautiful modern home and he is living in luxury. While heading to work with his wife, the car they are in is hit and his wife passes away. Despite concerns of everyone around him, this even doesn´t seem to impact Davis. He simply appears at work again and shows no emotion. He decides to repair the leaking refrigerator his wife told him about in their last conversation, with the advice in the back of his mind that you have to take everything apart completely in order to get something to work again. Disassembling the refrigerator triggers something in him and he feels an urge to take everything apart he wants to know more about, which affects everyone around him.

“an unconventional film…”


 Director Jean-Marc Vallée has produced an unconventional film with Demolition, especially the form the story is told in. Through complaint letters to a vending machine company the viewer gets to know more about Davis. It´s also the way in which he comes into contact with Karen Moreno ( Naomi Watts) and her rebellious son, who forms a bond with Davis. Gyllenhaal plays the the strange, almost emotionless Davis well. The story is surprising, with plenty of room for comic moments. A drama with a twist, which makes you realize that sometimes you have to follow your desires (even if only a little) .

10 thoughts on “Demolition (2015) – Review

  1. Hi Nostra! I wasn’t impressed by Jean-Marc Vallée’s WILD but I have high hopes about this one as I like Jake G. Can’t wait to see this later this month!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.