Although Halloween is often associated with scares and the macabre, it is also a time for dark comedy and gallows humor. Enter Harold Ramis’ Bedazzled, starring Brendan Fraser and Elizabeth Hurley — a remake of the 1967 British classic released on Oct. 20, 2000. A quarter of a century later, it’s still worthy of a slot in your spooky season playlist.
In the original film, the Devil offers an unhappy man seven wishes in exchange for his soul. Each of those wishes is then twisted in wickedly ironic ways. The original Bedazzled is a parody of the horrors of a Faustian deal with the Devil, written by and starring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, respectively. Instead of a pointy-eared man with a silver tongue, though, the Bedazzled remake subverts this expectation with a femme fatale playing the role of Satan (Hurley). She is a British bombshell who drives an exotic car and is a high-class fashionista whose favorite color is red. Satan changes wardrobe in this movie more times than you could in a week, and you love her eccentric tastes equally as much as her idiosyncratic personality.
In place of a lead with more ambition, Fraser plays Elliot as a meek man who has no friends and whose co-workers avoid him. He is painfully awkward and pines for a girl named Allison (Frances O’Connor) who doesn’t even know he exists. So, of course, he sells his soul to the devil for a chance to be with her. He gets a beeper with his wishes, on which he must dial “666” should something go awry with his requests.
His first wish should come as no surprise: to be rich, powerful, and married to Allison. Granted, that’s technically three wishes, but the Devil doesn’t seem to mind. Elliot gets what he wants, but the twist is, he’s only rich because he’s a Colombian drug lord; even worse, his marriage to Allison is a loveless one. Subsequent, mangled wishes turn him into an overly emotional man, a basketball star with a tiny penis, and more. The wishes never work out, and Elliot is caught in one nightmare scenario after the other, with Allison always being unattainable for various, often humorous, reasons.
Faustian deals are very similar to The Monkey’s Paw, a cautionary tale about wishes granted with unintended, often tragic consequences. However, Faustian deals involve a conscious trade, in this case Elliot’s soul, making the case not just about surprise consequences, but going against ethics and morals. It’s not until Elliot’s final wish that Bedazzled shows its true heart, and where Fraser’s performance is at its best.
Fraser proves he had all the makings of a Hollywood leading man in this era, effortlessly shifting from earnest to suave, from awkward charm to sharp wit. He balances comedic timing with genuine sincerity, showcasing the full range of his talent in every scene. Meanwhile, Hurley anchors the film with a performance that’s equal parts funny, seductive, and menacing, fully embodying the Devil archetype. The film’s runtime also clocks in at just under 90 minutes before credits, ensuring the film or the premise never overstays its welcome.
Bedazzled is simple and goofy enough for younger audiences to grasp onto, with silly and even singable moments that involve Dolphin-safe tuna and mayonnaise. But there are also much smarter and more adult themes present to keep teens and even grown-ups on their toes. At the end of Elliot’s ordeal with the Devil, he’s in a much better place than when we first met him. He’s no longer a doormat, able to stand up to the co-workers who borderline bully him, and even musters up the courage to approach Allison on his own. It ends on a well-deserved, feel-good note for Elliot, encouraging viewers to be grateful for what they have and to pursue their own dreams corruption-free.
It’s also a great way to get someone who isn’t into scares to indulge in the scary holidays. And lucky you, it’s streaming on Hulu right now. So we know what you’re doing tonight.
