Summary
Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagaleaves no stone unturned, but I still found one of its story beats involving Immortan Joe and Dementus a little disappointing. Unfolding over a span of five distinct chapters, theMad Max: Fury Roadprequel walks through every major event in the titular character’s timeline. From her mother’s tragic murder to the truth behind how she lost her left arm, the prequel takes a viewer through it all while also dropping subtle references to otherMad Maxmovies.
Although, as its title suggests, the film primarily focuses on Furiosa’s origin story, it also drops new insights into Immortan Joe’s past. At the same time, it also introduces new key players likeChris Hemsworth’s Dementus, who is portrayed as the film’s primary antagonist. In its hefty runtime of almost 2 and a half hours, the film resolves all of its underlying story elements. Unfortunately, I was still left dissatisfied with the way it treated an Immortan Joe and Dementus story.
Every Potential Dementus Death In Furiosa Explained
Before revealing the truth behind Dementus' fate, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga walks through all the potential ways in which he is believed to have died.
Immortan Joe Never Realizes Adult Furiosa Is The Girl He Got From Dementus To Be His Wife
Joe Also Never Notices Her Absence From The Vault
One of the crucial milestones in Furiosa’s journey in the spin-off film is when Immortan Joe promises to increase Gastown’s supplies of food and water but takes Horde’s physician and Furiosa in exchange. While Horde’s physician eventually helps him with multiple tasks, Furiosa is expected to become one of his wives. However, after seeing the terrible conditions in which the wives live under Immortan Joe’s rule, young Furiosa plans an escape. When Rictus breaks Furiosa out of the vault where Joe imprisons his wives, Furiosa tricks him and goes into hiding.
Furiosa: A Mad Saga’s portrayal of the titular character’s escape is gripping, but I found it hard not to wonder how Immortan Joe does notice her absence from the vault.
She then disguises herself as another helpless teenage boy at the Citadel while staying undercover.Furiosa: A Mad Saga’s portrayal of the titular character’s escape is gripping, but I found it hard not to wonder how Immortan Joe does not notice her absence from the vault. The movie implies that Furiosa always keeps her face hidden to ensure no one recognizes her. However, the fact that Immortan Joe and Rictus do not even get suspicious about who she is even after she grows up seems a little implausible.
Immortan Joe Not Knowing Furiosa’s Dementus Backstory Hurts Their Relationship
Joe Learning About Furiosa’s Past Could Have Added New Layers To Their Dynamic
SinceFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagawas supposed to drop new insights into Immortan Joe and Furiosa’s relationship, I expected the film to add more layers to their dynamic. The film also had the perfect opportunity to do this. Instead of merely portraying Furiosa as Immortan Joe’s driver, the movie could have shown how Joe eventually figures out her backstory with Dementus. Learning about Furiosa’s quest for revenge against Dementuscould have given Immortan Joe a strong reason to trust her and even prompted him to form a strategic alliance with her.
…Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagawould have effectively raised the emotional stakes for all the drama and action that unfolds in Mad Max: Fury Road.
This new added depth in their relationship would have eventually made Furiosa’s betrayal inMad Max: Fury Roadeven more infuriating for Immortan Joe. As a result,Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagawould have effectively raised the emotional stakes for all the drama and action that unfolds inMad Max: Fury Road. Unfortunately, the prequel movie avoids exploring this narrative avenue. AlthoughFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagastill has a compelling narrative, even without this story beat, it certainly is a missed opportunity the film could have really benefited from.
How Many Lines Furiosa Has In Each Mad Max Movie
The Mad Max franchise has always prioritized visuals over dialogue, and that fact is evident in how many lines Furiosa has had in her movies.
Dementus Knowing Furiosa’s Motives Could Have Raised The Stakes
Even inFuriosa: A Mad Max Saga’s endingarc, Dementus, too, has no clue who Furiosa is until she spells it out to him. This revelation makes the closing chapter a lot more engaging, but the film would likely have been better if Dementus had known who she was even before the Bullet Farm showdown. The awareness that she despises him for killing her mother and wants to exact revenge on him would have made the stakes inthe Bullet Farm sequence more personal for both characters.
Dementus would also have looked even more savage if he killed Jack in front of Furiosa despite knowing that he had previously taken away another loved one from her. Sadly, this was another missed opportunity that could have further enriched the film’s drama, especially towards the end. With that said, however, I cannot deny thatFuriosa: A Mad Max Sagais still a brilliant film even without these story explorations.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
A prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa is an action-adventure film that tells the origin story of the headstrong and fearless Furiosa. Set shortly after the beginning of the “end of the world,” Furiosa is kidnapped and brought before a powerful warlord, now forced to work for him. To find her way back home, Furiosa will adapt to the new harsh and arid world as she grows into the Furiosa she becomes known to be.
