If you’re a fan of the chain-smoking, trench-coat-wearing occultist John Constantine, you’ve probably noticed something weird. The guy is everywhere. He’s in the Arrowverse, he’s got his own (criminally short) live-action show, and he’s a staple of the DC animated movies. But honestly, Constantine: City of Demons is the one that really gets under your skin.
It’s messy. It’s brutal. And it’s probably the closest we’ve ever gotten to the actual vibe of the Hellblazer comics.
Originally, this thing started as a bunch of shorts on the CW Seed back in 2018. Then, DC decided to stitch them together, add some extra footage, and release it as a feature-length R-rated movie. If you’re confused about where it fits in the timeline or why everyone is talking about "Newcastle" all the time, you aren't alone.
What is Constantine: City of Demons actually about?
The plot is basically a dark road trip. John’s old friend Chas Chandler (voiced by Damian O'Hare) shows up because his daughter, Trish, has fallen into a supernatural coma. John, being the world’s most cynical detective, realizes her soul has been snatched by a demon named Beroul.
So, they head to Los Angeles. Or as the movie calls it, the "City of Demons."
This isn't your typical "save the day" superhero story. Beroul isn't just a monster; he’s a producer. He’s literally running a soul-harvesting operation under the guise of Hollywood glamour. The movie uses LA as a metaphor for a place that eats people alive—sometimes quite literally.
One thing that surprises people is the inclusion of Mictlantecuhtli. He's a brutal Aztec god of the dead living under a slaughterhouse. It’s a deep cut that reminds you that LA has a history long before the neon lights and film sets.
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Is it part of the Arrowverse?
This is where it gets kind of annoying for continuity nerds. Matt Ryan voices John in almost everything. Because of that, people assumed this was a sequel to his NBC show.
It's not.
Writer J.M. DeMatteis confirmed that Constantine: City of Demons actually sits in the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU). This means it shares a world with Justice League Dark and Justice League Dark: Apokolips War. If you try to connect it to the live-action Legends of Tomorrow timeline, your head will start to hurt. Just treat it as its own dark, animated beast.
Why the "Newcastle" incident matters so much
You can't talk about John Constantine without mentioning Newcastle. It’s the "Uncle Ben" moment of his life, but way more traumatizing and with a lot more screaming.
The movie finally shows us what happened. A younger, more arrogant John tried to banish a demon by summoning another demon—Nergal. It went south. A little girl named Astra Logue was dragged to hell because John messed up the ritual.
City of Demons uses this trauma as the emotional anchor. John isn't just helping Chas because they’re mates; he’s trying to stop history from repeating itself. He’s desperate. He’s guilt-ridden. He’s a man who knows that every time he uses magic, someone else usually pays the price.
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The R-Rating isn't just for show
DC animated movies sometimes slap an R-rating on things just because they added two "f-bombs" and some blood. This movie actually earns it.
There’s a scene at a demonic party in LA that is genuinely unsettling. We’re talking people being turned into furniture and instruments. It leans into the body horror that made the original Vertigo comics so famous. If you’re looking for a "Saturday morning cartoon" version of the Justice League, this is not it.
The voice of John Constantine
Let’s be real: Matt Ryan is John Constantine. He has played the character in live-action, animation, and probably in his sleep at this point.
His performance in City of Demons is peak John. He captures that specific mix of British swagger and deep-seated self-loathing. You believe he’s a con man who’s just barely keeping it together.
The supporting cast is also stellar:
- Laura Bailey as Asa the Nightmare Nurse (who is basically the only person who can keep John in check).
- Jim Meskimen as Beroul, who makes the demon feel like a greasy, corporate executive.
- Rick D. Wasserman as Mictlantecuhtli.
How it differs from the comics
While the movie is a loose adaptation of the graphic novel Hellblazer: All His Engines by Mike Carey, it takes some liberties.
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In the comics, John is often even more of a "bastard" than he is in the movie. The film gives him a slightly more heroic edge because, well, it’s a DC movie. But the core themes are there: magic is dangerous, the world is dark, and John is probably going to end up alone at a bar by the time the credits roll.
One of the weirdest (and most "Constantine") scenes involves John literally having a "physical encounter" with the personification of the city of Los Angeles. It’s bizarre. It’s "sexposition." It’s exactly the kind of weirdness you expect from a series that features a man who smokes three packs a day while fighting the literal devil.
Final insights for fans
If you want to get the most out of Constantine: City of Demons, don't just watch it as a standalone. It’s much better if you view it as the bridge between the 2017 Justice League Dark movie and the apocalyptic ending of that universe in Apokolips War.
Actionable steps for your watch list:
- Watch Justice League Dark (2017) first to see John join the team.
- Watch Constantine: City of Demons to understand his backstory and the price of his magic.
- Finish with Justice League Dark: Apokolips War to see the "final" fate of this version of the character.
- Check out the "House of Mystery" short if you want to see what happens to John after the universe resets.
Magic always has a cost. In this movie, we finally see John realize that he’s the one who’s been running up the tab for everyone else. It’s dark, it’s bloody, and it’s arguably the best solo story the character has ever had on screen.