The War of the Roses

The War of the Roses (1989) is Danny DeVito's pitch-black comedy, and you can watch it online on iFILM. Seventeen years of marriage, a beautiful house, two kids. Then it all curdles into open warfare.

Oliver Rose, a successful attorney, built a comfortable life with his wife Barbara from nothing. One day Barbara realizes she'd be happier without him and asks for a divorce. The sticking point is the house. Neither will surrender a single room, so the mansion gets carved into rival territories and the campaign begins, escalating from petty sabotage to all-out siege involving the chandelier, the car, and one unforgettable pâté. Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner throw themselves at it with a fury that's funny and stomach-turning at the same time.

DeVito didn't make a marriage drama, he made a vicious satire about possession, with the couple's divorce lawyer (DeVito himself) watching in horror as two ordinary people destroy each other. It's the kind of comedy that doesn't always let you laugh. Sharp script, merciless ending, perfect pairing. Stream The War of the Roses (1989) online on iFILM.