While I'm not a big fan of films containing violence and gore.

Constantine City of Demons (2018) contains a few interesting twists that make up for it.

The action sequences and combat mechanics are not defined in terms of linear power scaling. Cleverness, deception, planning and luck factor into the outcome of events. More than flat power levels.

While modern storytelling has trended towards understating the value of elements like courage and sacrifice. Reducing the value of achieved goals through no real price being paid to achieve them.

Constantine City of Demons takes a more realistic approach in terms of what a fair price might be for victory in an epic clash of good versus evil.

All too often characters in stories achieve goals and defeat evil with every step in the process being too easy. It gives us unrealistic expectations in terms of how easy or hard life is supposed to be.

We often define toughness or how badass someone is in terms of their material possessions or highlight reels. There is a necessary element lacking here. Which is the most badass characters are those who sometimes carry the largest burdens and suffer the most painful sorrows.

While its nice to sometimes think of a path of least resistance in life as being ideal. Sometimes it may be better to pray for the strength to endure a difficult road. Than to pray for an easy life.