MovieChat Forums > Neverwhere (1996) Discussion > Am I the only one who noticed how stupid...

Am I the only one who noticed how stupid this plot point was? [SPOILERS]

posted 14 years ago by cherold
8 replies | jump to latest

Doing a quick scan of the reviews and board posts, I didn't notice any mention of the stupidest thing in the movie: the angel persuades Door to bring him the key, and then, instead of simply sitting back and waiting for it to arrive, and then politely asking her to help him find her family's murderers by using that key to open the door, he instead sends his goons to grab them, while THEY ARE ON THE WAY TO HIS PLACE.

I really liked the series overall, but that is just inconceivably stupid. Are angels just really brain dead?

[–] nortoespoof 14 years ago

Yeah, thats a bit of an odd one I must admit, even in the book. The best I could offer is that he was impatient. But even then, I dont know, I cant really think of a way to reconcile that point within the story.

"I once thought I had lost my mind, then I found it in the gutter" - N. Holtz

[–] e-holmes 14 years ago

The point, stated for definite in the book and I think in the series, is that the Angel wants to make sure both the key and the opener get to him safely through that labyrinth and past the beast. He therefore sends Croup and Vandemar to ensure that this takes place.

[–] Kiso 14 years ago

I think the original intent was also to give some "motivation" by making Door think others were after the key, after all the key had to be won from the Blackfriars.
It is impossible to defeat an ignorant man in argument.

[–] Keratin 9 years ago

I agree with e-holmes here. Islington probably just wanted to ensure that Door was delivered to him safely. Hunter couldn't kill the beast, he had no way of knowing that Richard could, and the token that could lead them to the prison's gates was only useful while in someones possession. Not really all that stupid when the plan would have worked if Door hadn't had a fake key.

[–] Fluffis 13 years ago

Nothing stupid about it, since there's nothing like a decoy enemy to convince a patsy that you're a good guy.

Quidquid Latinae dictum sit, altum viditur.

[–] iLoVeMuchAdoAboutNothing 13 years ago

I thought that in the beginning Door was running from Croup and Vandemar because she thought that they killed her family and wanted her dead too. It wasn't until she contacts the Marquis and everything that they come to the realisation that Croup and Vandemar didn't kill her family, but they are working for someone else. So looking in her father's office she finds the journal that'd been tampered with that says to trust the Angel Islington... which made them try to find the Angel in the first place... if he was a friend of her father, he might know something or just be able to protect Door.

I think the Angel Islington planted the journal thinking that Door would find it (when she returned because she was away when her family was murdered) and come to him, but when she didn't he then sent Croup and Vandemar after her (to get her to him safely).

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The Truth is Out There.

[–] e-holmes 12 years ago

Croup and Vandemar did kill Door's family - it just wan't revealed until later that it was on Islington's orders. In fact, it's stated in the first episode that they are the killers but that someone else gave the order. Initially, C & V were trying to kill Door and had gone so far as to pay someone to do it (the guy she kills right at the beginning).

It is made clearer in the novel that, originally, the Angel had Door's sister captive and was going to use her to open the door. She turned out to be too young (maybe her talent hadn't matured - it's not said) so C & V were told to keep Door alive instead of killing her. That's why - right at the end - Islington tells Door her sister is still alive. He may, of course, be lying but she was kidnapped rather than killed to begin with.

[–] Rayvio 12 years ago

Islington first approached Door's father, who was happy to work with Islington until Islington revealed that he wanted the door opened. At this point her father refused to help him, so perhaps the reason he doesn't tell Door what he wanted the key for at first was because he believed she would also refuse. He manipulates her into retrieving the key but knows she'll need some convincing to open the door once she realises what he wants the key for

~~~
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."