Demolition 2016

Davis, a successful investment banker at a firm run by his father-in-law Phil, faces a devastating loss when his wife, Julia, is tragically killed in a car accident. In the aftermath, Davis finds himself struggling to cope with his emotions while recovering in the hospital. An attempt to buy candy from a malfunctioning vending machine leads him to draft an unexpected complaint to the manufacturer, expressing his frustrations not only about the machine but also about his life. This results in a unique relationship with customer service representative Karen Moreno, where they begin to share the burdens of their personal lives, despite Davis’s detached storytelling style.

Returning to work much earlier than anticipated, Davis’s emotional turmoil becomes evident as he grapples with his feelings of numbness, even admitting to a fellow commuter that he doesn’t truly miss Julia. His journey takes a strange turn as he becomes obsessed with dismantling various household items, revealing a deeper desire to understand what lies within them. When Karen inadvertently leaves behind an identification card, Davis feels compelled to find her, leading him to her home, where she lives with her boyfriend Carl and her spirited teenage son, Chris. Initially met with hostility from Chris, a bond forms between the two as they navigate their struggles together. Davis becomes a mentor to Chris, while also helping Chris cope with his challenges.

Davis later joins his in-laws in setting up a foundation in Julia’s memory, but as he attends interviews, his behavior becomes increasingly erratic, culminating in disrespectful actions towards a scholarship applicant. His relationship with Phil becomes strained as Phil asks him to redirect Julia’s substantial life insurance policy to the foundation. In a rebellious act of mourning, Davis, alongside Chris, destroys their family home with demolition tools purchased from a local hardware store.

The story intensifies when a revelation strikes Davis—finding an ultrasound from the previous year reveals that Julia had kept her pregnancy secret. This emotional bombshell sends him into turmoil. A climactic party to honor the scholarship winner brings about tensions; during the event, inappropriate advances towards Karen ignite jealousy, leading to a series of revelations. Julia’s mother confronts Davis with shocking news, alleging that Julia had an affair and had terminated the pregnancy.

The chaos escalates further when Davis confronts Carl, who returns home early, further complicating their relationship. Meanwhile, Chris faces brutal bullying after coming out as gay, intensifying the emotional stakes for both of them.

Eventually confronting his feelings of grief, Davis visits Julia’s grave, only to find himself face-to-face with Michael, the man responsible for Julia’s death. In a surprising moment of grace, Davis forgives him, using this encounter to culminate a series of poignant flashbacks of his life with Julia, finally allowing himself to cry and experience catharsis.

This transformative journey leads Davis to reconcile with Julia’s parents, initiating plans to refurbish a carousel—once destined for demolition—as a meaningful tribute to his late wife. Chris writes to Davis, expressing his recovery from his struggles and that his mother has left Carl. He invites Davis to a special moment at Pier 54, where Davis witnesses the demolition of waterfront buildings across the river, symbolizing a turning point.

In a heartwarming conclusion, as he watches the demolition, Davis finds joy and fulfillment by reliving his childhood desire of winning a race, playfully running with a group of children who join him, marking a poignant end to his journey of grief, loss, and newfound hope.