Chris Hemsworth’s Dementus has a very nuanced role in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga that turns him into one of the franchise’s most despicable despots.

When the full cast for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga was announced, fans were stoked to see Chris Hemsworth as Dementus. Many are accustomed to him playing more heroic roles, especially like the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor. But this role would allow him to flex his villainous muscles.

It’s a rare sight for the actor who just got his Hemsworth star on the Walk of Fame, but Hemsworth embraces his more villainous role with aplomb. Dementus takes fans on a journey that cements him as one of the nastiest villains in the Mad Max franchise.

Furiosa’s Dementus Is a Violent Slaver

From the trailers, Dementus seemed like so many other villains in George Miller’s Wasteland. As the movie begins, Dementus wants humans as property, land to rule over, and resources to command. This is why he kidnaps young Furiosa after killing her mother. Dementus doesn’t care about anything but power. He has a political tongue too by manipulating people into joining his Biker Horde. However, some of them are slaves he captures and conditions into warriors. He is hoping to do the same with Furiosa by extending his “family.”

There is initially a sentimental air, as he carries around a doll. He lost his family in the ecocide in Australia, so he thinks Furiosa will fill that gap in his soul and be his new child. He is certain that once he can control her, she will show him the location of the lush Green Place that she comes from. Alas, Furiosa doesn’t spill the beans. It results in a frustrated Dementus holding council with the evil Immortan Joe. Dementus fails to take Joe’s Citadel, but he wants to broker commerce. To do so, he needs leverage and leads a coup in Gastown after hijacking one of Joe’s convoys.

He has his men disguised as War Boys, so they raid, pretending to be Joe’s men who want fuel to take back. It’s a brutal fight, illustrating how clever Dementus is. He’s in fine fettle, killing some of his own men. This ruse works, as they get the refinery to open its gates, certain that Joe’s men are under attack. This results in Dementus’ team emerging from this rig — a veritable Trojan horse — and overpowering the facility. He who controls the fuel holds power, influence and sway. Thus, Dementus gets a meeting with Joe while holding the Gastown boss hostage. Dementus kills the man to send a message, making it clear he will blow the refinery up if he doesn’t get what he wants.

Joe’s hand is forced, proving how good a strategist the brave Dementus is. Joe agrees to trade fuel for water, food and resources. This has Dementus deeming himself a “lord,” rather than a “doctor.” The sad thing is, he has to trade Furiosa away as part of the deal. After Furiosa reveals some of his lies, Dementus doesn’t mind casting her off. At this point, he loses all credibility with the audience, as it’s clear the child is coming into a den with toxic men and a boss who just wants to groom a breeding stock. But Dementus doesn’t care about passing off his slave — his ego grows as he has gotten one over the fearsome Joe.

Furiosa’s Dementus Creates a Civil War

The problem with Dementus is that his arrogance always gets in the way. Some of his warriors didn’t like that their brethren were used as sacrificial lambs to take the refinery. Others think they do the hard work while he reaps the benefits. Some believe he’s either doing bad business or hoarding whatever Joe sends over. This creates a chasm, which drives Dementus up a wall and civil war breaks out.

He can’t stand losing the peace and control he worked so hard for. Joe warned him about this responsibility, but Dementus saw it as a game. Dementus becomes paranoid, telling Joe’s commander, Praetorian Jack, that he wants more supplies or else. He has to calm the civil unrest. Little does he know that Jack’s partner, Anna Taylor-Joy’s younger Furiosa, is that slave he exchanged years back. She thinks it’s karma, enjoying how Dementus’ dream is crumbling.

It results in Dementus going after the Bullet Farm, which is the main munitions provider to Joe. He is keen to attain another stronghold. With two outposts under his thumb, Joe would have to concede to new demands. When Jack and Furiosa make one more visit to the farm, they’re ambushed by Dementus’ crew. The villains are frustrated that Joe’s Citadel won’t co-operate with them. There is also lingering jealousy as their ranks were thinned in the opening act when they tried to seize Joe’s rocky palace.

As Dementus hunts Joe’s military generals, it’s apparent he’s descending further into madness. He’s impulsive, logic deficient and grasping at straws. This stage results in his crew killing Jack, but Furiosa getting back to Joe. This breaks he and is all about expressing her feminine rage in the most unabashed way possible.

Furiosa’s Dementus Loses Complete Control in the 40-Day War

 

Furiosa wants vengeance, nodding to the Mad Max movies after Max kept losing friends and family in this post-apocalyptic gulag. After butchering the refinery management, Joe thinks Dementus is nothing more than a hostile, recalcitrant pest. Thanks to Furiosa’s information, they know Dementus is trying to bait them to Gastown for a firefight, only to try to attack them from the Bullet Farm. Dementus begins spiraling out of control even more as a 40-day war evolves.

He loses most of his legion, because Joe has more weapons, vehicles and numbers. Dementus’ own gangs continue to turn on him, too. With loyalty hard to come by, he tries to flee into a cavernous valley. Furiosa gives chase with head shaved as a symbol. She hates Dementus’ long locks, not to mention, her hair reminded her of her own abuse by Joe’s son, Rictus. Now, it’s all about paying Dementus back for his sins and the rabbit hole of agony he threw her down.

He took everything from her. She lost her kin, as well as the map on her arm to find the Green Place again when she fought Dementus earlier. As they have their last showdown, the delirious, arrogant Dementus keeps playing the father card. He thinks of himself as a savior. He is self-righteous, adamant he protected his flock like a shepherd would. It’s not his fault Furiosa became a bargaining chip for barter. She is sickened as she sees him keeping the doll close. It’s a mental shield; his denial manifesting.

Dementus won’t feel guilt because of how the world wronged him and what it took from his life. He lost his loved ones, so he became a monster, too. It steeled him up and galvanized his mind, all leading to him cracking jokes when Furiosa confronts him. Ultimately, Dementus is blinded by vanity. As much as he wants to pretend he’s an intimidating man, Furiosa finally understands he is nothing more than a scared child trying to be an alpha — something she’d experience more of in the Fury Road sequel when she emancipates from Joe.

Furiosa is now playing in theaters.