Warning! Contains spoilers for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Summary

Dementus in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has subtle Thor nods, despite being a completely different character in demeanor and story.
Chris Hemsworth brings depth to Dementus, showcasing humor and intensity.
Despite physical similarities, Dementus is a complex villain with a dark past, distinct from Thor, reflecting Hemsworth’s versatile acting range.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga‘s unintentional Thor reference with Chris Hemsworth is so perfect that it is hard to believe it was accidental. Since Chris Hemsworth has spent a significant chunk of his acting career playing the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor, it is not surprising that many could not help but compare him to his Furiosa character, Dementus, when the movie’s trailers first premiered. From the early trailers and teasers, it seemed evident that Dementus was going to be nothing like any character Chris Hemsworth has portrayed before, let alone the iconic Thor.

After watching Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, it has become all the more evident that Dementus and Thor are worlds apart when it comes to their stories, personalities, and roles in their respective worlds. However, even though Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga‘s Dementus seems nothing like Thor on the surface, the film seems to feature a subtle nod to the God of Thunder from the MCU. This nod was probably not purposefully inserted in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, but it seems a little too perfect and explicit to be coincidental.

Dementus’ Red Coat Looks Like Thor’s Cape Chris Hemsworth Wears

Some Traces Of Thor Are Visible In Chris Hemsworth’s Dementus

During one of their journeys in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Dementus and his men spot a red flare in the sky and decide to see where it is coming from. When they arrive at the source of the flare, they find a War Boy with a flare gun who talks about a “Place of Abundance” and even points them toward its direction. Out of sheer curiosity, one of Dementus’ men takes his flare gun and shoots it into the ground. This blows up the flare, sending up red smoke all around Dementus. Instead of being infuriated, Dementus embraces how the red smoke dyes his hair and coat red, reminding one of his Thor look.

In a scene that follows, Furiosa: A Mad Saga shows Dementus standing with his back towards the camera, making it hard not to notice how he looks a lot like Thor with his red cape. In terms of his physicality and demeanor, Chris Hemsworth is a completely different character in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Since Dementus is an immoral villain and Thor is one of the most noble heroes in the MCU, it seems unfair to even compare the two characters. However, in scenes like these, one cannot help but notice traces of Thor in Chris Hemsworth because he played the superhero for so long.

How Chris Hemsworth’s Dementus Look Compares To Thor

Dementus & Thor Look Vastly Different But Still Share Some Intriguing Similarities

Throughout Furiosa‘s runtime, Chris Hemsworth puts his acting chops on full display by not only capturing Dementus’ weirdness but also his fury and disgust towards the world. There are scenes in the film where Dementus seems ridiculously dim-witted and unintentionally funny, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor. However, what makes him significantly different from the superhero is how, in the blink of an eye, he projects the darkness that rests inside him. The character’s grown-out beard, handlebar mustache, and rowdy hair also make him look way more menacing than the perfectly groomed and godly Thor.

…Despite being nearly as physically imposing as Thor in stature, Dementus reeks of deprivation and suffering because of everything he has been through in Mad Max ‘s unforgiving world.

Chris Hemsworth also sports a prosthetic nose in Furiosa, which is longer and pointier, allowing him to fit into some appearance-based stereotypes surrounding villains. Despite living in a post-apocalyptic world that lacks even the most basic resources, Chris Hemsworth’s Dementus is almost always the biggest guy in the frame, like Thor, thanks to the Organic Mechanic’s creative blood recipes. However, despite being nearly as physically imposing as Thor in stature, Dementus reeks of deprivation and suffering because of everything he has been through in Mad Max‘s unforgiving world.

Like Thor carries his hammer, Mjölnir, everywhere, Dementus holds on tight to a little teddy bear. However, both objects of attachment are vastly different: while the Mjölnir is a weapon that represents Thor’s power and nobility, the teddy bear is a reminder of Dementus’ lost innocence and symbolizes his vulnerability. Funnily, Dementus also has a chariot like Thor, with the only difference being that, instead of being pulled by two magical goats named Toothgrinder and Toothgnasher, his is driven by motorbikes.

Dementus Is A Completely Different Role For Chris Hemsworth Than Thor

Dementus Makes More Room For Hemsworth To Portray His Acting Forte

Both Thor and Dementus are charismatic characters with a wacky sense of humor. However, as Chris Hemsworth explained, Dementus’ charisma is more reminiscent of dictators and other people in power, who sway others with their words and amass massive followings with false but convincing promises. Thor and Dementus are both funny and have incredible comic timing. However, Dementus’ humor, as Hemsworth quoted, instills a “sense of comfort” in his followers, making him “enjoyable to be around.”

…Even though Chris Hemsworth’s transition from Thor to Dementus may seem sudden, the actor’s portrayal of morally ambiguous characters in movies like Spiderhead and Bad Times at the El Royale seemingly paved the way for his Furiosa role.

Like most epic antagonists, Dementus is also highly erratic, and Chris Hemsworth perfectly captures his unpredictability by portraying how he goes through a gamut of emotions with startling intensity. However, even though Chris Hemsworth’s transition from Thor to Dementus may seem sudden, the actor’s portrayal of morally ambiguous characters in movies like Spiderhead and Bad Times at the El Royale seemingly paved the way for his Furiosa role. His incredible performance in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga proves he deserves more complex and intense roles in the future.