Warning: the content in the documentary includes drug use, abuse, and trauma that might be triggering for some. Please take caution when watching the documentary or reading this review.
Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil premiered at SXSW Online 2021 this week, and boy, is it heavy. The four-part documentary delves into Lovato’s drug overdose, sexual trauma, and her recovery efforts after. It’s an incredible look at what her life is like, what happened in her life leading up to the overdose, and how she continues to fight through recovery every day.
The documentary features commentary from the people closest to her; her family (Mom, Stepdad, and sisters) as well as some of her closest friends, her security, her management, her former assistant, and former creative director.
There truly aren’t enough words to tell you how heartbreaking this documentary is. Lovato’s raw and powerful honesty is something unmatched; I’ve never seen anything like it before. There’s nothing that was off-limits, and it was truly hard to hear just how much pain and heartbreak she suffered. Lovato hid her pre-overdose feelings, and it was all shown leading up to that fateful 2018 night. You’re walked through the entire night with photos and accounts from those with her, as well as her assistant’s account of how she found her.
While it’s truly hard to hear, seeing how healthy Lovato looked, the way she talks now about her experience, you can’t help but just keep rooting for her. A lot of people, including myself, have watched her grow up and she seems to truly be in the best place she’s ever been. As said in the documentary, right now, her family and friends are confident where she’s at, at the moment, but it’s always going to be a difficult disease that she’ll continue to work at each and every day. Elton John, Will Ferrell and Christina Aguilera also make appearances, each shedding a bit of light on the Lovato they know.
If there’s anything this documentary taught me, it’s just how incredibly resilient and strong she is. I can’t wait to continue to watch her grow and cheer her on.
The four-part documentary will begin airing March 23 on YouTube.
