Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
A new “Crow” movie has been in development hell for years. Ever since the tragedy surrounding the production of the original, there has been controversy surrounding a reboot. But it’s finally off the ground with lots to discuss. Eric and Shelly are two broken individuals who meet at rehab. They quickly develop a hot and heavy relationship that gives them a newfound appreciation for life. But they are brutally murdered one night by a mysterious man and his crew. Eric is given an opportunity to save Shelly and get a new chance at life through revenge. He must return as The Crow, a spirit intent on killing those who committed this crime. Can Eric set things right? Or will he and Shelly never rest peacefully?
Positives:
I will give immense credit to director Rupert Sanders for handling such a difficult task. There are those who are ready to hate on this movie and rip it down to the bones, all without truly giving it a chance. With the unfortunate stench surrounding this franchise due to Brandon Lee’s death, there is no way to retell the story without controversy. Sanders nicely keeps the DNA of the source material while telling a fresh story. This must have been difficult to do with the pressure surrounding those who are passionate about the original. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the 1994 film. I think the tragedy surrounding it has created a shield of criticism around it, not allowing most to judge it without acknowledging what happened during production. In fact, that film and reboot share the same pros and cons for me. I don’t have rose colored glasses for the original so I appreciate the new direction and respect for the material.
There is a gritty, metal edge to the film that really works. Since Eric and Shelly are troubled individuals, the soundtrack and gothic vibe match their personalities well. The film has a nice visual aesthetic that enhances the grim nature of their situation. Credit to the visual effects team for enhancing the bleak tone of the film. For a fifty million dollar budget (that’s not much compared to blockbusters), there is a lot done right here. The new direction of the story also lets us examine Eric and Shelly’s tragedy from another perspective. This story shows us how they met and where they connected from the beginning, where the original showed this through flashbacks. I also thought it was interesting seeing Eric linger in this purgatory-esque setting as he is being guided to return as The Crow, which wasn’t present in the original. The protagonists and antagonists are also different in their presentation. Eric and Shelly have a much edgier and darker way about them (their changes I wasn’t as crazy about) but it worked for this story. But the absolute best thing I can credit “The Crow” with is the opera sequence. Once Eric has fully become The Crow, he hunts down the villains and his henchman in a bloody and exciting battle that was as gruesome as fans could hope for. Even if audiences don’t respond to the film itself, it’s hard to ignore the construction of this scene.
Negatives:
While “The Crow” does a lot right in its reinvention, there are still some areas that are lacking. The main feeling that I left with was blandness. There is nothing especially unique about the movie outside of some cool visuals and a gripping final act. The relationship between Eric and Shelly feels underdeveloped, which is strange since the entire first act of the movie is dedicated to showcasing their love. Instead of exploring their trauma more or having them connect on larger ideas, we are privy to them connecting over drug filled raves. I wish their connection was explored further because their demise would have been more emotionally potent.
The villain also feels undercooked. We can always rely on Danny Huston to portray a villain of this nature but he isn’t given much backstory. It’s as simple as wanting to live forever and do the devil’s bidding, which isn’t much of a spoiler from the trailers. There is another personal aspect that ties him to Eric and Shelly’s tragedy but it didn’t resonate as much as I’d hoped. That summarizes my thoughts on the film in general…it has some nice polished pieces and a good story at hand but never hits as hard as it could. The story is vanilla, inoffensive as a whole but not the most memorable.
Conclusion:
Unfortunately, there are some who won’t give “The Crow” a fair shake. It has some redeeming factors, particularly in the visual style and electric third act. But there are certainly flaws, mostly surrounding the bland story and lack of connection to the characters. This could have been a phenomenal retelling if it stuck a bit closer to the original characterization while keeping the new tone. I hope people go in with an open mind willing to evaluate it for themselves rather than jumping on the hate train. It’s a serviceable revenge tale that likely won’t stick with audiences long after the credits roll.
