THE CROW movie poster | ©2024 Lionsgate

Stars: Bill Skarsgård, FKA twigs, Danny Huston, Sami Bouajila, Josette Simon, Laura Birn, Karel Dobrý, Jordan Bolger, Sebastian Orozco, Isabella Wei
Writers: Zach Baylin and William Schneider, based on the comic book series and comic strip by James O’Barr
Director: Rupert Sanders
Distributor: Lionsgate
Release Date: August 23, 2024

2024 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of the original film version of THE CROW, based on the comic book series and comic strip by James O’Barr. The 1994 feature has become iconic, with three other features in the franchise, along with a television and several videogame adaptations.

One facet of THE CROW movies is that they share a basic mythology, while the main characters change. (1996’s THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS shares one character with the original; 2000’s THE CROW: SALVATION and 2005’s THE CROW: WICKED PRAYER are both standalone.)

The 2024 THE CROW is something of a remake of the 1994 edition. It returns to us original hero Eric Draven, here played by Bill Skarsgård, and his eternally beloved Shelly, portrayed by FKA twigs.

The new film, directed by Rupert Sanders from a screenplay by Zach Baylin and William Schneider, gives the romance between Eric and Shelly its due. They meet and fall for each other at a rehab clinic. When Shelly (rightly) feels she’s in danger, Eric helps her escape, and for a time, they find absolute joy in each other.

This section of the film, while it may not make anyone swoon (then again, it may), is surprisingly agreeable. Too many genre films turn this kind of material into off-putting slush. Here, we at least like Eric and Shelly, and see that they are bringing out the best in each other.

As with all variations of THE CROW thus far, the protagonist and his love are both viciously murdered (okay, in CITY OF ANGELS, it was the protagonist and his young son, but close enough).

The new CROW wrings several narrative twists and some big stylistic jolts from the premise. Here, Eric comes back from the dead not just for vengeance, but because he is determined to bring Shelly back to life. This is still a tale of major payback, but it also incorporates the Orpheus myth of a man willing to venture into Hell to rescue his love. It gives the narrative an added bit of resonance.

Eric’s adversaries this time are not general sadistic scumbags, but rather an elegant and moneyed cadre of Satanists. They are led by a human-but-supernaturally-endowed tycoon (Danny Huston), who has a back story with Shelly.

Action-wise, for a while, it seems like Sanders is going to go for energetic, straightforward, gory ultra-violence. But in the third act, the director provides a sequence so ambitious and bravura and ferocious that it elevates the 2024 THE CROW to a new level. The screening audience reacted audibly, which doesn’t often happen. It is likely to stick in viewers’ minds as the epitome of what they want to feel watching a movie like this.

Skarsgård is perfectly cast, bringing a warmth to Eric underneath his surface surliness. He has vulnerability, but Skarsgård as the resurrected Eric has a stare that reminds us that the actor previously played Pennywise.

FKA twigs has a beguiling softness and gets to display her lovely singing voice. Huston has long since mastered playing this type of king of the world character, and commits wholly to what he’s doing. Sami Bouajila has an engaging presence as a pragmatic afterlife guide.

The 2024 THE CROW is in many ways a good rendition of what we expect, but when it builds upon those expectations, it has moments of greatness.

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Article: Movie Review: THE CROW (2024)

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