SPOILER FREE REVIEW

‘The Crow’ reboot has landed… and so has our review.

Synopsis: Soulmates Eric and Shelly are brutally murdered. Given a chance to save the love of his life, Eric must sacrifice himself and traverse the worlds of the living and the dead, seeking revenge.

‘The Crow’ (2024) is directed by Rupert Sanders by a screenplay penned by Zach Baylin and William Schneider. The film stars Bill Skarsgård as the title role of Eric Draven (The Crow) and FKA Twigs as Shelly. The film currently sits at a staggering 19% on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and a far higher (and more appropriate) 64% by audiences.

First and foremost, comparing a modern re-imagining of the beloved ‘The Crow’ (1994) with Brandon Lee would not be fair to anyone involved in the new version. Let’s dissect it for what it is, first and foremost; a comic book movie adaption.

The movie kicks off with Eric and Shelly in a rehab center for drug users, and it’s here where we get to see them grow and evolve into a romantics. However, this entire segment almost feels like a Harley Quinn and Joker knock-off situation, while feeling overtly forced with actions that appear too simple to be logical. For instance; need to escape the confines of a secured facility? Just hop out the window and jump over the fence! These little idiocracies are present throughout the entire runtime of the film and one of the leading frustrations that deters us from caring about the characters.

The direction from Sanders is vivid and imaginative, but sometimes goes too far with his ideas. For instance, when Shelly is inevitably killed, she shows up in flashbacks and memories of Eric’s throughout the runtime. Surely, Sanders intended that to feel as if we’re longing for someone, and yet, it makes us feel as if she’s still there. It doesn’t help that the script felt like a quick second draft of a story that could’ve used five or six.

A highlight here is the cinematography by Steve Annis. Sometimes we get glorious wides that feel like something from a Tarkovsky film, or center-framed shots matched with color grading that borderlines the visual style of ‘The King’s Speech’ from cinematographer Danny Cohen. The gothic aesthetic remains, in a rather neo-noir style — reminiscent of ‘John Wick’ or ‘Drive.’

The overall story should’ve and could’ve been enhanced by the score, which never felt prominent. We get loads of amazing songs from Joy Division and Gary Numan, and yet they never feel “in-place” with the context of what’s happening on screen. Though the song choices are dark, the film would’ve been elevated by a powerful original score. Considering composer Volker Bertelmann won the Academy Award for ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ (2022), the expectation was high, only to find it missing all together. Perhaps this was the fault of the editing, which feels jarring with its musical/song timing, reactions, and intercuts. All this combined makes us not care about our two leads and leaves us wanting to skip right to the action in hopes of staying attentive.

The chemistry between actors Skarsgård and Twigs is certainly there, but the rushed script doesn’t allow their relationship to flourish naturally or in an engaging way. However, when Shelly is killed, we certainly feel it and maybe that’s when it begins to click together as the story finds its feet.

Let’s face it, Skarsgård is perfect in everything and this is no exception. If there were ever anyone to follow in the footsteps of Brandon Lee, it’s Skarsgård. He does his absolute best with the material he’s given and never feels a touch out of place. When he’s throwing down, you feel it. When he’s tormented, you feel it. You’re rooting for the protagonist and that’s a good sign… considering the editing felt as if it was working against him.

Does the movie work? The ideas are there but the execution is off. Way off. But the worst way to see the film is by giving it the ‘death by comparison’ treatment. The Joker has been done multiple times after Heath Ledger tragically moved on, so why can’t ‘The Crow?’ Not seeing this film due to nostalgia bias is not a strong argument.

Go see the movie if it’s something that looks like a decent time at the theatre, because it is.

‘The Crow’ released on August 23, 2024.

Our score: ★★
(out of 5 stars)