A man returns from the dead to take vengeance on the people who killed his wife. That’s the whole plot of “The Crow,” and the movie doesn’t need much more than that. Released in 1994, the film is a loud, dark, and often brutal story based on a comic book, played through by Brandon Lee as Eric Draven, a musician murdered alongside his fiancée on their wedding day.
Trailer, via Miramax.
Eric Draven Returns
Lee plays Eric as a man risen from the grave, dressed in black and armed with a crow mask, a gun, and a broken heart. The script, written by James O’Brien, spends little time on character development. It trusts the audience to watch the violence instead of explaining it.
The Music and the Style
The soundtrack carries much of the film’s weight. “The Crow” leans on rock tracks from a mix of artists throughout, and the music is used more often than dialogue. The film’s look is moody and dark, with shadows and close shots that keep the horror close to the screen.
The Violence
There is plenty of it. “The Crow” is not subtle about its revenge plot, and the killings are shown, often in close, detailed ways. Some scenes are hard to watch, and the film earns its R rating through force, not language.
The Romance
The bond between Eric and his fiancée is the film’s one tender thread. The rest of the story is fuel for vengeance. The villains, played by Michael Rooker and Stephen Baldwin, give the film a clear target, even if their motives are thin.
The Crow’s Last Scene
The film’s final act rushes to bring the revenge plot to an end, and the resolution feels hurried against the build-up. The movie’s climax is loud and violent, but the quiet after is cut short.
A Dark, Loud Film
“The Crow” is not a subtle work. It is a dark, loud, and often unpleasant one, made with real skill in its look and its sound but little care for its characters beyond their suffering. The film works best as a mood piece, not a story with depth.
The film works best as a mood piece, not a story with depth.
The Verdict
Brandon Lee gives a forceful performance as Eric Draven, holding the film together even as the story grows thin. The music and the look carry the film’s mood, and the violence is never far from view. “The Crow” is a solid piece of dark cinema, built for mood rather than for character, and it earns a 7.1 out of 10.
- Title: The Crow
- Year: 1994
- Score: 7.1 of 10
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