The Crow Movie Review (2024): Disappointing

Metric	Rating (out of 5)
Plot	2
Pacing	2
Themes	2
Character Development	2
Conflict	3
Direction	2
Cinematography	3
Editing	2
Production Design	3
Special Effects	3
Acting	2
Chemistry	2
Soundtrack	3
Sound Design	2
Engagement	2
Emotional Resonance	2
Target Audience	3
Cultural Relevance	2
Entertainment Value	2
Rewatchability	1
Memorability	2
Lighting	3
Costume Design	3
Makeup and Hair	3
Originality	2
Message	2
Cohesion	2
Overall Rating	2
Recommendation	No

Our Verdict

The Crow (2024) i feels like a missed opportunity.

It’s a film that neither honors its source material nor successfully reinvents it for a new generation.

While die-hard fans of the franchise might find some enjoyment in seeing these characters on screen again, most viewers will likely be left wondering why this reboot was necessary at all.

If you’re curious about “The Crow” as a concept, I’d recommend seeking out the original comic or the 1994 film instead.

They capture the raw emotion, visual style, and haunting atmosphere that this new version struggles to achieve.

As for this 2024 reboot, it’s best left to fade into obscurity, like a crow disappearing into the night sky.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Crew and Cast

Metric	Details
Directed by	Rupert Sanders
Screenplay by	Zach Baylin, William Schneider
Based on	The Crow by James O’Barr
Produced by	Edward R. Pressman, Samuel Hadida, Victor Hadida, John Jencks, Molly Hassell
Starring	Bill Skarsgård, FKA Twigs, Danny Huston
Cinematography	Steve Annis
Edited by	Chris Dickens, Neil Smith
Music by	Volker Bertelmann
Production companies	Hassell Free Productions, The Electric Shadow Company, Davis Films, Pressman Film, Ashland Hill Media Finance, Media Capital Technologies, 30West
Distributed by	Lionsgate
Release dates	August 21, 2024 (France), August 23, 2024 (United States)
Running time	111 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$50 million

Plot Overview

The basic bones of “The Crow” story remain intact in this new version. Eric Draven and his girlfriend Shelly are brutally murdered, and Eric is resurrected by a mystical crow to seek vengeance.

However, the 2024 film takes some significant departures from both the comic and the 1994 movie.

This time around, we meet Eric (Bill Skarsgård) and Shelly (FKA Twigs) as they’re struggling with addiction in a rehab facility.

Their love story unfolds in a series of flashbacks that feel more like a perfume commercial than a genuine romance.

The villain is no longer just a crime lord, but a supernatural big bad named Vincent Roeg (Danny Huston), who’s made some kind of deal with the devil.

The changes to the source material aren’t inherently bad, but they often feel unnecessary and convoluted.

I found myself longing for the simplicity of the original story, where the tragedy felt more raw and relatable.

This version adds layers of supernatural mumbo-jumbo that muddy the waters and dilute the emotional impact.

Visual Style and Atmosphere

One area where I had high hopes for “The Crow” was its visual style.

The 1994 film is remembered for its striking gothic-industrial aesthetic, and I was curious to see how a modern take would look. The results, unfortunately, are mixed at best.

There are moments of visual flair that hint at what could have been. The city feels appropriately grungy and decayed, with neon lights cutting through the perpetual gloom.

Some of the wide shots capturing Eric perched on rooftops are genuinely striking. However, these moments of inspiration are few and far between.

Much of the film is shot in a murky, desaturated style that feels more generic than atmospheric.

The costume design for Eric’s Crow persona lacks the iconic simplicity of the original, opting instead for a look that feels like it’s trying too hard to be edgy.

The makeup effects for Eric’s painted face are well-done, but we don’t see nearly enough of it.

For some reason, the film keeps Eric out of his full Crow getup until the final act, which feels like a missed opportunity.

Performance and Characters

The success of any version of “The Crow” hinges largely on the actor playing Eric Draven.

Brandon Lee’s performance in the 1994 film is legendary, combining vulnerability, rage, and a dark charisma. Bill Skarsgard, unfortunately, fails to capture that same magic.

Skarsgård is a talented actor, as we’ve seen in films like “It,” but here he feels miscast. His Eric lacks the necessary depth and charm to make us truly care about his journey.

Instead, we get a lot of brooding and mumbling, with occasional bursts of over-the-top violence.

FKA Twigs fares somewhat better as Shelly, bringing a ethereal quality to the role. However, the script gives her little to work with, and her chemistry with Skarsgård never really ignites.

The supporting cast is a mixed bag, with Danny Huston chewing the scenery as the villain Roeg, but most other characters failing to leave much of an impression.

Here’s a quick rundown of the main cast and their performances:

Actor	Character	Performance Rating (out of 5)
Bill Skarsgård	Eric Draven	2
FKA Twigs	Shelly	3
Danny Huston	Vincent Roeg	3.5
Isabella Wei	Zadie	2.5

Direction and Pacing

Director Rupert Sanders, known for films like “Snow White and the Huntsman” and the live-action “Ghost in the Shell,” brings a slick but soulless approach to “The Crow.”

The film often feels like a collection of music video setpieces rather than a cohesive narrative.

The pacing is a major issue throughout. The first act drags as we slog through Eric and Shelly’s backstory, which feels unnecessary given that we know where it’s all heading.

Once Eric is resurrected, things pick up a bit, but the film never finds a consistent rhythm. Action scenes are interspersed with clunky exposition dumps, creating a disjointed viewing experience.

Sanders seems more interested in creating cool-looking shots than in telling a compelling story or developing the characters.

This leads to a film that’s occasionally visually interesting but emotionally hollow.

Script and Dialogue

The screenplay, credited to Zach Baylin and William Schneider, is perhaps the film’s biggest weakness.

The dialogue often feels clunky and on-the-nose, lacking the poetic quality that made the original film so quotable.

Characters speak in clichés and exposition, rarely sounding like real people.

The plot itself is overly complicated, adding unnecessary supernatural elements that distract from the core story of love and vengeance.

Plot holes abound, and character motivations are often unclear or inconsistent.

One particular head-scratcher is the decision to make the villain, Roeg, some kind of immortal being with ties to the devil.

This removes the grounded, street-level villainy of the original and replaces it with vague mystical nonsense that never really pays off.

Action Sequences and Special Effects

If there’s one area where “The Crow” (2024) occasionally shines, it’s in its action sequences.

The violence is brutal and unflinching, with Eric’s invulnerability allowing for some genuinely creative and gruesome fights.

Here are what I consider the top 3 action sequences in the film:

1. Eric’s first rampage through a nightclub, showcasing his newfound powers
2. A sword fight against multiple henchmen in a neon-lit alleyway
3. The final confrontation with Roeg, featuring some impressive supernatural effects

The special effects are generally well-done, particularly in depicting Eric’s regenerative abilities.

Wounds knit themselves back together in grisly detail, and there’s a visceral quality to the violence that feels appropriate for the material.

However, the editing in some action scenes is choppy and disorienting, making it difficult to follow what’s happening.

It’s a shame, because with cleaner editing, these sequences could have been truly standout moments.

Soundtrack and Sound Design

Music has always been an integral part of “The Crow,” with the 1994 film boasting one of the most iconic soundtracks of the ’90s.

The 2024 version attempts to update this aspect for a modern audience, with mixed results.

The score, composed by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor, has some genuinely haunting moments.

It blends industrial beats with more atmospheric pieces that effectively set the mood. However, the choice of songs for key scenes often feels out of place or too on-the-nose.

The sound design is generally solid, with the city feeling alive and menacing. The sounds of violence are appropriately crunchy and impactful, adding to the brutality of the action scenes.

Themes and Symbolism

At its core, “The Crow” has always been a story about love, loss, and the destructive nature of vengeance.

While these themes are present in the 2024 version, they often feel muddled or underdeveloped.

The film attempts to explore ideas of addiction, redemption, and the cyclical nature of violence, but never digs deep enough to say anything truly meaningful.

The crow itself, meant to be a powerful symbol of Eric’s resurrection and quest for justice, feels more like a plot device than a resonant metaphor.

Here’s a breakdown of some key themes and how they’re represented:

Theme	Representation in the Film	Effectiveness (out of 5)
Love beyond death	Eric’s memories of Shelly	2
Vengeance	Eric’s violent rampage	3
Addiction and recovery	Rehab sequences	2
Corruption of power	Roeg’s supernatural dealings	1.5

Cultural Context and Relevance

“The Crow” (2024) arrives in a cinematic landscape saturated with comic book adaptations and reboots.

While the original film and comic were groundbreaking in their gothic aesthetic and exploration of trauma, this new version struggles to find its place.

The film seems unsure whether it wants to appeal to fans of the original or attract a new audience.

As a result, it ends up feeling like a watered-down version of both.

The attempts to modernize the story, such as incorporating social media elements and updating the music, often feel forced and out of touch.

In a world where comic book movies have evolved to tackle complex themes and push visual boundaries, The Crow (2024) feels oddly dated and generic.

It lacks the raw emotion and counterculture edge that made the original so impactful.

Personal Reflection and Opinion

As the credits rolled on “The Crow” (2024), I found myself feeling mostly disappointed. As a fan of the original film and comic, I wanted to love this new interpretation.

I wanted it to capture the spirit of the source material while bringing something fresh to the table. Unfortunately, it fails on both counts.

The film isn’t a complete disaster. There are moments of visual flair, some decent action sequences, and occasional glimpses of what could have been a more interesting movie.

But these positives are outweighed by a weak script, inconsistent performances, and a general lack of the emotional resonance that made the original so powerful.

Bill Skarsgård, talented as he is, simply can’t fill Brandon Lee’s shoes as Eric Draven. The chemistry between him and FKA Twigs never ignites, making their tragic love story feel flat and unearned.

The supernatural elements added to the plot overcomplicate what should be a straightforward tale of love and vengeance.

Perhaps most disappointingly, the film lacks the gothic atmosphere and distinctive visual style that defined the 1994 version.

While there are a few striking images, much of the movie looks like any other generic action flick.

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