The Crow Is a Gothic Superhero Romance Destined for Cult Status

There are people reading this review who weren’t born when producers first tried to bring back The Crow. On this website, the first article about it was 2008 (which just so happened to be io9’s first year of existence), and since then, every few years, a new director and star attempted to adapt James O’Barr’s gothic comic series for a new generation. I mention this because that history—whether you know it or not—somehow hangs heavily on Rupert Sanders’ The Crow, a reimagining of the original source material starring Bill Skarsgård. Simply put, the mere idea of a new Crow movie carries with it an albatross of impossibility. For years, no one could make it happen. There has to be a reason. And that reason must mean whatever finally makes it to theaters won’t be good.

Well, Sanders’ version did make it. It’s coming to theaters this weekend. And, I’m admittedly shocked to say, it’s actually pretty good. It’s not great. There are issues of course. But even the lauded 1994 Alex Proyas film with Brandon Lee had those. Much like that film though, this one feels like a fresh interpretation of the story that may not see immediate success but is destined to be discovered by would-be fans in the years to come.

The thing that immediately stands out about The Crow is just how obsessed it is with the relationship between the two main characters. There’s Shelly, played by FKA twigs, who finds herself on the run from a mysterious entity and ends up in a rehab facility. There she meets Eric (Skarsgård), an introvert with a troubled childhood who is hated by everyone in the facility. The two quickly bond, escape, and fall madly in love.

The development of that relationship covers the majority of the film, endearing the characters to the audience. It probably goes on too long but the more we spend time with Eric and Shelly the more we care about them, and the more anxiety builds about what’s to come. Because, if you know anything about The Crow, eventually both Shelly and Eric are killed, Eric is given a mysterious set of powers, and he’s told he can bring Shelly back if he kills the people who killed her.

Once Eric gets those powers, it still takes him a fair amount of time to figure them out. Therefore, it’s not until very, very late in the film that the full promise of The Crow is on display. Then, and only then, do we get any prolonged action set pieces or superhero-type moments. And, once that happens, it’s not just cathartic, it’s exhilarating. Sanders crafts an operatic symphony of violence as Eric disposes of the bad guys, with a level of gore sure to make some audience members’ stomachs turn. It’s truly brutal and feels like an almost completely different movie.

However, as good as that third act ends up being, it’s also the biggest problem with The Crow. Tonally, it’s three different movies. It’s a romantic love story. It’s the origin story murder mystery. Then it’s a big, exciting, violent action film. Each works on its own but also slightly against the rest of the film because the balance isn’t quite right.

In spite of that, you’re always along for the ride thanks to the magnificent performances by Skarsgård and twigs. Each has such a unique look and presence that you can’t take your eyes away from them. You can tell the characters are broken, potentially scary people, but you can also see and feel an almost river of innocence flowing through them. Plus, their chemistry is just off the charts. It’s as if they’ve known each other forever. Sanders might not have the story quite right, but the characters and performances are spot on.

Even so, there are other issues too. The mythology of Eric’s powers is a little random and confusing. A villain played by Danny Huston isn’t as exciting or captivating enough to pose a real threat. And the ending lacks a bit of the emotional impact you’d hope for after everything you’d just watched. Make no mistake, The Crow is a flawed movie. But the flaws are beautifully at odds with the positives, leading me to say this: if you have any interest in The Crow, and are willing to go in with an open mind, the film will surprise you. It’s much better than you’re expecting and, in moments, actually pretty damned good.

The Crow opens August 23.

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