I may lose whatever goth and alt cred I have had by saying this, but I enjoy the new version of The Crow a bit more than the infamous original from the 90s. Maybe it’s just because I’ve never had any sort of attachment to the brooding cult film, as I never watched it during those formative years that it might’ve imprinted something on me, but instead well into my adult life. I certainly understand why a movie like this has garnered such a dedicated fan base over the years, and surprisingly I’d say the least of it would have to do with the shocking death of its young star, Brandon Lee, and more to do with pure aesthetic.
That soundtrack simply can’t be beat thanks to the contributions of heavy hitters like Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, The Cure, Helmet, and others. When paired with its simplistic story of undead vengeance and director Alex Proyas’ dark and brooding visuals, it makes for a very striking and distinct sensory experience that’s clearly still striking a chord even today. In that regard, the 1994 original has a significant leg up from its newborn cousin, but those willing to give it a chance just might be surprised at what it has to offer.
Written by Academy Award-nominee Zach Baylin (King Richard, Creed III, Gran Turismo, Bob Marley: One Love) and Will Schneider, and directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman, Ghost in the Shell), this new vision has long been in development - since as far back as 2008. Despite such a long production process and being handed off to various directors, writers, and stars, the film’s basic premise remains firmly intact. A troubled outcast by the name of Eric (Bill Skarsgård) falls in love with a fellow loner named Shelly (FKA Twigs), only for the two of them to be tragically murdered thanks to the evil machinations of crime lord Vincent Roeg (Danny Huston). But Eric is given a chance to rise from the dead and avenge his one true love, and his quest carves a bloody path through the city’s criminal underbelly.
This latest adaptation of James O’Barr’s violently cathartic graphic novel manages to plunge much further into the depths of its characters and their emotions, all while still telling its story in the same kind of broad operatic strokes that the first film did. 2024’s The Crow even goes so far as to stage its grandest, bloodiest, and most “proof-of-concept” sequence in the middle of an opera itself. There’s no subtlety to be found here thank goodness, as that would defeat the entire purpose. It's that desire for moody and macabre maximalism that makes this film work more often than not.
Even so, for those staunch defenders of the original, rest assured that this new attempt can’t hold a candle to the sheer style of Proyas’ film. Some select scenes from this one regrettably evoke the kind of cheap look of shows that air on the CW, and unfortunately that holds especially true for a pivotal, ethereal location where our protagonist has some of his most important moments. The visuals of this new Crow are strong enough in concept (Skarsgård at least looks great once his transformation occurs), but ultimately feel indistinguishable from various other movie projects like I, Frankenstein, Dracula Untold, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters and others that fit that particular 2010s goth mold. And while Huston is a fantastic actor who easily devours villainous roles, his character feels far too undercooked to fully work as a true antagonist to Eric. These flaws aren’t insignificant.
What really ends up working strongly in Sanders’ favor is the movie’s central love story, which is much more developed this time around when compared to its predecessor. Shelly is given far more agency and realization as a character in her own right, which naturally boosts Eric as well. His undying need to avenge her not only feels earned but actively inflamed, and when paired with Skarsgård’s excellent lead performance, it helps drive the film’s increasingly brutal action to ensure that it leaves an emotional impact. You can almost physically feel every punch, kick and stab that Eric delivers to his enemies.
This new version of The Crow has an uphill climb if it wants to win over any diehard fans of the 1994 film, there’s no doubt about that. But many of its differences from the original are what prove to be its biggest strengths, and it’s that ability to improve and surprise in some aspects that gives this remake merit. Doomed love and passionate vengeance never really goes out of style, so long as you bring enough style of your own to back it up.
‘The Crow’ is currently playing in theaters.
