The Crow (1994)

The Crow (1994)

10/10

Starring

Brandon Lee

Directed by Alex Proyas

The Crow has reached an iconic status in the movie world, largely because it was the last film Brandon Lee (Bruce Lee’s son) starred in before his tragic death on set. He was fatally shot during production due to a prop gun mishap. His death shocked the industry and, ironically, contributed to the film’s massive success, turning it into a cult classic.

The movie is an adaptation of the comic book series of the same name by James O'Barr. It tells the story of Eric (Brandon Lee), a man who, along with his fiancée Shelly, is brutally attacked in their home. Eric is shot and killed, while Shelly is savagely beaten, raped, and left to die.

But a year later after their death, Eric is resurrected by a crow and returns to hunt down the men who murdered him and his fiancée. Now undead, he is invulnerable—immune to pain and injury—as long as he stays focused on his mission of revenge.

The film delivers fast-paced action, and its adaptation of the comic is widely regarded as faithful. The cinematography is immersive, keeping the audience in step with Eric’s nocturnal journey. The dark and moody visuals never leave you wishing for more light or a different angle—they’re exactly as they should be. Then there’s the soundtrack, a gritty, melancholic rock score that perfectly matches Eric’s sorrow and rage. From the very beginning, director Alex Proyas (Dark City (1998), I, Robot (2004)) establishes a somber tone that never lets up. There are no moments of lighthearted relief—just pure, unfiltered darkness.

Unlike typical hero movies, The Crow dares to go places others won’t. No breathers. Just darkness. My issues with this movie lies with the antagonist, Top Dollar. In my opinion, I feel the portrayal was less menacing, than I would have expected, also, his motivations seem more disjointed and unclear at times, especially the way he is shown to be occultic. The occultic elements involving Top Dollar and his step-sister, Myca, are underdeveloped, it is implied, and I see this as a huge missed opportunity. In my view, I see, their dabbling in dark rituals was like an afterthought than a key part of the story.

All that aside, this is one of my best movies, the special effects were groundbreaking for their time, and the story remains gripping. None of the sequels that followed managed to capture the same magic, with each subsequent film receiving worse ratings—only making the original stand out even more.

Now, a remake of this “untouchable classic” is in the works, sparking debate. Will it live up to the original, or will it follow the path of the failed sequels? My take? Hollywood has run out of fresh ideas, resorting to remakes and unnecessary trilogies just to make more money. This remake falls right into that pattern—some movies simply shouldn't be remade. That said, I'll still watch it with cautious optimism. Nearly two decades have passed since The Crow was released, and advancements in technology could bring something new to the table. I just hope it doesn’t suck.