The latest incarnation of The Crow has unfortunately fallen far short of the mark, and is a bit of a let-down. While the 1994 film was a dark and gritty masterpiece, this reboot feels like a pale imitation. With a lacklustre plot, subpar writing, and not much action to boot, this iteration fails to capture the spirit of its predecessor.
The character of Eric Draven, played by Bill Skarsgård, has been stripped of his defining characteristics. Instead of the complex and compelling anti-hero we saw in the original, we are presented with a brooding figure defined solely by his drug use and tattoos. His relationship with Shelly, played by FKA Twigs, is underdeveloped and unconvincing, relying heavily on the power of montage to convey an emotional connection.
This is supposed to be a passionate romance, but it’s forced and lifeless. There’s absolutely no chemistry between Eric and Shelly, and no reason for anyone to believe in it. It’s just two lifeless actors posing for a cheap perfume advert.
Skarsgård’s performance, while competent, lacks depth and engagement. His portrayal of Draven feels one-dimensional and emotionally distant. Twigs, on the other hand, delivers a flat, torpid performance that fails to evoke sympathy or empathy for her character, giving absolutely nothing when she needs to prove why her death would be painful enough to make a man come back from the dead for her.
The film’s pacing is slow and deliberate, with little to no tension or excitement. Skarsgård doesn’t even go full Crow until the film is damn near over, and we’re not sure if it’s even worth sticking around to the end. The lack of chemistry between Eric and Shelly further undermines the film’s emotional impact, and the supporting cast is equally shallow. Hell, even the bad guys are forgettable.
We’re going to close this out by saying this reboot is a complete miss. They tried to cash in on nostalgia without actually understanding what made the original so great, being yet another example of how The Crow franchise died when Brandon Lee did, and everything that came after was just playing for second. This bloody film pissed upon the ENTIRE franchise, and isn’t good enough to be considered for last place.
If you’ve never seen or heard of The Crow before now, you might find this film entertaining. However, if you were a fan of the 1994 film, or the comic book at ALL, you would be astoundingly disappointed, and should ABSOLUTELY save your money.
