“The Crow” Revenge in the Garden of Love and Drugs

Genre: Action

The Crow remake is a film that stirs up a lot of feelings, and not always the good kind. If you’re looking for a nostalgic trip back to the 1994 original, this isn’t it. In fact, this reboot, directed by Rupert Sanders, is nothing like its predecessor, and whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on your taste for gritty, drug-fueled, hyper-violent revenge movies. If the original Crow made us feel Brandon Lee’s tragic charisma as he sought revenge for love lost, this version gives us a darker, more twisted journey, one where drugs and death seem to be inextricably linked in the murky world of its anti-hero.

To get one thing out of the way, yes, the movie looks great. Bill Skarsgård as Eric Draven, the man resurrected to avenge his own death and that of his girlfriend Shelly (played by FKA Twigs), is visually striking. The movie has that washed-out, rain-soaked neo-noir vibe that feels more at home in Northern European horror films, or maybe something by Nicolas Winding Refn. The cinematography is all gloom, dark alleyways, and perpetual twilight, with blood-splattered fight scenes to match, feeling like it was dragged out of the afterlife itself, which is fitting given the plot.

Speaking of the plot, if you thought the original film was dark, this one takes that to the next level. Eric Draven isn’t just a man avenging a brutal murder; he’s a broken addict with a childhood trauma that never lets him go. Shelly, a musician with her own tragic backstory, isn’t just the love interest, she’s pulled into the story of a demonic crime lord, Vincent Roeg (played by Danny Huston), who’s been alive for centuries thanks to a pact with the devil. Roeg is less a man and more of an ancient evil, playing his cruel game of manipulation and death while feeding innocent souls to the underworld. And if the 1994 Crow was a gothic tale of revenge, this version leans harder into the supernatural, almost making drugs feel like a tool for demonic power rather than just a human vice.

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But here’s where the movie trips up. It has a strange, almost dangerous tendency to romanticize drug use. While plenty of movies have tackled the horrors of addiction, this one almost makes it seem…cool. The hazy scenes of Eric and Shelly bonding over their shared history of addiction or running through the streets high as kites are more glamorous than gritty. Instead of leaning into the harsh realities of addiction, the film seems to bask in it, as if to say that the path to redemption comes after you’ve embraced your demons fully. It’s an odd choice and one that takes away from their love story.

While the film is two hours long, it feels like it takes forever to get to the point where Eric actually becomes The Crow. We spend a lot of time watching him wallow in self-doubt, in his rehab center, and in his doomed romance with Shelly. And while FKA Twigs is magnetic as Shelly, their chemistry with Skarsgård surprisingly feels like a needle in the eyes. They’re both fantastic actors, but the connection between them feels shallow, making the eventual revenge plot fall a little flat emotionally. You’re left wondering why Eric is going through all this trouble for a love that never quite feels as deep as the movie wants you to believe.

The villain, Vincent Roeg, is the typical bad guy, no doubt about it. He’s powerful, immortal, and enjoys his evil deeds way too much. But there’s nothing especially memorable about him. He’s the type of villain you’ve seen in countless other films, and his demonic deal with the devil feels more like a plot device than anything truly compelling. You don’t root for him to lose, but you also don’t care much when Eric eventually faces off with him in a bloody showdown.

The film’s action scenes are brutal; no doubt about that. They’re choreographed with flair, and the camera lingers on the violence in a way that feels almost excessive. If you’re into gore and flashy fight scenes, you’ll have plenty to enjoy here. But once the blood dries, there’s not much substance left. The Crow is supposed to be a symbol of revenge and justice, a force that can’t be stopped, but in this film, Eric feels more like a puppet to the powers around him. He’s less of a hero and more of a tragic figure doomed to repeat a cycle of violence that never quite satisfies.

Despite its flaws, though, there’s something about the remake that might click with fans of the original comic book series or even those who enjoyed the goth aesthetic of the ’90s film. The film’s supernatural elements are more pronounced here, and there’s a certain romance to its dark, brooding atmosphere. It’s not for everyone, but for the right audience, this movie might just hit the spot. It’s like an extended music video for a death metal band—moody, violent, and full of sad-eyed stares into the distance.

Ultimately, this is a movie that’s going to divide audiences. It’s not a crowd-pleaser, and it definitely doesn’t have the heart that made the original film such a cult classic. But it’s got style, and if you’re willing to overlook its missteps, there’s a haunting quality to its bleak view of love, death, and revenge. Whether that’s enough to make it worth the price to rent or buy, though, is another question entirely.

The Crow is available to rent or buy on multiple platforms.