Review of The Crow (1994) by Thequietgamer — 16 Jun 2019

The one thing that sticks out in my mind the most after watching this is how it all could have just been some edgelord's wet dream come to life. Yet, actual emotional maturity was infused into this gothic revenge thriller. Thanks to Brandon Lee's excellent final performance the protagonist's inner turmoil is portrayed in a thoughtful manner. So all of the anger, grief, and general moodiness in the movie never make it come off as the juvenile, emo pandering porn it otherwise could have been.

The Crow still looks gorgeous after all these years. Alex Proyas created a version of Detroit that manages to out style even Tim Burton's wonderful take on Gotham City. Batman himself would find it too grim of a place to call home. This can be counted among the few comic book movies that actually look like a series of panels brought to life. Something that is very evident every time there's a bird's eye view given of the city.

It's not all gloom and doom however. There is a sense of humor to be found, dark though it may be. Lee brings a certain demented playfulness to the table when coming face to face with those who ripped away his life and love. Delivering memorable exchanges laced with the kind of insanity that only comes from having lost literally everything. It makes things a little more exciting without taking away from the story's solemn edge.

This stylish, violent tale about an all black wearing rockstar returning from the dead to avenge his beloved could have been the kind of thing to only find appeal with the self-proclaimed "tortured souls" of any high school. Yet even at it's most indulgent there's a real heart and depth to The Crow's melancholy that allows it to connect with a wider, wiser audience. Maybe that's because it speaks to something that we can all understand and in a very well-executed manner. That losing love is simply hell.