Review of The Raven (2012) by Valerie P — 30 Mar 2014

This film is a complete fantasy vision of what it might have been like if a murderer had been inspired to commit crimes based upon Poe's writings, and Poe had been there to help solve the case.

I am the truest fan of John Cusack. He will forever be my favorite actor of all time; and yet I cannot believe him as Poe. Cusack does his best to get into character, but it is a completely ill-conceived idea. Perhaps if Cusack had simply played a fictional contemporary of Poe, or a Poe enthusiast; but it seems as if McTeigue was keen to have a period piece with all the trimmings.

The script shines in places, but one does not inspire realism simply by producing gorey scenes. I think this one probably should have been left on the drawing room table and never brought to fruition.