There are people reading this review who weren’t born when the producers tried to bring it back A crow. On this website, the first article about it was 2008 (which was the first year of io9’s existence), and since then, every few years, a new director and a star try to adapt the comedy series of James O’Barr to a new generation. I say this because that history—whether you know it or not—somehow hangs heavily on Rupert Sanders’ A crowa reimagining of the original source material starring Bill Skarsgård. Simply put, it’s just an idea for something new A crow The film is accompanied by an albatross that is impossible. For years no one could make it happen. There has to be a reason. And that reason must mean that whatever finally makes it to theaters is not going to be good.
However, Sanders’ version won. It’s coming to theaters this weekend. And, I’m really surprised that, it’s actually pretty cool. That’s not the case big. There are issues of course. But even the acclaimed 1994 film starring Alex Proyas and Brandon Lee had them. Like that film though, this one feels like a new interpretation of the story that may not see immediate success but is set to be discovered by would-be fans in the years to come.
Something that stands out right away A crow how interesting is the relationship between the two main characters. There’s Shelly, played by FKA Branches, who finds herself on the run from a mysterious place and ends up in a rehab facility. There you meet Eric (Skarsgård), a slightly troubled fan who is hated by everyone in the facility. The two quickly bond, escape, and fall madly in love.
The development of that relationship makes up the majority of the film, endearing the characters to the audience. It probably goes on too long but the more time we spend with Eric and Shelly the more we care about them, and the more anxious we become about what’s to come. Because, if you know anything about it A crowin the end both Shelly and Eric are killed, Eric is given a set of mysterious powers, and is told that he can bring Shelly back if he kills the people who killed him.
Once Eric found that power, it still took him a long time to find it. So, it’s not too late, too late in the film to fully promise A crow is displayed. Then, and after that, we get any long action set pieces or superhero type moments. And, when that happens, it’s not only cathartic, it’s exhilarating. Sanders creates an operatic symphony of violence as Eric disposes of the bad guys, to a dangerous degree that will turn some audiences. It’s really brutal and feels like a completely different movie.
However, as that third act ends up being, it’s also a big problem A crow. In total, it is three different films. A love story of love. It’s a murder mystery. Then it’s a big, exciting, violent action movie. Each one works on its own but also slightly contradicts the film as a whole because the balance isn’t quite right.
Despite that, you’re always along for the ride thanks to Skarsgård’s great performances and Branches. Each one has such a unique look and presence that you can’t take your eyes off of it. You can see that the characters are broken, people who can be scary, but you can see and feel almost a river of innocence flowing between them. Plus, their chemistry is off the charts. It’s like they’ve known each other forever. Sanders may not have the story right, but the characters and performances are spot on.
However, there are other problems as well. The myth of Eric’s power is random and confusing. The villain played by Danny Huston isn’t exciting or interesting enough to pose a real threat. And the ending doesn’t have the least emotional impact you’d hope for after everything you’ve just watched. Make no mistake, A crow it’s a flawed film. But the flaws are well opposed to the good things, which leads me to say this: if you are interested in it A crowand willing to go in with an open mind, the film will surprise you. It’s a lot better than you expected and, for a while, it’s actually pretty good.
A crow opens August 23.
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