Classic Review: The Crow (1994)

On the eve of it’s long in development reboot finally hitting theatres this weekend and for the 30th anniversary, let’s take a look back at 1994’s cult classic The Crow.

Based on the comic book series of the same name, The Crow is a Gothic superhero revenge film directed by Alex Proyas (Dark City, I Robot) and starring the late Brandon Lee in his final screen role. On the one year anniversary of the night that rock guitarist Eric Draven (Lee) and his fiancée were brutally assaulted and murdered, Eric returns from the afterlife, half alive half dead and with supernatural powers. Donning black leather, clown like makeup and watched over by a mysterious crow, Eric dons this new vigilante identity to exact revenge on the gang members responsible. Beginning in media-res, the film only offers brief glimpses of Eric’s life before becoming the titular Crow, giving the film a nice sense of mystery early on and eventually foregrounding the slick style and action with the tragic heart beating at its centre. Economical yet efficient storytelling.

Proyas’ direction and style gives the story an appropriately comic book-esque and Gothic atmosphere, with bright reds, blues and oranges accentuating the desolate, dreary streets. Crows flying through miniature recreations of the city and big practical street sets while obviously being sets add to the film’s charm as Proyas and co. emphasize style over realism. The grittiness and brutal violence of the film’s premise lends itself well to the Gothic aesthetic, ensuring the film’s emotions and darkness remain effective while keeping the film entertaining all the same. The heightened visual aesthetic carries over to the performances as well, with a memorable assortment of character actors giving personality to even the smallest supporting roles from Ernie Hudson as Sgt. Albrecht, the cop investigating these mysterious revenge killings, and Michael Wincott as Top Dollar, the long haired, katana wielding gang leader and main antagonist.

The Crow‘s legacy is inescapable from the tragic circumstances surrounding its filming, a tragedy that is felt in every frame. Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee had already established himself as a charismatic and talented lead in a number of martial arts action films (Showdown in Little Tokyo, Rapid Fire), but The Crow was to be his first real dramatic turn. The role of Eric Draven allowed Lee to combine his physicality for action with a darker, dramatic role. Late into production, a prop gun misfired its blank round, killing Lee on set and requiring the film to be rewritten and certain sequences finished using stunt doubles and CGI assisted face mapping which are seamlessly blended into the film. Knowing the real life tragedy does give the film a slightly eerie feel considering the film’s premise but Lee’s performance is immortal and the iconography of his crow has remained iconic in the years since. He walks a tight line between tragic lover, righteous revenge seeker and supernatural entity enjoying his newfound powers and toying with his enemies. The edgy one liners and poetic musings could ring awkward or eye rolling but Lee’s physical performance and emotive eyes under the pale makeup sell it as both cool and sincere.

Thirty years on, it’s easy to see why The Crow endures as a cult classic of the 1990s, with a uniquely moody and Gothic style, and Brandon Lee’s enduring and iconic final performance. Not to mention a soundtrack that’s wall to wall 90s grunge/metal classics, with hits from Nine Inch Nails, The Cure and Rage Against the Machine amongst others making The Crow one of THE most 90s films ever made.

For those who have never seen it or are itching for a rewatch, The Crow is available to stream on Shudder in Canada, and Prime Video in the US. For physical media enthusiasts, The Crow was recently released on 4K Blu-ray from Paramount in a truly stunning restoration that was viewed in preparation for this review.

still courtesy of Miramax

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Alex Josevski

letterboxd.com/groovyalex391/