The Raven (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
As 'The Raven' (directed by James McTeigue) begins, we are told that it is 19th century Baltimore, and that we are about to witness the last days of Edgar Allan Poe's (John Cusack) melancholy life. He was broke, a drunk & was getting thrown out of bars left & right. And in the week leading up to his death, a local Detective by the name Fields (Luke Evans, of Immortals) makes a startling discovery: a mother & daughter are found brutally murdered, and the crime resembles a fictional killing described with gruesome detail as part of a collection of stories written by none other than the struggling writer & social pariah that is Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another gory murder occurs, also inspired by a Poe story.
This Poe story, in particular, is based on The Pit & the Pendulum. It involves a huge pendulum-rigged axe, a vivisection & is one of the most grisly things I've seen onscreen in some time. Realizing that a serial killer is on the loose using Poe's stories as the template for his rampage, Det. Fields enlists the author's aid in stopping the bloody attacks. But when Poe's secret fiancee, Emily (Alice Eve), is kidnapped, they figure that she is the murderer's next victim. Poe tries desperately to follow the clues left at each murder scene to discover Emily's whereabouts before she dies. So with help from Det. Fields & Emily's ill-tempered father (Brendan Gleeson), Poe must use his astute powers of deduction and insight into the killer's mind to solve the case before it's too late.
'The Raven' plays like a period murder mystery. The premise of a serial murderer constructing his deaths by using Poe's body of work is pretty cool, I must admit. That said, the script - while refreshingly literate in nature - doesn't quite fulfill its narrative possibilities. And the reveal of the killer (in the final 10-15 min.) proves to be disappointing - if only because, like most murder mystery TV shows & films ... the ending doesn't justify the fun build-up. In fact, I actually think that it would have been better to know who the killer is from the beginning; so we can see the parallels/backing & forthing that goes on btwn. the killer and the investigation. There's no "gotcha" moment. Still, ending aside, 'The Raven' is what I'd call macabre fun {haha}.
I enjoyed the look & feel of the film. Really, it's very similar to, say, From Hell (19th century Jack the Ripper London). So, it's not too original. But I love films with that signature grotesquerie. So, original or not, I ate it up. Director James McTeigue really amps up the level of gore in this film; something I did not expect, based on my prior knowledge of the film & the trailers. The graphic nature of many of the deaths is 'almost' counterproductive since 'The Raven' is more murder mystery procedural than horror flick. That said, I'm glad there was some blood & guts - if only because it was a surprise, and a component I wasn't expecting.
John Cusack is a credible Poe. Not only does he fit the mold, physically: jet black hair, groomed face, billowing black cape. But he's dark, dour, angsty, & nails the tortured artist mold. Additionally, Cusack brings a kind of demented wit to the proceedings. Luke Evans is solid as the hardworking detective. I liked his camaraderie with Cusack's Poe; good chemistry. Alice Eve is appealing as Emily. I wish she were in the story more (and not freaking out in a coffin). The only major mishap in characterization is with the role of Emily's father -- poor Brendan Gleeson. It's just a thankless role. So yeah. Is 'The Raven' a masterpiece? Hell, no. Is it overly memorable? No. But it gave me 105 min. of a spooky, unexpectedly gory diversion.
This Poe story, in particular, is based on The Pit & the Pendulum. It involves a huge pendulum-rigged axe, a vivisection & is one of the most grisly things I've seen onscreen in some time. Realizing that a serial killer is on the loose using Poe's stories as the template for his rampage, Det. Fields enlists the author's aid in stopping the bloody attacks. But when Poe's secret fiancee, Emily (Alice Eve), is kidnapped, they figure that she is the murderer's next victim. Poe tries desperately to follow the clues left at each murder scene to discover Emily's whereabouts before she dies. So with help from Det. Fields & Emily's ill-tempered father (Brendan Gleeson), Poe must use his astute powers of deduction and insight into the killer's mind to solve the case before it's too late.
'The Raven' plays like a period murder mystery. The premise of a serial murderer constructing his deaths by using Poe's body of work is pretty cool, I must admit. That said, the script - while refreshingly literate in nature - doesn't quite fulfill its narrative possibilities. And the reveal of the killer (in the final 10-15 min.) proves to be disappointing - if only because, like most murder mystery TV shows & films ... the ending doesn't justify the fun build-up. In fact, I actually think that it would have been better to know who the killer is from the beginning; so we can see the parallels/backing & forthing that goes on btwn. the killer and the investigation. There's no "gotcha" moment. Still, ending aside, 'The Raven' is what I'd call macabre fun {haha}.
I enjoyed the look & feel of the film. Really, it's very similar to, say, From Hell (19th century Jack the Ripper London). So, it's not too original. But I love films with that signature grotesquerie. So, original or not, I ate it up. Director James McTeigue really amps up the level of gore in this film; something I did not expect, based on my prior knowledge of the film & the trailers. The graphic nature of many of the deaths is 'almost' counterproductive since 'The Raven' is more murder mystery procedural than horror flick. That said, I'm glad there was some blood & guts - if only because it was a surprise, and a component I wasn't expecting.
John Cusack is a credible Poe. Not only does he fit the mold, physically: jet black hair, groomed face, billowing black cape. But he's dark, dour, angsty, & nails the tortured artist mold. Additionally, Cusack brings a kind of demented wit to the proceedings. Luke Evans is solid as the hardworking detective. I liked his camaraderie with Cusack's Poe; good chemistry. Alice Eve is appealing as Emily. I wish she were in the story more (and not freaking out in a coffin). The only major mishap in characterization is with the role of Emily's father -- poor Brendan Gleeson. It's just a thankless role. So yeah. Is 'The Raven' a masterpiece? Hell, no. Is it overly memorable? No. But it gave me 105 min. of a spooky, unexpectedly gory diversion.