Watch the all-new trailer for The Crow below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Soulmates Eric Draven (Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.

Cinema’s original anti-superhero film, The Crow, finds new energy and plenty of gory action in a new adaptation that aims to bring a new side to the story to life. Filmmaker Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) amps up the energy and finds the line between the light and dark as he seeks to explore the story’s ‘tragic love’ in greater depth and the horrors that arise when such a love is taken from those deserving of it.

Sander’s direction of the subject is not to have done a literal copy of the first film, nor has he tried to bring about the same moody MTV-laced goth rock energy of the early 1990s, but instead, he’s looking to bring a new style and visual language for an entirely new generation. Sanders has also talked about his desire to explore the film’s use of Greek tragedy and ideas of love, loss and rage, and he’s working to present a story that takes the original source in a new direction to both pay respect to the universality of the original story, but also to find a new energy to the story.

Sanders has also been open with his desire to pay respect to the original film, the direction of Alex Proyas and the immortal performance given by the late great Brandon Lee, and he hopes that his version will honour the spirit of the original while also offering up something different. Sanders has also praised Bill Skarsgard’s total performance as an actor and how hard he worked as a performer to honour the spirit of Brandon Lee in his new take on the character.

Star Bill Skarsgard looks entirely monstrous as he transforms into a vengeful spirit as the resurrected Eric Draven, and there’s a violence and malice to his performance as he sets down the path of revenge. His stature and shredded physique only add to his intimidating presence, and his mastery of drama will make audiences sit up and take notice.

Speaking on the story and its subject, Skarsgard has said, “I was a huge fan of the original film growing up as a kid and was so honoured to take on the role of Eric Draven. But really what drew me to it was what Rupert Sanders wanted to do with it. He wanted to completely reimagine the story and the character and tailor it towards a modern audience. It’s a character that I know many revere and have a strong connection to – he is unlike any I’ve ever taken on before. Working with the remarkably talented FKA Twigs was magical. I felt a responsibility to Eric’s story and endeavored to stay true to the spirit of the source material; I can’t wait for the world to see the film, and hope it resonates with audiences as strongly as it did with those of us involved.”

This new adaptation also focuses deeply on the shared connection between Eric and Shelley, played here by artist FKA Twiggs. In these quick opening shots, you do feel the connection, love, and sexual energy shared between the two of them. Where the original film’s love story was revealed in flashback, in this version, it will be right at the heart of the story, and it will only add to the fury that Eric feels.

Speaking on her performance in the film and of working with Bill Skarsgard, Twiggs said, “I am so thrilled to be in THE CROW alongside the talented Bill Skarsgard and extraordinary director Rupert Sanders. The love Bill and I share on screen is effortless and indicative of the authenticity and ease that I dreamed of bringing to the role of Shelley. Eric and Shelley’s unbreakable unity is so profound and beautiful, something I hope we all feel at least once as part of the human experience. I am so excited that the trailer is being unveiled and even more excited to have the world see the film this summer.”

The violence and action of The Crow will really be turned up this time, and from this first footage, it’s a brutally bloody watch. As a returned soul with the power of immortality, Skarsgard’s Eric Draven is hell-bent on revenge, and he spills a whole heap of blood in his mission of carnage. From shotgun blasts to the chest to literally removing a samurai sword from his chest before slicing an adversary in half, The Crow has the violence ramped up, and you feel the baying pain that Eric levels on those who wronged him.

 

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The Crow offers a radically different take on a classic tale, and we’re interested in seeing Bill SKarsgard’s new resurrection as this gothic avenger when The Crow arrives in cinemas on June 6.

Image: Roadshow Films

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Now, more than 30 years later, James O’Barr’s The Crow is set to return to cinemas courtesy of director Rupert Sanders, and we’ve been lucky enough to be treated to some first-look images of the story. And it’s going in a radically new direction.

Speaking with Vanity Fair and discussing the project, Sanders said, “what drew me to this was the opportunity to make a dark romance, something that dealt with loss, grief, and the ethereal veil between life and death and reaching through that,” says Sanders, he also adds in a quippy tone of voice “look, I grew up listening to Joy Division and the Cure, and this movie is a bit like a Cure song—the beauty of melancholy.”

Since the 1994 film and the four sequels that followed, many filmmakers have tried to resurrect the project and break new ground with a host of different actors circling the role, including Mark Wahlberg, Bradly Cooper, Luke Evans, Jack Huston and Jason Momoa, who were all tipped to star in the film before Bill Skarsgard was cast (his elder brother Alex Skarsgard was at one time also a heavy contender for the role), and the result looks radically different.

Sanders is completely aware of the reaction that will arise from fans of Brandon Lee’s work in the original film, and he himself is a fan. He clarified his vision with the 1994 saying, “Obviously, it was a terrible tragedy, and it’s definitely something that we’ve always had in mind through the making of the film,” he says. “Brandon was an original voice, and I think he will always be synonymous with The Crow, and I hope he’s proud of what we’ve done and how we’ve brought the story back again. His soul is very much alive in this film. There’s a real fragility and beauty to his version of the Crow, and I think Bill feels like he is a successor to that.”

Sanders has also said that his film, unlike the 1994 version, will have its romance at the forefront of the picture, compared to telling it in flashback, and that the vengeance will kick in during the second to third act. Sanders has done this as he wants to build and explore the love story between Eric Draven (Skarsgard) and Shelly (FKA Twigs), to not only give the story more emotional relevance but also to give it a new tempo and rhythm.

Of the chemistry between Skarsgard and Twiggs, Sanders commented, saying, “I never did any tests between Bill and Twigs,” says the director. “I had them for dinner when they first arrived [on set] in Prague and I was a bit like a nervous parent looking to see if there were any sparks, because you don’t know. And they were great. They hung out and were straight into it.”

Obviously, the design of Eric’s new ‘Crow’ loom will also take audiences by surprise, and again, this is a conscious choice on behalf of Sanders to try something different and new, and that he drew on experiences from his own life to give the character a new look.

“I think the beauty of Bill is that he has a disturbing beauty, and as he transforms through his loss he becomes this thing that even he can’t control. It’s that famous line: ‘Whoever fights monsters must be careful that they don’t become one.’ That look was me in the ’90s when we were squat-raving in London, [mixed with some modern influences] like Post Malone and Lil Peep. I hope people who are 19 today look at him and go, ‘That guy is us.'” That image captures the beginning of his transformation into the Crow. “It’s the moment we realize bad things are coming.”

Here’s the official synopsis:

Soulmates Eric Draven (Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA Twigs) are brutally murdered when the demons of her dark past catch up with them. Given the chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself, Eric sets out to seek merciless revenge on their killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to put the wrong things right.

But what’s my take on Bill Skarsgard’s new look as Eric Draven? I’m intrigued. When you first look at his Eric, it’s a jarring thing to see, as Brandon Lee’s image as Eric Draven has been with us for the last thirty years, and as one of my top ten films of all time, I wasn’t expecting this new look. But on contemplation, I’m very impressed and excited to see what comes next. Yes, fans will chatter with the words’ hard pass’, but it feels like Sanders is deliberately not trying to give us a rehash of the first film, and instead looking to find new avenues and expression from the original text.

The look and style of this adaptation feel different from the original film, and I think that’s important and, in all actuality, very exciting. It’s different, it’s new, and this isn’t us diving back into the 1990s goth culture, but Sanders exploring how this character could look and be like in a contemporary setting.

I also believe fans need to be patient with this picture and view Sander’s The Crow as a new adaptation of James O’Barr’s cult graphic novel. I think there’s a special kind of beauty and interest there, and an elevation that The Crow, first published in 1989 by Caliber Comics, is now verified as a great work of literature and seeks other artists who want to adapt it in their own style in voice, but also honouring the source material.

How many adaptations of Romeo & Juliet and Dune, or even Batman or Spider-Man, do we have, each with their own artistic style and merit, and all of which make an impact on the audience? I think if we view this Adaptation of The Crow in this style, we’ll get something interesting, and I’m keen to see what comes next.

The Crow will arrive in cinemas on June 7, 2024.

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What’s It About?

Following the savage murder of rockstar Eric Draven (Lee) and his fiance Shelley (Sofia Shinas) on October 30 (also known as Devil’s Night), a harsh grief settles over the city of Detroit with a rainfall that never stops. On the eve of their death, a mythical crow resurrects Draven for one night, and this spirit seeks revenge against the Detroit crime underworld including the devilish Top Dollar (Michael Wincott).

What Makes It A Cult Film?

The brand ‘cult film’ is especially poignant when applied to The Crow, and can be seen in every facet of the film’s production, from its origin right up until its release in 1994.

Adapted from the underground graphic novel by James O’Barr, the film was adapted by ‘splatterpunk’ writer David J. Schow, and utilised a number of up and coming artists like production designer Alex McDowell and composer Graeme Revell. There were a lot of fresh ideas on this young set, which was overseen by music video director and first time feature-film director Alex Proyas.

Influenced by German Expressionism, Hong Kong kung fu cinema, 1970s horror filmmaking, and the alternative rock scene of the late 80s and early 90s, The Crow was a complete mismatch of ideas and inspiration, which resulted in a one-of-a-kind film.

Proyas brought a hard-edged tone to The Crow that was decidedly dark and violent. The story itself was equal parts savage and compassionate, and many subcultures have been drawn to The Crow because of its subject matter and unique aesthetic.

The film’s release was uniquely cult too, especially with the heartbreaking accidental death of Brandon Lee during the final days of shooting. While plans had initially called for the film to be left unfinished, Proyas used a unique approach to complete and release it as a dedication to the talent and memory of Lee.

Why We Love It

With its gothic romance revenge plot, highly stylised action set pieces (all of which were choreographed by Brandon Lee himself), moody color palette and striking visual design, there’s not much to not love about The Crow. 

But above all else, we have to single out Brandon Lee’s performance as Eric Draven. Lee completely gave himself to this distraught and slightly manic character, and while he played up Draven’s thirst for revenge perfectly, he also found moments to show his softer side. It’s a complete performance, and is all the more poignant because of what might have come after it.

If you haven’t seen The Crow, then please go out and watch it immediately.

If you have seen The Crow, then please go and watch it again.

This is one film cult you’ll want to be a part of.

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