Summary
WARNING: Major spoilers for The Crow (2024) ahead!
The 2024 remake ofThe Crowappears to have fallen short of the 1994 original movie starring the late Brandon Lee in many ways, but there is one element that it does better.The Crow’s debut Rotten Tomatoes scoreindicates that it is a far cry from the iconic gothic noir movie from the 1990s, which was a critical and commercial success upon its release and has become a beloved cult classic.The Crow’s castis led by Bill Skarsgård in the role of Eric Draven, and while he did his best with the role, the story itself fell flat.
While the remake kept most of the major plot points from the original, 2024’sThe Crowprovides more perspective on the supernatural elements of the original narrative. Many of the changes made to the overarching story contribute to the complaints from critics and moviegoers, specifically relating to the movie’s villain andthe powers of Bill Skarsgård’s Eric Draven. However, one of the major departures from the original narrative progression actually works really well, and gives the remake a very specific edge over the original.
The Crow 2024 Better Explores Eric & Shelly’s Relationship & Romance Than In 1994
It adds more background to their deep connection
The Crowremake doesn’t open with the grisly violence that set Eric Draven on his vengeful path in the 1994 original. Instead of diving right into the murder of both Eric and his fiancé, Shelly Webster (FKA Twigs),The Crow2024 provides the backstory of how Eric and Shelly met and fell in love. The two met in a facility for troubled youth; Eric was sent there after years of suffering an abusive mother and trauma had taken their toll, while Shelly intentionally gets herself arrested to escape a crime boss out to kill her for an incriminating video in her possession.
At various stages in the development ofThe Crowremake, Mark Wahlberg, Channing Tatum, Ryan Gosling, and James McAvoy were all rumored to be taking on the role of Eric Draven, although none of their castings ever amounted to more than speculation.
The intent in showing how Eric and Shelly meet and fall in love is clear. By understanding how deep their romantic and spiritual connection is, the audience can gaina better appreciation for the circumstances that allow The Crow to bring someone back from the dead. Knowing how important Shelly was to Eric, along with how deeply troubled he was before he met her, helps to provide some context for his violent vengeance. It’s actually a sensible reason to elaborate upon an element from the original; whether it was executed effectively is a separate debate.
The Crow 2024 Still Struggles To Get Shelly & Eric’s Relationship Right
The chemistry is unfortunately lacking
Despite the sensible intentions behind showing more of Eric and Shelly’s relationship before they were both brutally murdered, those early scenes in the movie didn’t really have the desired effect. There is a laundry list of problems to point to inThe Crow2024, but the one that most significantly impacts the movie’s beginning isthe lack of chemistry between Bill Skarsgård and FKA Twigs.It isn’t even necessarily their fault; their relationship isn’t given much in the way of depth, and as a result their romance feels more quirky and cute than intense and passionate.
Providing the background behind why Shelly was marked for death takes away the senselessness of the crime, and makes the pair’s deaths feel less like a cosmic injustice and more like a commonplace symptom of organized crime.
WhileThe Crow2024 bested the original in showing the development of the relationship, it’s hard to definitively say that it was an improvement upon how the original featured their relationship. By making the crime feel more random and senseless, the original moviepainted a clear picture of why the deaths of Eric and Shelly were considered “wrongs to be righted.” By providing the background behind why Shelly was marked for death, it takes away the senselessness, and makes the pair’s deaths feel less like a cosmic injustice and more like a commonplace symptom of organized crime.
The Crow
Cast
The Crow (2024) is a dark and gritty reimagining of the original graphic novel. It follows Eric, who is resurrected from the dead to avenge his and his soulmate’s brutal murders. Armed with supernatural abilities, Eric seeks justice against the killers responsible, navigating through a corrupt city that is as much a character as he is. This adaptation introduces new elements to captivate the modern audience!
