
The Crow
1994, Action/Fantasy, 1h 40m
59 Reviews 250,000+ RatingsWhat to know
critics consensus
Filled with style and dark, lurid energy, The Crow is an action-packed visual feast that also has a soul in the performance of the late Brandon Lee. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Eric Draven
Sergeant Albrecht
Top Dollar
T-Bird
Skank
Sarah
News & Interviews for The Crow
Critic Reviews for The Crow
All Critics (59) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (49) | Rotten (10)
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Alex Proyas's pulp revenge fantasy, based on a comic-book saga by James O'Barr, is dark, moody, and seductively overwrought; it's an amazingly pure expression of morbid adolescent romanticism.
April 10, 2013 | Full Review… -
It's a pleasure to welcome The Crow -- a bird of a very different feather.
April 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… -
As exploitation pictures go, I've seen a whole lot worse.
April 10, 2013 | Full Review… -
The Crow, starring the late Brandon Lee, is like one long fright night. Even though it was photographed in color, the edge-of-darkness atmosphere descends on the audience like a shroud.
April 10, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review… -
What's scary about The Crow is the story and the style itself: American Gothic, Poe-haunted nightmare, translated to the age of cyberpunk science fiction, revenge movies and outlaw rock 'n' roll, all set in a hideously decaying, crime-ridden urban hell.
April 10, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review… -
Style over content, sure, but what style...
July 14, 2010 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Crow
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Jun 22, 2015As far as I can tell, yesterday was the first time I've actually seen this film. Obviously, throughout the years, there would be instances where I'd see the film on TV and I'd watch parts of it, but never from beginning to end. And I'm not particularly proud of myself for waiting so long to watch this movie, because it's a really damn good film. I don't proclaim to say that this is the most unique or subversive of revenge films, in fact it pretty much plays out exactly the way you would normally expect. With that said, I do think that its story, its lurid visuals, and its darkly comic tone were immensely satisfying. This is one one of my complaints I have, in general, with revenge films, and that is the fact that they let the ultra-violent approach get in the way of why the main character is doing what they're doing. Each bucket of blood completely tearing away at the film's, supposed, emotional core. While this movie is violent, not nearly the most violent film I've ever seen, they never once let you forget why Eric Draven is doing what he's doing. Every couple of scenes he'll have a flashback to a moment where he was alive and with his fiancee. So you're always fully aware of Eric's motivations and it sort of humanizes the character despite him going, pretty much, on a one-night killing spree. Granted, the people he kills are scumbags, but that is what he's doing. And Brandon Lee's performance is very good on top of that. It's not like he was the best actor or anything, but I do think he brought a lot of charisma and life to a character that, if performed in a completely different way, could've come across as really unlikable. I think he keeps the character grounded in something real, in spite of how over-the-top parts of the film can be. With that said, this very much feels like something out of a comic. I don't mean that in a derogatory fashion, but just the vibe it gives across screams comic. The big problem I have with the film is that the main villain, and Michael Wincott does give a great performance, getting his comeuppance isn't really as satisfying as his thugs being murder horribly was. He did give the order to his thugs to force Shelly, Eric's fiancee, to stop with her petition, but he wasn't present for the actual rape and murder of Shelly and Eric's murder. He just didn't feel connected to that act at all, even if he did give the order. That's probably one of the few flaws and there are some other issues having to do with the film being 20 years old and not aging well in some parts. There's also a good amount of comedy to the film, which certainly helped a lot to lighten things up in what is such a dark story. It has one of the best Jesus Christ jokes I've ever heard. I laughed and laughed and laughed. It'll upset the super religious of you who decided to watch this film. As an atheist, I have no such qualms about laughing at what some would consider to be a joke in poor taste regarding their chosen deity. Like I said, I'm really disappointed I waited so long to actually watch this film. It's really fucking good and it almost motivates me to check out the sequels. ALMOST, because I can sense that they would be horrible movies. Honestly, this is about due for a reboot. But, with that out of the way, this movie might not set the world on fire, even though it does so literally at times in the film, it's really good and I would give it an easy recommendation.Jesse O Super Reviewer
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Apr 28, 2013[img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]Directors C Super Reviewer
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Jul 27, 2012A dark, eerie, ominous feel from Alex Proyas, but a classic masterful performance by the late Brandon Lee. A cliche plot is covered by the star's excellence and dazzle-filled dialogue and execution. The Crow is a cult-film that continues to fascinate audience's to this day. 4/5Eugene B Super Reviewer
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Jul 18, 2012The Crow could have been great, but was ruined by weak performances and ugly production values. The movie has a good, dark style but the makeup and special effects are a huge turn off. I was surprised at how disengaging the performances were as well, particularly Michael Wincott's who plays a very dull and tedious villain. If this movie were to be remade with a bigger budget, a more serious director, and a polished script, it would be so much better than what we have here. There are some cool scenes, but overall, I found The Crow to be a very poorly put together movie.Kevin M Super Reviewer
The Crow Quotes
Eric Draven: | Is that gasoline I smell? |
Gideon: | And you can choke on them you son of a bitch! |
Skank: | [frantic upon seeing Eric's picture] That's him! That's him! But he looked different. He was all painted up white like some sort of dead whore! I've seen him! T-Bird, he sent me in some road beers, right? Then he took him away. But, I chased him down. And he flash fried T-bird to his fucking car! [puts his flask to the sky] Aww, T-Bird here's to you buddy! [drinks his flask] "Fire it up! Fire it up! Fire it up!" |
Top Dollar: | [amused by Skank's behavior] Maybe we oughta just video tape this; play it back in slow motion. |
Shelly: | I love you. |
Eric Draven: | Say that again. |
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