The Crow (2024) is a film that arrives with trepidation. Directed by Rupert Sanders. The Crow carries the weight of a storied past and the burden of expectation. With the 2024 version, Lionsgate has attempted to distance itself from labels like remake or reboot opting instead to present the film as a fresh re-imagining of the source material.
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The road to bringing this new Crow to the screen has been anything but smooth. Over a decade in development, the project cycled through various directors, writers and stars leading to concerns about its vision.
The final product is directed by Rupert Sanders. The film’s tone differ from previous versions, aiming for a more dreamy atmosphere rather than the fast-paced, action-heavy approach that might have been expected.
The 2024 version introduces a different narrative focus shifting away from the gritty urban criminals of the original story to a more fantastical conflict.
The primary antagonist is Vincent Roeg and it is a shadowy tycoon who has made a pact with the devil complicating the revenge plot with supernatural elements.
The setting is an unnamed city where Shelly is an up-and-coming singer drawn into a hedonistic world controlled by Roeg. Her connection to Eric Draven, a fellow inmate at a rehab facility and becomes the emotional core of the film.
Unlike the original film where the relationship between Eric and Shelly is presented largely through flashbacks, the new movie dedicates screen time to their romance.
This slower pacing allows the audience to witness their connection develop, though it has also been criticized for dragging the narrative.
Their romance is depicted through a series of montages contrasting the original’s more immediate and urgent storytelling.
Roeg’s character is a departure from the street-level villains of the original film. His devilish pact adds a layer of metaphysical intrigue though it also risks distancing the narrative from the grounded, relatable revenge story that defined the 1994 movie.
The supernatural elements are explored through the character of Kronos, who informs Eric of his liminal state between life and death.
The Crow is shot in widescreen with well-chosen locations in Prague and Germany, the movie exudes a sleek, airier look compared to the original’s claustrophobic, rain-soaked urban setting.
Steve Annis, the Director of Photography along with production designer Robin Brown, who cites Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker as an influence, creates a dreamlike, almost surreal atmosphere.
The costumes is designed by Kurt and Bart. The choice to delay the introduction of Eric’s signature guyliner until later in the film is indicative of the overall restraint shown in the movie’s visual design.
The soundtrack also diverges from expectations featuring a selection of 80s tracks from bands like Joy Division and Gary Numan, rather than the grunge and hard rock associated with the 1994 film.
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The critical response to The Crow has been divided. Some acknowledge the film’s unique personality and suggest that it can be appreciated if viewed independently. They praise its stylish direction and the deliberate pacing that sets it apart from other contemporary action films.
On the other hand some have been scathing in their reviews labeling the film as a disaster of plotting and lackluster execution.
The Crow reboot of the cult classic starring Bill Skarsgård struggled with a disappointing $4.6 million debut placing it eighth.
The Crow reimagines the 1994 original received poor reviews with a 20% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- CinemaScore.
With a production cost of $50 million, The Crow is expected to face huge losses. Its poor reception has been attributed to the absence of Brandon Lee, who starred in the original film and died during its production.
Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine reclaimed the top spot at the box office in its fifth weekend earning $18.3 million. This is a 39% drop from the previous week but is a strong performance considering its run.
Deadpool & Wolverine has amassed a $577.2 million domestically and $1.21 billion globally making it the second-highest grossing film of the year after Disney’s Inside Out 2.
In second place Disney/20th Century Studios’ Alien: Romulus grossed $16.2 million. Despite the drop the film’s total domestic gross stands at $72.5 million with an additional $225 million worldwide.
“Blink Twice” Directed by Zoë Kravitz, this psychological thriller featuring Channing Tatum opened in fourth place with $7.3 million. The film’s performance was underwhelming compared to its $20 million production budget. It appeals primarily to a younger demographic with 25% of its audience aged 18-24.
The Forge, a faith-based drama from the Kendrick Brothers released by Sony earned $6.6 million in its opening weekend. The film has been well-received by its target audience which gained an A+ CinemaScore and strong PostTrak scores. It follows the story of a high school graduate who is encouraged to make better life choices and has performed well in areas with a high faith-based audience.
It Ends With Us, the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel earned $11.8 million in its third weekend bringing its total to $120.8 million domestically.
Twisters is in its sixth weekend, the disaster film brought in $6.2 million with a total domestic gross of $248.6 million.
Coraline, re-released for its 15th anniversary, Coraline grossed $4.9 million over the weekend bringing its total to $24.1 million.
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