The Raven
The Raven is just about what most pre-release cynics had been anticipating - a bizarre mishmash of historical elements and subpar on-screen drama.
The titling of director James McTeigue ’s Edgar Allan Poe thriller , The Raven , has no doubt confused plenty of would - be moviegoer ever since the pic was first announce back in 2009 . Instead of a retelling of Poe ’s most illustrious verse form , The Ravenis actually a fictionalized narrative centered around the last days of the author ’s life - reforge Poe as a reluctant but brave hero that , along with a driven Baltimore tec , attempt to solve a drawing string of grisly murders .
The re - conceive of historical pattern literary genre has become a fresh testing ground for Hollywood , most notably withAbraham President Lincoln : Vampire Hunteron the sensible horizon ( FYI : Edgar Allan Poe make a guest visual aspect in the novel ) , where author can take household names - and put a new , and in hypothesis more exciting , twist on what would otherwise ensue in close true - life play ( i.e. Steven Spielberg’sLincolnbiopic ) . As a result , does McTeigue’sThe Ravenoffer both a sport spin on the last days of Edgar Allan Poe - while also delivering an exciting mystery story ?
unluckily , themisleadingconfusing title ofThe Ravenis scarcely the projection ’s self-aggrandizing problem - as , despite a mostly competent ( albeit sometimes campy ) effort from both John Cusack ( Poe ) and Luke Evans ( Detective Fields ) , the mystery story elements , as well as the various kills , are surprisingly underwhelming . Many expectant moviegoers had been describe McTeigue ’s Poe film asSe7enin 19th Century Baltimore but , sadly , The Ravenlacks nearly all the face that made David Fincher ’s sequential killer film so beguile - i.e. jaw - dropping reveals , sassy twists , and - despite loads of Poe stories to pull from - intriguing murder scene are all in short supply .
As mentioned , The Ravenfollows the final days of Edgar Allan Poe ’s liveliness - present the torture source as a ego - absorbed and heroic societal outcast whose work was still , at the time , mostly under - appreciated . The only glimmer of light in Poe ’s impertinent being is his surreptitious devotee Emily Hamilton ( Alice Eve ) , the daughter of a retired Colonel and productive Baltimore socialite . However , when a roughshod serial sea wolf begins to off victims , by recreate renowned murders from Poe ’s published stories , including " The Murders in the Rue Morgue " as well as " The Pit and the Pendulum , " the author is thrown into a malicious struggle of wits - with spirit and destruction hanging in the equipoise .
afford how many of Poe ’s " horror " mysteries have remain iconic basic of literary history , it ’s scandalous how cursorily the film glosses over the few kill successiveness that are let in inThe Raven . Only " The Pit and the Pendulum " delivers genuinely impactful , and grisly , on - screen natural process - with the residual of the murders rattle off one after another with scarcely any establish - up and uninspired on - site play . However , even the " Pendulum " murder is null of compelling aftermath - since Poe ( and the audience ) is but given the next " clue " as if it was an second thought not an inbuilt part of the current scene . or else of presenting Poe and Fields as existent investigator on the lead of a serial killer ( who walk into a room and actually deconstruct the scene)The Ravenquickly devolves into watching the two chase after a shadowy murderer without stopping to let the audience enjoy the mystery as it unfolds firearm by piece .
While moviegoers were initially questioning of Cusack in the role of Poe - especially after Jeremy Renner , Ewan McGregor , and Joaquin Phoenix had all been in talks at one distributor point during pre - production - theBeing John Malkovich(and2012 ) champion is n’t ultimately at demerit for the motion-picture show ’s shortcoming . At first , Cusack over - does the tortured genius angle and actually makes the Poe " character " pretty unlikable ( especially compared to a similar schtick from Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes ) ; however , as the film ’s murder plot takes hold , the actor backs off from showcasing his practicedversionof Poe and put away into a less ambitious , but more likeable , approach - simply react to the various in - bit natural event . As a termination , while the portrayal is camp and , at clip , histrionic , most interview members will likely be rooting for Poe as the motion picture stumbles into the end deed .
Performances from the support cast are , likewise , a mixed bag - Eve as well as familiar face that include Brendan Gleeson and Kevin McNally are competent enough and do n’t distract from the core storyline . That articulate , none of their character are nuanced or peculiarly interesting to watch - and only serve as mouths for exposition or end / obstacles that Poe and Fields are expected to pilot . Only Evans manages to pull any above surface level emotion out of his character ( which should be intimate district for the role player give his whole employment inThe Immortals- which also featured a cast full of one - note characters ) . While Fields is still obligate surety by the underwhelming story progression and boring scene employment inThe Raven , Evans emits just enough personal appeal in the persona to successfully keep things get going during a numeral of duologue heavy scenes that would have otherwise been grounds for oculus peal .
at long last , The Ravenis just about what most pre - release cynics had been anticipating - a bizarre mishmash of diachronic elements and subpar on - screenland drama cap off with an underwhelming but serviceable carrying into action from John Cusack in the leading role . The projection fail to impress at nearly every turn and , for a moving-picture show with such a rich reference material , offers very few surprisal , challenging twirl , or interesting slaying havoc . While it ’s gentle to imagine some movie - lovers could enjoy the motion-picture show when it reach line , The Ravenis never flit , still is sitting , still is sitting , And my soul from out that shadow that lies bored on the floor , Shall be interested - never again !
If you ’re still on the fence aboutThe Raven , check out the trailer below :
Edgar Allan Poe and Detective Fields investigate ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’
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Alice Eve (Emily Hamilton) and John Cusack (Poe) in ‘The Raven’
The Ravenis rated R for fucking ferocity and grisly double . Now play in theaters .
Inspired by the strange circumstances surrounding Edgar Allen Poe ’s decease , The Raven imagines a scenario in which the generator spends his last days helping the police search for a sequent killer , who seems to be using Poe ’s works as inspiration .
