THE CROW
US, 1994, 97 minutes, Colour.
Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, Bai Ling, Sofia Shinas, David Patrick Kelly, Tony Todd, Jon Polito.
Directed by Alex Proyas.
The Crow is based on a series of comic books and comic strips by James O'Barr.
While there was a number of films from comics during the 1990s, The Phantom and others, it was only in the 21st-century that graphic novels and comic books led to the Marvel Universe and the films of DC comics. Superheroes.
Eric Draven, central character of the film, is not a superhero. He is an ordinary man, engaged to be married, who is attacked by thugs, his fiancee raped and killed, he himself falling from a window to his death. A year later, he rises from the dead, a gaunt figure with a kind of Halloween mask (very similar to the mask worn by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight). A symbolic crow guides him through the city and to his revenge.
He tracks down the thugs who are responsible for his fiancee's death and for his own. At first, he is invulnerable, healing from wounds. There are violent encounters with each of the thugs, including quite a car chase through the city, wrapping the driver with bombs and a huge explosion. He also confronts the archvillain, the mastermind between moving people out of their accommodation and taking over. He is Top Dollar, played by Michael Wincott. Top Dollar is supremely arrogant character and, for the finale, after an encounter in the ruins of the vast church, the action moves to the top of the church and hero and villain engage in the sword fight while the young girl who has been this devoted follower slips and is hanging on to the guttering of the church roof.
The other main character is played by genial Ernie Hudson, a detective who had done his best in the case investigation and becomes an ally of Eric.
Four years after this film, Australian director Alex Proyas made the futuristic film Dark City. Both these films re-create a truly dark city, stylised streets and buildings, partly realistic, partly the world of sinister fantasy.
There were several other Crow films but they did not reach the status of this original.
Brandon Lee was the son of Bruce Lee. He died from an accident with a prop gun during the filming of The Crow.
1. The popularity of the film? From the comic book and strip? Recreation of the comic on screen? The status of Brandon Lee? His death?
2. The 1990s, film versions of comic heroes, prior to the superheroes of the 21st-century?
3. The atmosphere of the city, stylised, dark, the streets and the touch of the sinister, the buildings, skyscrapers, churches, the church roofs, the interiors and broken? Apartments, meeting halls? The special effects? Eric and his ability to move? The car chases? The fights, the shootouts? The musical score, the song?
4. The narrative line of the film, the flashbacks through touch and through memories? The stylised visualising of these flashbacks?
5. The opening, Eric and Shelley, the preparation for the wedding, the atmosphere of Halloween, the Devil’s Day? The thugs and their attack? The violence, the attack on Shelley, the rape? The attack on Eric, his falling out the window to his death?
6. The character of Sarah, her age, her presence, devotion to Shelley, her own home, her sister and relationships, the sister and the cooking, the change of heart? Sarah and her discussions and meetings with Allbrecht? Meeting Eric again? Sharing the action? Ultimately in peril, on the church roof, the fall, her rescue? The devotion, going to the cemetery? Helping Allbrecht?
7. The year later, the graves in the cemetery, the earth moving, Eric and his rising from the dead? His wounds being able to heal? His mission of vengeance? His vulnerability after achieving his mission? His mask, becoming his face, sinister, the crooked smile, Halloween?
8. The importance of the crow, visually, its flying through the city, Eric being its avatar? Its search, site, insights, leading Eric? The target for the thugs?
9. Allbrecht, policeman, sincere, his response to Eric on Shelley’s death, his investigations being thwarted, the clash with his superior officer, his being suspended? The encounters with Sarah, the friendship, buying the meal? The encounter with Eric, coming to his apartment, the discussion, an ally of Eric? The deaths of the thugs? Going to the church, his gun, his being shot on the steps? His healing and hospital?
10. Top Dollar, sinister, his aims at making money, moving people out, his gross thugs? His advisor? Sinister? His authorising the killing of Eric and Shelley? The target for Eric’s revenge? His meetings, his board, discussions, making money? His self-confidence? Taking Sarah? The interior of the church, the fight on the roof? His arrogance, wounding Eric? Eric touching him and his being filled with the memories and dying?
11. The range of thugs, Eric’s encounter with them, the thug with the knives, the rapist and the bath, the car chase and the explosives, the survivor reporting to Top Dollar, his death?
12. The meeting, Top Dollar presiding, Eric and his attack, the body count and the special effects for the fight and the shooting?
13. Gideon, the pawn shop, in league with Top Dollar? Eric’s visit, Gideon going to Top Dollar, being taunted, the sword and his death?
14. The effect on Eric, the guns, the knives? On the church roof? His taking the cross, the sword, the sword fight on the roof?
15. His return to the cemetery, his being buried again? Sarah’s visit and the flowers?
