The Crow returns to James O'Barr's story of love, death and supernatural revenge. Rupert Sanders brings a recognisable gothic appearance to the reimagining, but the dramatic force of the material is much less convincing.
Bill Skarsgård works to give Eric a troubled, dark presence. The writing leaves him too little room to develop emotional depth, however. The character remains caught in familiar imagery rather than acquiring the grief and anger that could make the revenge meaningful.
The relationship with Shelly is similarly weak. Their chemistry does not carry much weight, and hurried montages stand in for the development of a love story. Without that connection, the film's central motivation feels thin.
Danny Huston's antagonist adds further complications. The demonic billionaire is closer to a caricature than a tangible threat. The supernatural framework becomes overloaded, moving away from the rougher, more immediate menace that made the earlier film effective.
Stylised settings and strong light-and-shadow contrasts create some appealing images. Yet the screenplay and editing undermine them. Unnecessary complications and poorly connected sequences make the story harder to follow while doing little to deepen it.
The result is a missed opportunity. The cast and source material suggest possibilities that the film does not realise. More attention to character and less dependence on plot twists might have restored the emotional impact; attractive gothic surfaces cannot provide it on their own.
Watch the film at home
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links does not add to the price you pay.