Movie: The Raven
Director: James McTeigue
Rating: ***
Coming from the director of ‘V for Vendetta’, ‘The Raven’ is a film that definitely piqued my interest when it released. One more reason being the presence of John Cusack. Based on the mastermind behind detective novels – Edgar Allan Poe, ‘The Raven’ complexly connects Poe’s biographical essentials and his apparition but on the whole fails to evoke interest.
In 1849 Baltimore, a middle aged woman and her daughter are killed by a serial killer without leaving behind a single trace. When Detective Fields arrives at the crime scene to investigate he finds the whole scene familiar. Apparently, the serial killer is killing his victims using methods from Edgar Allan Poe’s stories. Mr. Poe is called in for enquiry as a suspect but when another murder takes place whilst inquiring Poe, everybody including Poe is convinced that there’s a madman, obsessed by his works killing random people. On police’s request Poe turns in to a criminal profiler and consultant. Meanwhile, at Watson’s ball, Poe’s girlfriend Emily Watson is kidnapped by the killer who promises to leave clues leading to her whereabouts with every new murder hence forth. Poe, Fields and the entire police department should stop the killer before Emily’s killed.
The makers didn’t deviate from the real story – based on the last known few days of Edgar Poe, this film does full justice to the whatever known part of the author’s life via this film. However, it’s not always easy to reproduce a successful feature film based on some known elements of history. But, ‘The Raven’ does manage to entertain with few twists and turns.
John shines in his role, playing an alcoholic with a gift to write stories that will suck your heart from within. What I really like about his role is the over confidence with which he lives his life, calling himself the best in the world knowing that his work lately is been considered trash. This is the same confidence pushes him to don the hat of the investigator and help Fields and his force nail down the killer. John has always portrayed roles with some kind of suspense, brilliantly – Identity, 1408 and now ‘The Raven’. Finally, John is supported by a convincing cast that hits every note right.
Music by Lucas Vidal suits the mood of the film. Part haunting in murder sequences and part soothing in romantic sequences; Lucas gives the film the musical touch of an era long forgotten. Editing by Niven Howie deserves a special mention as he had some scenes unfold with slick editing. The film has few extra gory scenes that may churn your stomach nevertheless the whole output seemed satisfactory with minor moments of displeasure which can very well be ignored.
In essence; ‘The Raven’ is a tribute to Poe and his illustrious work and lasting lines.