I quite enjoyed this. Storywise, its a bit like Seven set in 19th century London, that is, a serial killer detective mystery but here, the killer is forcing a storyline pattern fusing Edgar Allen Poe's stories to life by imitating the murders from several of his stories creating a new one that involves Edgar Allen Poe himself.
Cusack was engaging as the drunken author/poet riding on financial hardship suddenly finding himself helping a detective to catch the killer. At first Poe is quite unlikeable but I then warmed to his idiosyncrasies and determination to find his loved one, whom the serial killer has kidnapped.
There's a couple of really graphic and inventive murders suitably qualified for a SAW or Final Destination movie. There is not enough of them to satisfy the horror enthusiast, though. It might have been a good opportunity to make this a fun horror movie to boot given that there are several murders in the film but we are not shown the rest of them.
The dialogue alternates between flat and humorous with some fun (but admittedly way over my head) wordplay with Poe's character. Poe enthusiasts might enjoy connecting the references of the murders to the various stories that he has written. I haven't read any of his stories so I cant make any connections. I do know the overall story/poem of the Raven though and I can say with some confidence, this film isn't that story. Its got ravens in it but I'm not sure that justifies the title, if it does then we might as well call every John Woo film, The White Dove.
I did look forward to seeing this film, as I love V for Vendetta, James Mctiegue first directorial feature. This, his 3rd, is not as good or as clever but it has the same visceral directorial flair and vibe to it which I enjoyed. The script is full of plot holes though and I was annoyed with some scenes that blatantly cheated for the sake of narrative progression.
There isn't anything original here but its competent enough entertainment for a decent Friday night out at the cinema.
Cusack was engaging as the drunken author/poet riding on financial hardship suddenly finding himself helping a detective to catch the killer. At first Poe is quite unlikeable but I then warmed to his idiosyncrasies and determination to find his loved one, whom the serial killer has kidnapped.
There's a couple of really graphic and inventive murders suitably qualified for a SAW or Final Destination movie. There is not enough of them to satisfy the horror enthusiast, though. It might have been a good opportunity to make this a fun horror movie to boot given that there are several murders in the film but we are not shown the rest of them.
The dialogue alternates between flat and humorous with some fun (but admittedly way over my head) wordplay with Poe's character. Poe enthusiasts might enjoy connecting the references of the murders to the various stories that he has written. I haven't read any of his stories so I cant make any connections. I do know the overall story/poem of the Raven though and I can say with some confidence, this film isn't that story. Its got ravens in it but I'm not sure that justifies the title, if it does then we might as well call every John Woo film, The White Dove.
I did look forward to seeing this film, as I love V for Vendetta, James Mctiegue first directorial feature. This, his 3rd, is not as good or as clever but it has the same visceral directorial flair and vibe to it which I enjoyed. The script is full of plot holes though and I was annoyed with some scenes that blatantly cheated for the sake of narrative progression.
There isn't anything original here but its competent enough entertainment for a decent Friday night out at the cinema.