The Crow 2024: What tragic shadow hangs over the reboot of the iconic 90s film?

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Eric and his fiancee Shelly are brutally murdered by a gang of criminals. But a mysterious force brings Eric back from the dead, who, gifted with supernatural powers, sets out to seek revenge to save his true love.

Blooms and screams

When this project for a new adaptation of James O’Barry’s comics was first mentioned, it was in 2008. The film The Crow, directed by Alex Proyas, was not yet old as it celebrated its 14th anniversary. He now has 30 before this retelling finally hits our theaters.

If the main character, Eric Draven, is a rock guitarist in the original material, it was a veritable waltz going on behind the scenes, with actors and directors coming and going on the film, which very quickly became one of the sea snakes of Hollywood. Initiated by Stephen Norrington (Blade), who left in 2011, the project saw behind the camera Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, F. Javier Gutierrez, then Corinne Hardy. in vain

When it comes to casting, everything goes Zumba. Stephen Norrington’s first choice before Nick Cave rewrote the screenplay, Mark Wahlberg ended up not taking part in the adventure. The names of Bradley Cooper, James McAvoy, Ryan Gosling, Tom Hiddleston, Alexander Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult and Jack O’Connell have been mentioned with varying degrees of seriousness.

From Alexander to Bill Skarsgård

Jack Huston and Jason Momoa were even cast at various stages of development, but eventually all threw in the towel, implying that the project was doomed. But it’s seeing the light of day thanks to Rupert Sanders and Bill Skarsgård opposite FKA Twigs, Danny Huston and Sami Bouajila. And its closing credits trace the long years it took to make it, as it pays tribute to three of its producers who died in the process.

Which only emphasizes the deathly atmosphere that pervades the piece. From his birth in 1989, after the comic was written by James O’Barr to overcome the death of his girlfriend, which occurred in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. And which we found at the center of his first adaptation, signed by Alex Proyas.

The feature film, which was released in theaters on August 3, 1994, was preceded by a tragic reputation, as its lead actor, Brandon Lee, died on set. Because of the bullet stuck in the gun that Michael Massey shoots him with in one scene. Bruce Lee’s son died in the emergency room on March 31, 1993.

Using a stunt double (Chad Stahelski, the future director of John Wick) and using the latest special effects, which added fifteen million dollars to the budget, Alex Proyas managed to complete a project whose gothic atmosphere was perfectly suited. A tragic (and iconic) aura that still surrounds him today. Like its sequel and reboot.

Bill Skarsgård’s appearance (black makeup around his eyes and dirty tattoos) is different from previous films. As well as the atmosphere, less gothic, without falling into the realistic and quasi-documentary aesthetic promised by Stephen Norrington, as we occasionally recognize Rupert Sanders from Snow White and the Huntsman in a few stylized shots.

Living with Brandon Lee’s tragic legacy

But it’s hard, if not impossible, not to feel the shadow of the late Brandon Lee on this new film. And it’s The Crow’s curse that resonates with Eric Draven’s situation: to be forever linked to the tragic accident that mourned his first film appearance, his most memorable to date. In terms of quality, because his aura extends beyond the edges of the screen and evokes a sense of sadness in the viewer, which contributes to its gothic atmosphere, where death looms in every frame.

Even more than the many years it took to make it, the new The Crow enters our theaters with the dual challenge of outdoing Alex Proyas’ film in terms of quality and succeeding alongside Brandon Lee’s tragic legacy. The performance was also made memorable by what happened behind the camera, which paradoxically made it immortal.

Considering the many obstacles it overcame, Rupert Sanders’ feature film proved that nothing was impossible. Now it remains to be seen whether the public will be on board with his way of enriching and renewing the mythology of this hero who has accompanied the Grim Reaper since his birth.