“The Crow” 2024 remake (left), and the 1994 “The Crow”. Images from Lionsgate and Dimension / Miramax Films
After watching the 2024 remake of “The Crow,” I am more convinced than ever that there are certain properties that should not be remade. This is especially true in the case of “The Crow,” starring the late Brandon Lee, the son of the legendary Bruce Lee, for those who are unfamiliar.
I recently rewatched “The Crow,” starring Brandon Lee, as preparation for my newest entertainment article. The last time I watched it was decades ago, and I needed a refresher on it before watching its remake. I wanted to compare the similarities and differences between the two.
It is a sensitive matter because Brandon Lee died while filming “The Crow,” so that alone is another reason why The Crow should have remained untouched in terms of a remake. There have been sequels to “The Crow,” but they were mostly released straight to video in the 1990s. If there were to be another sequel to this movie, it would likely go straight to streaming. This shows a similarity across various times and technologies, resulting in the same outcome: when a film is undeserving of being shown in cinemas, it gets dumped somewhere. Perhaps “The Crow” should have been exclusive to streaming, where it could have thrived instead of becoming a dud.
At times, I do wonder why so many remakes continue to bomb at the box office. But who are we kidding? I know one reason why: the actors are so attached to their iconic roles that moviegoers can’t imagine anyone else portraying the iconic character, such as “The Crow.” In a fairly recent interview, his co-star Ernie Hudson stated that “Brandon Lee is ‘The Crow.'” He embraced, lived up to, and uniquely made the role his own. When I reflect on it, it is a miracle in itself that despite Brandon Lee’s brief film career, he was able to have a career-defining movie that he will be remembered and celebrated for decades to come. Brandon Lee left behind a movie for everyone to watch, even after his untimely and sudden death.
I am trying to find positive things to say about “The Crow” reboot, and although there are not many, they are worth enumerating. I do not believe that a movie made by a major studio and distributed by one of the best production companies would ever put out a film with zero redeeming qualities. The 2024 movie showcases an artsy, gothic style and dark visual aesthetic that can be attributed to its cinematography, making it one of its best qualities. Additionally, it featured above-average action set pieces with a significant amount of violence, particularly in the sequences where “The Crow” was getting shot at. He absorbed the shots, recovered instantly, and took down his foes with brute force. The original “The Crow” movie did not have this blunt trauma style of action. “The Crow” (2024) features violence on steroids!
The differences between how Brandon Lee portrayed “Eric Draven” and his love, “Shelly,” before he became “The Crow” and what was shown in the remake with their respective counterparts, Brandon Skarsgard as “Eric” and FKA Twigs as “Shelly,” are starkly contrasting. There is practically no chemistry or intimacy between them, nor anything substantial to convince the moviegoer that they are truly in love or have shared anything special. Regrettably, it is only towards the very end that we see what could have been between the two of them. What can I say? In “The Crow” (1994), it is further demonstrated that the main stars and co-stars often have convincing chemistry because they were cast by some of the best casting directors who did not follow any “woke” directives. This is why they were able to make the right compatibility choices off-screen and on-screen, as moviegoers must believe that what they are watching could happen in real life.
In the final 30-plus minutes of the film, Bill Skarsgard’s onscreen character, “Eric,” embodies “The Crow” with his complete list of supernatural abilities. This pivotal moment should have occurred earlier in the movie, but it takes place well past the halfway point. Nonetheless, it is a shining moment for the remake.
Feel free to watch the remake of “The Crow,” but don’t say I didn’t warn you. There is no question that not all movies are good, let alone great. However, if you wish the movie would end, that is already a bad sign.
I would give the remake of “The Crow” 2 out of 5 crows because even 20 years later, the original movie “The Crow” starring the late Brandon Lee is still the best and will always be.