In the mid-18th Century the streets of Baltimore are gripped in fear as a series of grotesque murders have the people locking their doors and praying for relief. In times as dark as these who better to call on as their savior from evil but the Movie Issues Boys: Leland & Spooky, out to take on The Raven and get to the bottom of this murder mystery.
Leland
The Raven is a murder mystery with elements of suspense and tension. Fitting, since the heart of the story revolves around famed gothic poet Edgar Allen Poe’s work. Someone is commenting horrific murders evidently inspired by Poe’s works, leading Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) to seek out help from Poe (John Cusack) himself. Together they investigate the crime spree, trying to find Poe’s beloved, Emily (Alice Eve) before it’s too late. It’s a rather simple premise, and should be familiar to any crime TV fan; the new twist is the addition of Poe’s fondness for the macabre.
The concept is intriguing and well-executed, featuring a strong cast who bring their A-game to their roles. Cusack’s Poe is a bit over-the-top, but believably eccentric as the famous horror novelist. He and Luke Evens have a good chemistry and it would be interesting to see them in another movie in the future. Evans brings a supportive role as an older brother figure to the bewildered Poe, developing an unlikely respect and cameraderie. Alice Eve’s Emily unfortunately lacks consistency; her character tends to wobble between free-thinking, heroic woman and dependent damsel in distress. The rest of the cast were competent window dressing, good actors but rarely vital to the movie.
The movie’s feel is as dark and moody as to be expected, shot on location in Belgrade and Budapest for a period feel. At some points the fog obscures so much it’s hard to follow what’s happening, but it adds to the film’s lost and confusing aesthetic. there is so much fog that it’s hard to see what’s happening, which adds to the lost and confusion nature of the movie itself. Most of the movie isn’t filmed on a set and feels vibrant, and the few sets used were still full of rich detail. A masquerade ball scene is especially well-done, and the costumes are a nice extra touch to a movie already knee-deep in creepy factor.
Overall the movie is enjoyable – not necessarily great, but with its share of good moments and solid acting. It also features some downright grotesquely gory scenes, again as expected for something inspired by Poe. If you like a good mystery set against a period-piece backdrop, you should check this out.
I rate it three out of five Tell-Tale Hearts.
Spooky
Edgar Allan Poe was a man of nearly mythical reputation, considered a macabre genius by some and a morbid madman by others. His dark musings on death and the haunting nature of life have inspired countless writers since his mysterious death October 7, 1849. However, it’s his death that seems to be the inspiration for The Raven, released today in theaters.
Spoiler alert: if you didn’t already know that Poe was dead, he’s only been so for 163 years. It also doesn’t have much to do with the movie as this “Suspense/Thriller” fictionalizes the last days of his life.
In The Raven Poe (John Cusack) is a struggling writer and critic whose elitist attitude have yet to gain him many friends or favors. The only real light in his life comes from his secret lover Emily Hamilton (Alice Eve), the inspiration for Annabel Lee. That is, until she’s abducted by a murderer whose crimes are ripped from the pages of Poe’s short stories. This brings Detective Fields (Luke Evans) to Poe in an attempt to get inside the head of a twisted murderer and save Ms. Hamilton before it’s too late.
It’s like a wannabe gothic Seven, with less Morgan Freeman but more corsets.
Cusack does well to look the part of the desperate writer as he pursues the murderer through his own fictions. Unfortunately, his acting swings like a pendulum between over the top and under the radar. He takes Poe a from prick-ish drunk to a desperate sleep-deprived hysteric as the mystery preys on his mind. It’s a creditable performance, barring his shouting matches with people and the occasional raspy voice-off with Luke Evans. Everyone else manages to keep their head and turns in a solid performance. Evans helps to build tension with his constantly critical demeanor and super-cop attitude, while Alice Eve plays the beautiful, but not helpless, female lead.
Anyone expecting a biopic of Edgar Allan Poe from The Raven will be disappointed in this insertion of the author into his own stories. But for avid fans of Poe’s work this movie should be a treat, judiciously throwing in references and elements from his classics without over-sensationalizing or over-exploiting them.
The Raven is an elaborate mystery movie good enough to spare the audiences from the usual red herrings, simply shrouding the killer in mystery (and an outfit from The Shadow‘s closet). It peaks a little early and the movie’s editing could use some work, but the film still pulls through. Entertaining and worth a watch.
Quoth the Spooky: “B-“