Movie Review: The Raven - "Never Again, Never Again"

Now, because I am a child of the 80s and believe that Say Anything is one of the greatest movies ever…ever, I went and saw John Cusack’s latest featured film, The Raven. In 19th century Baltimore, an unknown figure begins murdering innocent people, using methods taken from Edgar Allen Poe stories, to kill his victims. The Baltimore police department seeks out Poe, who is now a sad, struggling, alcoholic poet, to aid them in capturing the deranged serial killer. The pursuit intensifies when Poe’s true love, Emily, is kidnapped by the mysterious assailant. Now it is a race against the clock as Poe attempts to put the pieces of this ever maddening puzzle together before Emily becomes the latest victim in this horrific game of woe and death.

For a movie about a disturbed serial murderer and the dark and demented works of the one Mr. Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven came across as tame and at times, regrettably dull. I give the movie points for originality – even though it is gross historical inaccuracy - but for whatever reason, I wasn’t necessarily sold on the idea. Though not intimately familiar with the story of Edgar Allen Poe or the man he was, I have an odd feeling the poor man is rolling over in his grave right about now. I always assumed the renowned literally figure to be some socially-awkward, pale, depressing poet that randomly broke out in cryptic verse. If we were at a party, he would the emo kid quietly reciting Dashboard Confessional lyrics in the corner. Now suddenly he is some 19th century detective, busting down doors, chasing after fanatical serial killers, and solving murders like some episode of Murder, She Wrote on crack.  John Cusack demonstrated moments of brilliance in the film, but at the end of the day I felt as if I was watching John Cusack playing John Cusack attempting to be Edgar Allen Poe.  I give The Raven two and half Xs; the film had the makings for great gothic thriller but ultimately came across as a crappier version of Sherlock Holmes. 

Check out the audio version of this review here. Make sure to tune in to 100.1 X every Friday morning at 7:30AM to hear Oscar Ceezon’s latest homorific movie review.