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The Raven

  R HD Closed Captioning

James McTeigue

View More In Thriller

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Plot Summary

A brutal killing spree terrorizes 19th-century Baltimore and a young detective turns to notorious author Edgar Allan Poe for help getting inside the mind of a serial killer.

Credits

Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews

TOMATOMETER

23%
  • Reviews Counted: 128
  • Fresh: 29
  • Rotten: 99
  • Average Rating: 4.4/10

Top Critics' Reviews

Rotten: Mr. Cusack works himself into a lather trying to reconcile the contradictory parts of an incoherent character. In, I am sorry to say, an incoherent movie. – A.O. Scott, New York Times, Apr 26, 2012

Rotten: It's neither grand nor grisly enough to seriously satisfy Poe-ish cravings for murder, mystery and literary allusions. – Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times, Apr 27, 2012

Rotten: The story has its moments, and yet there is something about this tale of a serial killer's patterning his crimes on Poe's most gruesome works that doesn't completely satisfy. – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle, Apr 26, 2012

Rotten: A grimly preposterous serial-killer thriller set in 19th-century Baltimore, this riff on the final days of the author of "The Tell-Tale Heart" and other masterpieces of the macabre might qualify as literary desecration if it weren't so silly. – Ty Burr, Boston Globe, Apr 26, 2012

Read More About This Movie On Rotten Tomatoes

Customer Reviews

A "WEAK AND WEARY" MOVIE

There's hardly worth anything to recommend about "The Raven". You can argue that it's just a silly movie that's not supposed to be taken seriously, but even so, it's still a chore to sit through. The film blatantly attempts to borrow from Guy Richie's "Sherlock Holmes" adaptations and even some of the "Saw" flicks with mediocre results, and director James McTeigue fails to provide any interest or suspense to the already lifeless and predictable story. What's worse is that there's no reason to care about any of the characters since they're all so bland and emotionless, not to mention the script is filled with so many preposterous plot holes and generic twists that it's next to impossible to keep up with the mystery at hand. Despite the movie's spooky gothic look and John Cusack's committed, yet over-the-top portrayal of Edgar Allen Poe, everything else just falls short. The story is all over the place, the pacing is slower than molasses, and by the end of the film, we're left with more questions than answers. To put it simply, "The Raven" is a lackluster, unimaginative thriller that brings nothing new or exciting to the genre. Even if you try to look at it as a campy, cheesy, soon-to-be cult classic, it still doesn't hold up. Case in point, don't bother paying money for this dreck. If you really wanna see it, though, just wait till it comes out on TV.

Magnificent

John Cusack's, along with all the other cast members did a fantastic job. I have no read the script personally but there acting technics seemed so natural. John especially, like always, is able to make his dialogue so personal to the audience. His tone, descriptive script, facial expression, and body language completely makes one feel they are right there with him as he is talking. The director and crew members were able to capture the thrill ride along with great lighting, transitions, and direction. This director adds theatre aspects(culture) with displaying masks again like in V. Love it. Adds suspense, and describes the characters in simple context. This film is way underrated. Definitely worth buying and supporting this master piece of artwork!

Honestly speaking

Honestly speaking, you'll either love this movie or hate it. For me, when I first saw the trailer, I wasn't quite sure of the whole idea of remaking such a legend such as Edgar Allen Poe. Now, don't get me wrong. I love Poe. I have ever since I can remember. I remember a long time ago, being in middle school, taking a hike in the woods and taking my beloved 'Works of Edgar Allen Poe' book with me. I'm not sure what it was about Poe that made me connect with him so much. And to this day, I'm still not sure. I'm very interested in criminal investigation, so maybe the murders and mysteries strike something. Anyway. I went into this movie with somewhat big expectations, but at the same time, I was ready for it to be a big waste of $12.
Boy. I was in for a shock. This is by far John Cusack's greatest film. The way he portrayed such a disturbed man is indescribable. It's something you just have to see for yourself. The setting is perfect, cinematography is amazing, and the script is brilliant. The way they portrayed his stories and made them come to life is beyond me.
All in all, this is a movie you'll have to see for yourself. Personally, if you love Poe's works, you'll love this movie. If you're riding the fence and really don't care either way, then yes, you'll probably hate it. But give it a chance. Why can't Hollywood make more movies like this?

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