The Crow

Our scene begins at a institution for young youth. It is here we meet two individuals, Eric Draven (Bill Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA twigs). Both of these individuals come from troubled households and tragedy (misery likes company, right?).

One day at the institution, Shelly is informed that she has visitors. Unfortunately, Shelly knows who these are: Marian, an assistant to a demonic crime lord Vincent Roeg (Danny Huston) and his guards. Roeg assists Satan in sending souls to Hell in exchange for eternal life.

Shelly knows she’s in trouble. She watched a video of Roeg whispering in people’s ears, damning their souls to Hell. These end up killing themselves in the most graphic of ways. Eric convinces Shelly that they need to escape from the institution and hide in the city. So that’s exactly what they do.

Fast-forward in time and Shelly and Eric have made a life for themselves in the city while trying to hide from Roeg. For the most part, the two have been able to hide pretty well; that is, until fate comes knocking, er, crashing through the door.

Eric and Shelly are found by Roeg’s men and are brutally murdered. Soon Eric is brought back from the dead by a guide named Kronos who informs him that he has a chance to save Shelly by returning back to the land of the living and make what is wrong right again. Briefly, Eric has to kill Roeg and his goons and anyone else who might have been a part of Eric and Shelly’s death.

Here’s the kicker, Eric, while back in the land of the living, will not be able to die. His physical body will still feel pain, but he himself will not die, not till he saves Shelly from going to Hell.

Let the bloodbath commence…

A while back there was a showing of the original “The Crow” from 1994. At the time I knew the assignment for the 2024 “The Crow” was available on Christian Spotlight and so I took it upon myself to request it, and I attended the 1994 “The Crow.”

Though extremely sinister in nature, I can see why there has been a legion of fans dedicated to the original. While dark, it has some of the most interesting methods of cinematography and camera work that I’ve seen in my 15 years of reviewing films. Most of the shots are either overhead shots or close-ups. The music consists of alternative metal and alternative rock, something that REALLY made the film stand out from other gothic horror films of that era.

This leads me to 2024 version of “The Crow.” While I could tell it is trying to reinvent a classic by adding content and backstories that are definitely not in the original (such as Eric’s troubled childhood), it just makes the story feel, well, silly. Now granted, the whole premise of a guy coming back from the dead and being this kind of “anti-hero” is something that is already confusing. The film’s rules of the “afterlife” and many of the spiritual elements don’t really help it either.

As a whole, the 2024 version of just doesn’t have the unique qualities that the original gothic horror/action film had. Most of the time, the relationship between Eric and Shelly feels awkward and more of a physical relationship (if you catch my drift) than one that is really one of truly cherishing and getting to know someone. The performances of the two leads is just dull and, at times, uninteresting.

When the film ISN’T focused on Eric and Shelly’s relationship (and the many, many passionate, intense kissing and sex scenes that occur on screen), the film just dives head first into a pool of violent actions. There is non-stop, graphic and horrific violence that occurs on screen about 40 minutes into the film, and it does NOT let up. In fact, the farther the film progresses, the more graphic the violence beccomes. At one point, it is so graphic I started to become very nauseous (more on the content later).

It amazes me that, in this day and age, violence of this nature and abundance of sexual situations can even be permitted on screen. I’m baffled that “The Crow” (2024) only received an R-rating. It should have been rated NC-17, and even then I think that rating would be generous.

Content of Concern

VIOLENCE: Due to the numerous horrid, graphic violent scenes, I will not provide minute details of each scene (it’s not appropriate). Numerous individuals (likely in the 50s-100s) across multiple scenes are murdered in the most disgusting and vile of ways, including but not limited to: impalement, beheadings, chokings, asphixiations in plastic bags, drownings, eyes pierced, sword thrust into a man’s mouth, fatal beatings, gun wounds, stabbings, neck snapped, suicides—played out in full detail on screen, such as a moment where someone jumps off a high story building and we see her splat.

Additionally, there are some violent car chases and a disturbing moment where we see an individual being dragged down to Hell by serpent-like demons. I simply won’t go into exact details of each violent scene. It would amount to the length of an essay. Take me at my word when I say if you see this film, you may need some Pepto Bismol.

VULGARITY: F**king (30+), F**k (12), WTF (3), F**ked (2), obscene gesture (1), Sh*t (3), Wh*re (1)

PROFANITY: G*d (2), J*sus (1), D*mn (1), H*ly Sh*t (1)

SEXUAL CONTENT: There are two scenes involving sexual intercourse. In one of these, groaning and thrusting can be seen by two partially naked individuals. There are multiple scenes where a couple are engaging in passionate kissing. There is some sensual dancing at a nightclub. A couple undresses each other (we see twice, once as a flashback).

NUDITY: Sketches of a naked female are displayed. In another scene, we are able to see through Shelly’s white, wet shirt, and it leaves nothing to the imagination. We also see Shelly and Eric naked in a tub. Shelly is later seen in her bra and underwear. Women are seen wearing midriffs. A man showers naked, viewed from behind. We see other bare-chested men later on.

ALCOHOL: There are heavy amounts of drinking that occur at an outdoor gathering. Someone is later seen drinking a Bloody Mary.

DRUGS: A woman is injected with a sedative. People are seen smoking marijuana and cigarettes at an outdoor gathering. Two individuals take a drug called “The Lamb of God.” Someone is taken to rehab after drugs are discovered in her purse.

OCCULT: Roeg’s main responsibility is to claim souls for Satan in exchange for being granted eternal life. He does so by whispering demonic language in people’s ear, which brings out their inner darkness and the individuals, again, end up killing themselves (or murdering others and then themselves). This leads us to believe, according to the film’s philosophy, that the souls are eternally damned. A character that dies ends up in this purgatory-like-place several times in the film. The film presents ungodly, unbiblical messaging throughout, such as there is no such thing as forgiveness of sin (more on this later)

OTHER: A horse is seen in a very injured state with metal wire in its side, bleeding. A man with a bare chest is seen rising out of a pool of blood. A somewhat dark joke is made about therapy and therapists. A dead body is pulled from a river. A character, when shot, is able to heal the wounds instantly; although it is a very gross process as the body repairs the wounds.

Messages

Believe it or not, there are actually some themes I can draw, even from a film like “The Crow.”

Its primary message is that if you commit serious sins, such as murder, you can never be forgiven. The only thing awaiting such an individual is Hell. Again, in the film’s ideology, forgiveness does not exist. In fact, God himself does not exist in this film, neither does Heaven… just Hell.

Hell is indeed a real place. It is a place where only eternal death, pain and misery await. In fact, in the book of Revelation, Hell as described as follows:

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” —Revelation 21:8

“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” —Revelation 14:11

Jesus spoke of Hell on several occasions, such as His Parable of the Net…

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” —Matthew 13:47-50

But there is hope. Hope can be found in Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice and death on the cross, we can have confidence that, when we confess our sins to Him and repent of them, and claim Him as our Savior, that we will be saved from eternal damnation and separation from God. Even when we sin, if we confess our sins to Jesus and offer a true repentance, He is just and will forgive us of our sins.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” —Ephesisans 1:7

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” —1 John 9

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” —Colossians 3:13

Closing Thoughts

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting when I walked into “The Crow.” Maybe I naively believed that the violence, the vulgar language and the sexual content couldn’t possibly be any worse than the original. Boy was I WRONG.

“The Crow” (2024) has to be the most blasphemous, ungodly film I have ever seen in my entire life. As I said, God doesn’t exist in this film. There’s only one location people go in this film… Hell. The film presents a very hopeless, bleak picture of the world. No salvation, no hope, just death. Lots and lots of death.

It is because of all of this, “The Crow” (2024) should be a pass for every single Christian around the world. The vices of the world are on full display, and God is not glorified in this film. In fact, God’s greatest adversary, Satan, is glorified instead. Definitely take an incredibly strong pass on this film.

• Violence: Extreme
• Vulgar/Crude language: Extreme
• Occult: Very Heavy
• Sex: Heavy
• Profane language: Moderate
• Nudity: Moderate
• Drugs/Alcohol: Moderate
• Wokeism: Mild

Learn about DISCERNMENT—wisdom in making personal entertainment decisions

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