The Raven

I love reading, to be blunt. I love books in general and Edgar Allan Poe has always been one of my favorite writers of the 19th century that has inspired many of my own writings. So when I saw the trailer for The Raven (which is an excellent poem, by the way), excitement swelled up in me like a balloon and I couldn't wait for the opportunity to go and see it. I was curious to see how they would portray such a well-known and rather mysterious author who wrote some of the most convoluted and lugubrious stories of our time, as well as how his last few days would play out on screen. So I walked into the movie theatre, a mixture of fascination and anxiety keeping me ready to see how the greatest works of the great Edgar Allan Poe would be brought to life. 

I thought the movie was an excellent collage of Poe's most recognized works (The Cask of Amontillado, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Mask of the Red Death, for example). The story line was brilliantly written and very intriguing from beginning to end. Only about an hour and forty minutes, it was not too short nor too long; just the right amount of time to show a very gripping drama and horror story unfold on screen. I was on the edge of my seat from the very first second the movie began and did not relax my tense posture until the lights in the theatre came back on. The suspense keeps you engaged and it is impossible to not be hanging onto every word and new twist and turn in the movie.

John Cusack was amazing as the famous Edgar Allan Poe. I was very impressed by the character of Poe that he created-a very conceited and haughty author who enjoyed flaunting his work and helplessly smitten with his love interest, Emily Hamilton. Cusack took on a very complex role and nailed it flawlessly. You see many dimensions of Poe-a stubborn and arrogant writer, romantic and gentle when with Emily, passionate and determined when a quill and parchment is before him. Poe is definitely not a one-dimensional character, but a very interesting and diverse man torn apart by this madman as he searches for his kidnapped love. Cusack was simply amazing.

Detective Fields (Luke Eaves) also performed excellently as the man behind the hunt for the copycat killer. He commanded the screen with such a presence of authority and control. He and Cusack complimented each other well and shared the screen together in great unison. You see many sides to him, as well, which provides a very interesting character.

Alice Eve (Emily Hamilton), Poe's love interest, plays a very important role although her screen time is very minimum. You can really sense the love between Emily and Edgar, and their on-screen chemistry was very believable. Her shining moments were obviously some of the most intense in the movie, when she is trapped in the coffin. I'm very chlosterphobic, and so I cringed the whole time I watched Emily writhe and suffocate in that cramped space. Eh. Bottom line, you didn't question her love for Edgar or her agony as she awaited her fate buried in the wooden box. Great job.

The supporting cast (Brendan Gleeson-Captain Hamilton, Oliver Jackson Cohen-John Cantrell, Sam Hazeldine-Ivan, etc) all did very well and added to the suspense.

The movie surprised me in many ways. I didn't expect the humor that was presented in the movie. I didn't think I would be laughing at all the entire time, yet I found myself on more than one occasion bent over in my seat unable to breathe. You would think that such a dark movie would not have any humor in it, but the very flamboyant and sarcastic Poe certainly provided some comic relief and gave a small break in the tension. Like the random pet raccoon was my favorite part. I tip my hat to the brain who thought of that. The action did not fail to please. The mystery element was flawless; just a classic horror film that keeps the senses engaged and eyes glued to the screen the whole time.
The blood and gore was definitely very graphic, I must say. The mutilated bodies and the torture scenes were depicted in full detail and they did not hold back on how gruesome they could make it. I covered my eyes on many parts. So if you're one of those easily-queasy people who have the urge to vomit at the very sight of bodily fluids, you might want to wait awhile after you eat to prevent your last meal from making a reappearance. Or just don't watch....or listen.

I didn't see many things I didn't like about The Raven expect a few minor things. The effects were a little cheesy and poor, but not too bad that it was absolutely terrible. Some things were a little hard to understand and their dialogue was complex and old-fashioned, so if you are not familiar with intricate English it might be a little hard for one to keep up with what they're talking about. The gore was a little unneeded in some places, but if you don't like it you can always turn away.

Overall, The Raven is an excellent film that accurately depicts the true facts of Edgar Allan Poe and his stories. Obviously the killings and plot were mostly fictional, but  many aspects of the film were true. It has a mixture that any person could enjoy; romance, mystery, action, horror all nicely rolled together into one. I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys a variety of aspects.



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