Movie Review: The Crow (2024) — Bill Skarsgård’s Dark Resurrection Soars with Style but Stumbles on Story

Revenge, grief, and neon-lit shadows collide in this moody reboot that’s equal parts haunting and familiar.

So, The Crow is back, and yeah, it’s the kind of reboot that walks a tightrope between honoring a cult classic and trying to carve its own shadowy niche. Bill Skarsgård steps into the legendary shoes of Eric Draven, a role made famous by Brandon Lee in the 1994 original—a role that’s almost cursed with expectations. The question is: does Skarsgård bring something fresh to the resurrection saga, or does he just imitate a ghost?

The answer? It’s somewhere in the middle, but honestly, the movie leans heavier on style and mood than on originality. Skarsgård is absolutely the highlight here. He channels that unmistakable Skarsgård vibe—part unnerving, part hypnotic—effortlessly owning the brooding, grief-ridden antihero. Unlike his more chaotic Pennywise persona, this Eric Draven is quieter but no less intense, smoldering with a rage that feels both personal and supernatural. His eyes, often shadowed under that trademark black-and-white face paint, convey a raw emotional torment that’s hard to shake off. It’s clear the guy put in the work to make Eric more than just a man with vengeance on his mind.

Visually, this Crow nails the dark, rain-soaked atmosphere that made the original so iconic, but it updates it with a modern neon-noir gloss. The streets gleam wet under flickering street lamps, alleys seem to swallow you whole, and every shadow looks like it’s hiding something dangerous. The filmmakers lean hard into this grim aesthetic, and it mostly pays off. Cinematography feels like a moody music video that lingers a bit too long in the gloom but never feels dull. The use of practical effects mixed with some subtle CGI helps keep the supernatural grounded—none of that over-the-top comic-book glitz that would break the gritty spell.

The action is tight. Fight scenes are gritty and visceral, not the fast and flashy nonsense that’s so common today. Every hit connects with a sense of weight, like Eric’s pain is being physically hammered out through his fists and claws. The pacing in these sequences keeps you hooked, though the script occasionally slows down to brood just a little too long on Eric’s grief, which drags in parts.

Storywise, if you’re hoping for something groundbreaking, you might want to temper those expectations. The plot is straightforward: Eric Draven is murdered along with his fiancée, comes back from the dead thanks to a mystical crow, and seeks revenge on those responsible. The villains? They’re mostly standard bad guys—violent, corrupt, and cruel—but don’t expect Shakespearean depth. They’re more symbols of decay and corruption than fully fleshed-out characters. Some side characters feel underdeveloped, like they’re just there to move the plot along or serve as foils to Eric’s wrath. The script flirts with emotional beats that could have been powerful if given more room, but it occasionally settles for cliché lines and predictable arcs.

The soundtrack deserves its own shoutout. It’s packed with brooding alternative rock and dark, atmospheric tunes that feel like the soundtrack to a midnight drive through the city’s underbelly. The music doesn’t just fill space; it elevates the entire mood of the film, marrying perfectly with the visuals and Skarsgård’s somber presence. It’s a big win and probably one of the more faithful nods to the original film’s killer soundtrack legacy.

One thing that’s clear is the film’s commitment to balancing horror and tragedy. It’s not just about cool revenge kills; it’s about loss, the lingering pain of a life ripped away too soon, and the desperate hope for justice beyond the grave. That emotional core mostly holds up thanks to Skarsgård’s committed performance, even if the supporting cast and story don’t always measure up.

So, who is this film for? If you’re a diehard The Crow fan, it might be a mixed bag. You’ll appreciate the respect paid to the original’s atmosphere and themes, but you might feel it lacks some of that original magic—especially the raw, almost mythic aura Brandon Lee brought to the role. For newcomers, this movie works well as a dark, stylish revenge thriller with a supernatural twist. It’s moody, it’s violent, and it’s got enough heart beneath the makeup to keep you invested.

In the end, The Crow starring Bill Skarsgård is a brooding, beautifully shot reboot that knows exactly what it wants to be. It’s not reinventing the wheel, but it doesn’t try to. Instead, it doubles down on atmosphere, a haunted lead performance, and a soundtrack that hits all the right notes. It stumbles a bit on character development and story surprises, but Skarsgård’s presence and the film’s visual identity keep it firmly on solid ground.

If you like your revenge tales drenched in rain, soaked in grief, and painted in black and white, this one’s worth the watch. Just don’t expect it to blow your mind — it’s more about feeling the pain and watching justice take flight.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 crows. Not perfect, but dark, stylish, and emotionally charged enough to fly high.