The Raven (2012)

Director: James McTeigue

Starring: John Cusack, Alice Eve, Luke Evans

When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s works, a young Baltimore detective joins forces with Poe to stop him from making his stories a reality.

‘The Raven’ is set during the last days of writer Edgar Allan Poe’s life, and is part fiction (mostly), part fact.

Someone is committing murders in the same manner as in Edgar’s stories. The film starts with a mother and daughter being killed in their apartment – under mysterious circumstances. Luke Evans stars as Detective Fields, who investigates the murders. Fields approaches Edgar when he realizes the murders are similar to his writings, and Edgar assists Fields.

I didn’t expect the film to be as gory as it is. Some of the murders truly are gross. In the midst of all the horror, ‘The Raven’ is also a beautiful love story. The love interest comes in the form of Emily Hamilton (Alice Eve), who is the love of Edgar’s life. When Emily is abducted, Edgar must find clues in his writings to her whereabouts.

As the mystery intensifies and with time running out before the next victim is killed, the film becomes a thrilling race against time. It is set in a time before gadgets and technology – or even electricity – and I enjoyed this time period for the who dunnit murder mystery.

Well, now, this was rather fascinating, actually. ‘The Raven’ is a well made film with a good score. It doesn’t quite have the ending I was hoping for, but the ending is based on fact. Even with the twist ending and reveal of the killer, ‘The Raven’ will still be just as exciting with repeat viewings, I’m sure.

Would I watch it again? Yes.