This article contains mention of violence and assault.
Both versions ofThe Crowfocus on the origin story of Eric Draven. He is a man who rises from the dead to take his revenge, similar to the many other revenge movies that follow this formula. The2024The Crowis not a remake of the originalbut expands upon the narrative laid out by the comic book series.Source material likethe comic book serves as inspiration for the brooding vengeance films within this niche.While stories of revenge have been popular since the beginning of the film,The Crowexemplifies what the genre does best.
Nothing about either version ofThe Crowis flat or bland, as even within the moody palate, it remains dynamic.
It stands apart because of how dark and gritty the action and aesthetic of the project are. However, nothing about either version ofThe Crowis flat or bland, as even within the moody palate, it remains dynamic. Thebiggest differences betweenThe Crow2024 and the original movieare part of the reason that the recent adaptation of the beloved comic book isn’t as popular. While there are plenty of ways that vengeance narrative can play out on screen,most begin with the protagonist experiencing a loss like Eric does and then rising from the ashes.
Darkman
Cast
Sam Raimi’s Darkman was released in 1990 and was based on a short story that Raimi created in tribute to Horror from the 1930s. The film sees Liam Neeson as a doctor using new technology to help cure himself of skin burns, only to develop superhuman abilities when the experiment fails.
Though the director ofDarkman, Sam Raimi, made his name making the campy cult classicEvil Deadmovies, he branched out with the revenge thrillerDarkmanin 1990.Starring a young Liam Neeson as Dr. Peyton Westlake, AKA Darkman,the movie follows the doctor’s journey for vengeance after a corrupt real estate developer destroys his life because he found sensitive information. Frances McDormand plays Julie, Westlake’s love interest, who he attempts to get back to so they can rebuild their life together.
ThoughDarkmanisn’t based on a comic likeThe Crow, it’s still in conversation with the same pulp aesthetics and gritty superhero genre.
There are similarities between the recentDeadpoolmovies andDarkman, as both protagonists have their skin and appearance altered by torture and explosions, making it difficult for them to reunite with the women they love. However,the project is closer in tone toThe Crow,as Westlake is practically brought back from the dead after his attack, and he succumbs to despair as Eric does. ThoughDarkmanisn’t based on a comic likeThe Crow, it’s still in conversation with the same pulp aesthetics and gritty superhero genre.
83%
59%
6.4 / 10
Death Wish
Death Wish is an Eli Roth directed remake of the 1974 film of the same name, which was based on Brian Garfield’s 1972 book. The film follows the same premise as the original, with Paul Kersey, played by Bruce Willis, seeking revenge after his family is attacked. Unfortunatly, the film underperformed at the box office and got mostly negative reviews upon release.
Bruce Willis leads the 2018 remake ofDeath Wish, a 1974 filmof the same name that sparked controversy at the time of its release for the vigilante narrative it perpetuated. In the 2018 version, Willis stars as Paul Kersey, a man who steps outside the law after his family is attacked in their home. Feeling frustrated and unprepared, Paul trains himself to use firearms and begins intervening in every crime he spots on the streets of Chicago.
ThoughDeath Wishwasn’t a hit with critics or at the box office,it could be described as a modernized and more political version ofThe Crow.The 2018 iteration ofDeath Wishisn’t as tragic and overtly violent as the original, opting for a more clean and polished take on the action genre. While Paul isn’t as compelling a protagonist as Eric andDeath Wishisn’t as visually innovative asThe Crow, it’s an interesting exercise for Willis. It explores the moral and cultural implications of vigilantism.
18%
70%
6.3 / 10
I Saw the Devil
I Saw The Devil is a South Korean thriller directed by Kim Jee-woon. The narrative follows a secret agent who embarks on a relentless and personal quest for vengeance after his fiancée is brutally murdered by a psychopathic serial killer. The film stars Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-sik, and is renowned for its intense and gritty portrayal of the cat-and-mouse game between the two central characters.
I Saw The Devilis so gory and intense for an action thriller that the movie comes close to the territory of the horror genre during its action-packed runtime. Lee Byung-hun stars as Kim Soo-hyeon,a NIS agent tracking the ruthless serial killer who murdered his fiancée.The killer, Jang Kyung-chul, played by Choi Min-sik in a truly chilling performance, is slowly tortured and followed by Soo-hyeon, who vows to make Kyung-chul pay and suffer as much as his victims did.
I Saw The Devilleans into this tone and forces the audience to grapple with their own position as the viewer during the story.
ThoughThe Crowis violent and graphic from beginning to end,I Saw The Devilis not for the faint-hearted, as the depictions of attacks and assaults are unrelentingthroughout the film. It’s difficult not to be overwhelmed by the intensity of the movie and shocked at the level of cruelty displayed onscreen. However,I Saw The Devilleans into this tone and forces the audience to grapple with their own position as the viewer during the story.
81%
87%
7.8 / 10
John Wick
John Wick is a 2014 action thriller featuring Keanu Reeves as a retired hitman. The film follows John Wick as he emerges from retirement to avenge the loss inflicted by a group of gangsters, setting the stage for a relentless pursuit and exploration of a shadowy underworld.
John Wickis one of themovies that defined Keanu Reeves' career, as the actor is almost better known for his performance as the titular character than he is for his other great works. WhileThe Matrixwas Reeves' first foray into a major action franchise,John Wickhas remained one of the greatest and most well-crafted works of action in film history. Each successive film ups the ante and increases both the tension and the abilities of its characters. However,the first movie in the universe will always be a classic and the most nostalgicof the films.
In the wake of his wife’s death, the titular character, John Wick, is accosted by a group of Russian mobsters who then murder his puppy. Already grieving, this action incites John, who is revealed to be a former hitman and one of the most formidable killers known to the organized crime underworld.John Wickhas been compared to video games due to the way the fight sequences are shotand its highly dynamic cinematography and lighting. This is comparable to the wayThe Crowdraws inspiration from its comic book source material and the superhero genre.
86%
7.4 / 10
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic story, portraying the tale of Edmond Dantès, a falsely imprisoned man who escapes and seeks revenge. Set in the early 19th century, the film follows Dantès’ transformation and quest for justice against those who betrayed him.
A stylish period piece might not seem likeThe Count of Monte Cristomight not immediately draw comparisons to a dark comic book adaptation likeThe Crow, but they have more in common than viewers might imagine. Starring Jim Caviezel alongside Guy Pearce and featuring a young Henry Cavill, there’s a lot to recommend the sweeping revenge epic,The Count of Monte Cristo. Based on the 19th-century novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas, the movie spans generations and watches Edmond Dantès (Caviezel) reclaim his lover and his fortune.
Dantès takes his time plotting his vengeance, slowly rebuilding his life and destroying Fernand in the most satisfying fashion.
After being betrayed by Fernand (Pearce), a man he considered a friend,Dantès is isolated in an island prison for years until he escapes and assumes a new identity to get his revenge on Fernand.Though there isn’t quite as much violence and action inThe Count of Monte Cristoas inThe Crow, there are still fantastic fight scenes and a thrilling showdown between Dantès and Fernand. However, Dantès takes his time plotting his vengeance, slowly rebuilding his life and destroying Fernand in the most satisfying fashion.
73%
88%
7.7 / 10
The Equalizer
The Equalizer is an action thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua starring Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, a former intelligence operative who lives a quiet life in Boston. When he encounters a young girl named Teri, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, threatened by violent Russian gangsters, McCall comes out of retirement to use his skills to restore justice. The film reimagines the 1980s TV series of the same name.
Denzel Washington reinvigorated his action career withThe Equalizerin 2014,and the two sequels have cemented the franchise as one of the most thrilling and compelling action universes of the past several years. ThoughThe Equalizerreceived middling reviews from critics, it was a smash at the box office and was praised for its visual style and fight choreography. Though Washington’s character, Robert, isn’t romantically involved with the woman he seeks vengeance for, he’s just as motivated to help her as Eric is to avenge Shelly, his fiancée.
Though not as visually innovative and cohesive asThe Crow,The Equalizerstill falls in line with the gritty and dark cinematography that defined the action genre in the 2010s. Due to its potential for sequels,The Equalizerends more happily for Robert thanThe Crowdoes for Eric,as he finds a new lease on life to begin helping more people. However, his altruistic intentions don’t stop him from being just as lethal as Eric and finding creative ways to subdue his opponents.
61%
77%
7.2 / 10
Oldboy
Oldboy follows the story of a man mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years without explanation. Upon his release, he embarks on a quest to uncover the identity of his captors and understand the motivations behind their actions. This gripping tale navigates through themes of vengeance and discovery.
Often described as one of thebest revenge movies of all time,Oldboydefines the style and ability of the filmmaker Park Chan-wook and seamlessly combines the revenge and action genres.Oldboyis a relentless and brutal exploration of what happens to a person’s psyche after imprisonment.Following parallel trajectories of pain, lost love, and the vindictive actions of a ruthless villain,OldboyandThe Crowhave much in common. Both protagonists turn their bodies into weapons and hunt down the men who turned their lives upside down.
Held against his will for years, Dae-su has to work to uncover the identity of his captors and the reason he was isolated in only five days, or he will be killed.
Starring Choi Min-sik as Oh Dae-su,Oldboyhinges on Choi’s performance, and he delivers every step of the wayas Dae-su falls deeper into a twisting conspiracy. Held against his will for years, Dae-su has to work to uncover the identity of his captors and the reason he was isolated in only five days, or he will be killed. The stakes of bothOldboyandThe Crowincrease throughout the films, and it’s impossible not to feel the tragedy of Eric and Dae-su as their happiness is destroyed.
94%
8.3 / 10
Taken
Taken stars Liam Neeson as ex-Green Beret and ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills, who retired from his life of fighting in order to be there for his family. When his teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) travels to Paris and is kidnapped by human traffickers, Mills launches into action, mounting a one-man rescue mission that sees him tear through gangs of European criminals with extreme prejudice in hopes of finding and rescuing Kim before it’s too late.
Takenand its subsequent sequels can be credited with bringing Liam Neeson into the action genreand establishing a new type of revenge thriller in the 21st century. Though other films inspired the work,Takenhas been influential within the niche of government agents going rogue and taking the law into their own hands to rescue their loved ones.Takenfollows Neeson’s character, Bryan, on a quest across Europe that leads him to the darkest corners of the black market after his daughter is kidnapped.
Like Eric, Bryan is driven by his need to rescue his daughter and exact his vengeance on her kidnappers. However, since his daughter, Kim, is still alive, this raises the stakes and puts a ticking clock on the movie, leaving the viewer anxious to find out if Bryan will rescue Kim and make it out alive. ThoughEric has nothing left to lose and acts accordingly through his violent nature, Bryan is just as ruthless in his pursuit of Kim,and the action sequences inTakenare part of the reason the film was such a box office success.
60%
85%
Unforgiven
Unforgiven follows retired gunslinger Will Munny as he is drawn back into his former life for a final mission, seeking justice with his old partner and a young outlaw called The Schofield Kid.
Of all Clint Eastwood’s projects,Unforgivenis widely considered his magnum opus, as the classic Western star both directed and starred in the film.Unforgivenis Eastwood’s love letter and withering critique of the Western genreput together in one brilliantly crafted project that sees a gunslinger well past his prime take on one last challenge against a man even worse than he was. The villain of the piece, Little Bill Daggett, played by the great Gene Hackman, goes down in history as one of the best antagonists in a Western movie.
Many Westerns fall into the revenge genre, and whileUnforgivenmight not have much in common withThe Crowon paper, the morally ambiguous yet heroic archetype of Eric Draven is cut from the same cloth as Will Munny.
Many Westerns fall into the revenge genre, and whileUnforgivenmight not have much in common withThe Crowon paper, the morally ambiguous yet heroic archetype of Eric Draven is cut from the same cloth as Will Munny.Both Munny and Draven have lost the love of their lives and are looking for something to keep them going,returning to the violence of their pasts to do something good for the future. LikeThe Crow, there are few characters worth redeeming inUnforgiven, but that makes them all the more compelling to watch.
96%
93%
8.2 / 10
10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Clint Eastwood’s Western Movies
Clint Eastwood might be the king of Westerns, but that doesn’t mean his movies are without their problems, especially when rewatching them today.
Gone Girl
Based on Gillian Flynn’s 2012 novel, Gone Girl stars Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike as Nick and Amy Dunne, a couple whose disintegrating marriage is rocked by Amy’s sudden disappearance and Nick’s suspected hand in it. As evidence begins to pile up against Nick, it eventually becomes clear with a shocking twist that all is not what it seems. Flynn also wrote the screenplay for the film, with David Fincher directing.
There are few monologues in film history as memorable as the “cool girl monologue” delivered by Rosamund Pike as Amy Dunne inGone Girl.Pike and Ben Affleck are at their best as two sides of the same coin in the twisting revenge thrillerbased on Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name. After Amy discovers that Nick (Affleck) is cheating on her, she fakes her death and frames him for it, hitting the road and never looking back. However, Amy hits quite a few snags in her new life, and Nick isn’t willing to go down without a fight.
Similarly toThe Crow,Gone Girlsees a marriage damaged irreparably, but inGone Girl, there aren’t external forces preventing them from being together. Though Amy seems like the more vindictive member of the pair, it soon becomes clear that Nick is just as damaged as she is, andthey’re both willing to do terrible things to each other.WatchingGone Girlunfold and realizing how complex their relationship truly is makes the movie a delightful puzzle that leaves the audience on the edge of their seats.
8.1 / 10
