★★★★ | A worthy release of a cult classic

The Film

★★★★ | Cheesy and silly, but heartfelt and earnest as well.

The Crow is a film tied to its era in more than one way. It couldn’t happen today, for better and for worse.

Mostly because everything about it is tied to the tragedy of Brandon Lee, the magnetic star of the film, who died days before his work on the project was completed. The accident, a dangerously mismanaged gun on the set, changed the way films were shot, and left a specter haunting forever haunting the project. Every frame of the film is Lee’s, and they all remain a testament to what a charismatic performer we lost due to negligence.

The second reason The Crow is a product of its time is simpler. This is a cheesy, emo movie that anyone who was of the right age in the late 90s will recognize as their own. From the set design and visuals, echoing the works of German expressionists like Robert Weine, to the make-up and music, there isn’t a single element of The Crow that doesn’t scream of the 90s. It’s both delightfully earnest and very, very cringe, but in the kind of way that you can only look back at fondly.

Thanks to assured directing from Alex Proyas and a totally game cast, The Crow never falls into parody. It’s having fun, but it doesn’t laugh at itself. This is dead serious, and yet it isn’t. Like Tim Burton’s Batman and a slew of imitators that followed, The Crow is a distinct visual statement of everything that was cool for a brief window before the turn of the millennium. There hasn’t been anything like it since, and probably never will be.

Based on the comic book by James O’Barr, The Crow is a simple Halloween tale of love and revenge, told like an extended music video. Eric Draven and his fiancé, Shelly, are set to marry on Halloween. The night before, they’re brutally assaulted and murdered by thugs working for Top Dollar (a deliriously fun Michael Wincott). One year later, Eric is brought back to life by a crow, with the intent on settling the score and earning himself eternal rest with his loved one.

There’s little about the plot that makes sense. This is all mood, tone, and badassery. Why is Eric playing his guitar on the rooftops? Why would you even ask. Because it looks cool. Everyone speaks in the weird declarative style where everything sounds like a catchphrase, and there’s a weird incest plot line to boot. Anyone looking for logic is bound to walk away disappointed. Those willing to let the visuals, music, and style wash over them will discover that The Crow has lost none of its energy over the decades. At a brisk 90 or so minutes, it’s just short enough that it never overstays its welcome.

I can’t say The Crow has fully aged how I wished it had, but nothing ever does. I’m not the same as I was when I saw it the first time at the tender age of 12. Some things look very silly now, and a part of the experience now feels like looking back on an old photo album. Everything is the same, yet distant and weird, and can you believe that’s what we wore once?

But that doesn’t take away from how forceful the direction is, and how hypnotic Brandon Lee is in the role. By all accounts, this should have been his ticket to stardom. It’s a tantalizing prospect to think of everything he could have done. Now, we have only The Crow, a film that’s both a calling card and a goodbye. A bittersweet note on an imperfect movie that has, despite all odds, stood the test of time.

Technical Specs & Presentation

★★★★ | Solid presentation that sets the tone right out of the box.

• Contents: 4K UHD disc
• Subtitles: Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, English
• Release Date: 6.5.2024

The 4K Blu-ray comes with an updated, visually impressive case featuring an updated version of Lee’s classic pose on the cover. The disc itself bears The Crow logo, and comes without an additional Blu-ray in the Nordic copy I received for review.

Extras are packed on the same disc, upscaled from standard definition to HD, and subtitled for the most part. It’s a well-crafted, solid package that does everything it can with the limited material that’s available.

Video

★★★★★ | As beautiful a transfer as we could ever hope for.

• 2160p Ultra High Definition 16:9 (1.85:1), H.265 (HVEC),
• Dolby Vision, HDR10

The Crow wasn’t a big budget feature, and Lee’s death caused multiple changes to the final product, which resulted in hasty editing and visual trickery to cover up the missing footage. Some of that is still noticeable, and certain effects work just isn’t possible to salvage even with the new scan.

But when The Crow hits its stride, it looks magnificent. Everything from the grain to the deep, inky blacks has been retained, and the final result is gloriously detailed. From Eric’s nightly serenades to the big shootout at the end, every scene is filled with things to appreciate. Best of all, there isn’t any AI use in sight, making this feel like a tangible improvement. Whatever imperfections there are, they belong there. You can see human hands in the restoration, and that loving work only makes the bigger picture better.

For fans of the film, The Crow in 4K is a supremely worthwhile addition to the collection. For newcomers, this is the best way to experience the cult classic the way it was meant to be seen.

Audio

★★★★ | A solid audio mix that does the job.

• English: DTS HD – Master Audio 5.1

The Master Audio mix isn’t as immersive as a Dolby Atmos one could be, but I don’t think The Crow necessarily needs it, either. This is already a decent upgrade from the Blu-ray and DVD releases. Rich and full of detail, it places an emphasis on the dialog, which sounds pristine — which itself is a major win, considering how most of the sound wasn’t re-recorded afterward, as is the custom. It’s impossible to tell where Lee’s work ends, and the editing takes over, and that’s a genuine compliment.

The soundtrack soars on the background, featuring iconic tracks that have been later used in trailers throughout the 2000s. Bullet casings ping with a delightfully clear sharpness, and the final fight involving swords and brutal punches sounds excellent.

It is missing that final bit of excellence that would make this a great demo disc, but I’m not sure if it’s even possible to attain. As stated, The Crow was a low-budget production, and the loss of Lee meant the film was put together in an unfinished state. The fact that it looks and sounds this good almost 25 years later is nothing to sniff at. This is a great, superbly restored disc that should make any fan of the film happy.

Extras

★★★★ | Decent enough supplements, though nothing groundbreaking.

The extras are comprehensive, though understandably subdued. Nobody wants to talk about the accident, and Lee’s presence hangs over every bit of the documentaries and commentaries. He’s brought up often, and what little on-set material is available only highlights what a presence he was both in-front and behind of the camera.

That said, the material itself is excellent, delivering first a wide-ranging look at how O’Barr wrote the story as a means of coping with loss — only to experience it again during filming. The commentary by Proyas is engaging and enlightening, going into detail about how he approached the deeply gothic material.

The behind the scenes footage is sourced from earlier releases, as much of the cast still doesn’t feel comfortable talking about the production. This footage is still good, and the upscale does a decent job of looking alright, if not remarkable.

As with the rest of the disc, The Crow continues to impress simply by succeeding in delivering the goods from tragedy. For fans, it’s the real deal, and the best possible edition of their beloved film available.

Overall

★★★★ | A heartfelt return of a cult classic

The Crow is a bittersweet release, because it once again reminds us of the loss and tragedy of Brandon Lee. Every aspect of this restoration is another nick at old wounds. It reminds us that they’ve accomplished wonders in bringing back the audiovisual fidelity for a project that lost its lead — and immediately we’re transported down the rabbit hole, thinking of what else we lost in the process.

But once we get over that, there’s so much to love here. From the beautiful 4K transfer to the terrific extras, The Crow is a fantastic purchase for fans and newcomers. A showcase for how important physical media cultivation is, and the kinds of classics we have to preserve for future generations.

Full extras