In this modern reimagining of James O’Barr’s graphic novel, soulmates are brutally murdered. The man is given a chance to save his true love by sacrificing himself. He sets out to seek merciless revenge on the killers, traversing the worlds of the living and the dead to right the wrongs. A film by Rupert Sanders, starring Bill Skarsgård, FKA twigs, Laura Birn, Jordan Bolger, Tundy Smith, and Danny Huston.

Shelly (FKA twigs) receives a call from her friend Zadie (Isabella Wei), who urges her to check a message she just sent. The message contains a video clip featuring Shelly, Zadie, and another woman. In the video, Shelly is seen sitting at the piano when suddenly, a woman’s scream is heard. Startled, Shelly continues her conversation with Zadie on the phone, asking how she obtained the clip.

Zadie explains that she got it from their friend Dom, who filmed it, and that she has shown the clip to someone else. Now, Zadie is worried that those people might know she has the clip, putting her in danger. She urges Shelly to flee the city with her and Dom.

Upon returning to her apartment, Zadie feels a surge of fear as she realizes that Marion (Laura Birn) and her henchman Lex (Tundy Smith) have been waiting for her. Lex stabs Zadie with a needle filled with anesthetic, knocking her unconscious. Meanwhile, Shelly is torn, contemplating whether to delete the clip, fully aware that possessing it could put her life in grave danger.

Ultimately, Shelly decides to keep the clip and tries to call Dom, but he is unavailable. She leaves him a message asking him to meet her at Zadie’s place. Afterward, she places her phone in a small safe hidden behind an antique Chinese cabinet.

While making her way to Zadie’s place, Shelly is followed by another henchman, Wickham (David Bowles). She tries to flee and bumps into police officers, dropping her purse and spilling its contents, including her pills and a small plastic bag of cocaine. As a result, Shelly is sent to Serenity Park recovery center, where she meets Eric (Bill Skarsgård), a young man with a troubled childhood. At first glance, Shelly is immediately drawn to Eric.

Marion brings Zadie to her boss, Vincent Roeg (Danny Huston), a ruthless crime lord with mystical powers that grant him immortality. Roeg reveals that for centuries, he made a pact with the devil, trading innocent souls for eternal life. He then whispers demonic incantations into Zadie’s ear, compelling her to stab her own neck with a dagger. Roeg is desperate to retrieve the incriminating video clip, so he orders Marion to hunt down Shelly.

Meanwhile, Shelly approaches Eric, and the two quickly start bonding. Later, Marion and Shelly’s mother Sophia (Josette Simon), arrive at the Serenity Park recovery center, despite Shelly’s claim that nobody knows she is there. Shelly immediately recognizes her mother and Marion, both of whom work for Vincent Roeg, and becomes panicked and frightened. Eric takes Shelly to the laundry room and points out the window that leads to the yard. He decides to cut off their ankle monitors, and they both easily escape the facility together.

Later, Marion tracks down Eric and Shelly. She orders her henchmen to capture them, and the pair are killed by suffocation with plastic bags. Strangely, Eric awakens in a pond, helplessly watching Shelly sink into its depths. After swimming to the surface, he follows a mysterious man named Kronos (Sami Bouajila) to what appears to be an abandoned rail yard – a realm between life and death. Kronos reveals that Eric’s killer doesn’t belong in the world of the living. He offers Eric a deal: if he can kill the person responsible for his death, he’ll have a chance to bring Shelly back.

Directed by English filmmaker Rupert Sanders, The CROW is a reinterpretation of the 1989 comic book series by American artist James O’Barr. The screenplay, written by Zach Baylin and William Schneider, diverges from the original material in several elements, unlike the 1994 film which is considerably more faithful to the comic book series.

While the film boasts stunning cinematography and impressively visceral fight choreography, the screenplay suffers from inconsistency and an unconvincing narrative. For example, when Eric and Shelly first meet at the rehabilitation center, the timeframe is so condensed that I can’t feel any special connection between them. I don’t understand why he would risk his life or trade his soul to save someone he has just met.

What does Eric do for a living? What does Shelly do? Do they have an unlimited flow of cash? Shelly’s mother is wealthy, but I don’t see Shelly asking her for money. Why do they go out partying at the club or for a road trip picnic with their friends? This is especially puzzling when Shelly knows that Roeg has been desperately searching for her.

Additionally, the mysterious clip that the filmmaker chooses to conceal for over an hour ultimately reveals itself to be something that could incriminate Shelly rather than Roeg, since she is the one who committed the killing. It’s baffling why Roeg would want to destroy the clip simply because he appears in it.

Overall, it seems the filmmaker prioritized style over substance, leaving the film feeling underwhelming and less memorable than intended.

The CROW premiered in New York City on 20 August 2024. It was theatrically in France on 21 August, and in the United States and United Kingdom on 23 August.