It’s always difficult to live up to a cult classic, especially one with a notorious past.
Liongate’s Rupert Sanders-directed 2024 remake of The Crow is confronting this challenge, with fans of the original already denouncing the remake based on the trailer alone.
Brandon Lee, who played the titular character in the 1994 comic book picture, tragically died while filming, therefore fans are particularly loyal to it. But it isn’t the only reason why people aren’t connecting with the new caravan.
The teaser, which follows newly-immortal musician Eric Draven’s (Bill Skarsgård) vow to wreak revenge on the gang that killed him and his fiancée (FKA Twigs), appears to include very little story detail.
Eric Dravens, the original comic book character, was inspired by Iggy Pop. While Skarsgård, 33, has a similar punk rock style in the teaser, he has been unflatteringly likened to Jared Leto’s widely panned depiction of the Joker in The Suicide Squad.
Even the director of the original film, Alex Proyas, was unimpressed, previously commenting next to a photo of Skarsgård and FKA twigs: ‘Eric Draven’s having a bad hair day. Next reboot thanks.’
‘I guess he’s supposed to be a bad mofo with all those tats and werewolves and skulls on his jacket,’ the director added alongside a laugh-crying emoji.
Others have criticised the film as lifeless and a waste of good performers, citing the formulaic script and forced grim style.
The teaser concentrates on the romance between Skarsgård and FKA Twigs’ characters, with repeated views of the couple barely dressed.
The rest of the trailer is a gorefest, with so much artificial blood on show that you wonder what the practical effects budget was.
Some X users have even stated that the picture appears more like a pornographic film than a big-budget box office hit, with the trailer emphasising on exposed flesh and violence rather than storyline.
The picture cost a whopping $50 million (£39,197,500) to create, more than double the budget of the original, which grossed $84 million (£65,851,800) – yet it fails to replicate the original’s passion and imagination.
X user @FindlayLouis wrote, ‘Just watched the trailer for #TheCrow remake…… instantly I’m thinking it’s a porn film with better storylines. Tbh, there’s a few things that I find interesting & it’s clear this is very different. I wish he had traditional make up. I’ll probably wait till it comes out.’
Some users were even less generous. @_ExMortis wrote: ‘There’s still time to throw this in the bin and never let it see the light of day.’
User @geeky_viking agreed, writing, ‘As someone who owns every Crow film, I want to give this a chance…but damn this trailer is garbage – a soulless remake that’s nothing more than a quick cash grab. Might be proven wrong upon release, but not holding my breath.’
Whether you like it or not, the new trailer for The Crow is generating a lot of attention, and it may yet exceed fans’ expectations.
