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It is not surprising that there has been a lot of hype around The Crow 2024 reboot given the current obsession with morally grey superheroes. After all, there is something quite intriguing about a superhero who is willing to overlook the standard moral ethics to fight cruel villains who are above the law. The upcoming movie starring Bill Skarsgård is the fifth installment in The Crow film series.
The Crow follows Eric, a musician, and his soulmate, Shelly, after they are brutally murdered. It is adapted from James O'Barr's comic books and will see FKA Twigs portray the character of Shelly.
When Eric is resurrected, he vows to avenge her death. Unlike other superhero movies, this Rupert Sanders movie will offer a dark and gritty storyline that promises plenty of gore and violence.
Ahead of its release on August 23, 2024, cinephiles should make a point to check out the engaging titles on this list that have a gothic vibe, like The Crow.
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Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
Constantine, Mandy, and five other movies like The Crow explore morality, revenge, and justice
1) Darkman (1990)
Like Eric in The Crow, Liam Neeson's character in Darkman, Peyton Westlake, embraces his superhero persona after a personal tragedy. A talented scientist, Peyton is dedicated to his work, which involves developing "synthetic skin" to help burn victims. However, when his girlfriend comes across an incriminating document, they become the target of high-ranking criminals.
The criminals, looking for the document, attack Peyton and blow up his lab. He manages to escape but is horribly disfigured. An experimental nerve procedure is used to treat him and ends up giving him super-human strength and resilience. He then makes up his mind to hunt down the thugs who destroyed his life's work.
The well-written narrative, complemented by Neeson's inspired performance and intense action sequences makes Darkman quite thrilling to watch. It is also interesting how director Sam Raimi infuses bits of dark humor into certain scenes without tampering with the somber vibe of the script.
Where to watch: Darkman is available for streaming on Prime Video.
2) The Crow (1994)
This Brandon Lee starrer is the starting point of The Crow franchise. Like the upcoming reboot, this 1994 title is also an adaptation of The Crow comic books. Lee plays the role of Eric Draven, who hunts down the gang responsible for the death of his fiancée.
This cult classic brings the best of revenge narratives in the form of satisfying fights and a tortured central character. Brandon, the son of the famous martial artist Bruce Lee, especially won fans over for bringing depth and vulnerability to his character. Unfortunately, this movie also marks Lee's final film role, he was fatally wounded during the filming.
Where to watch: This beloved adaptation of The Crow can be viewed on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
3) Blade (1998)
Like The Crow, this movie starring Wesley Snipes has also amassed a cult following. Back in the day, dark superhero films were few and far between which is why this Stephen Norrington movie left a lasting impression with its fierce hero, distinctive costumes, and gratifying fights.
The hero, Eric Brooks aka Blade, like The Crow is also based on a comic book character. A human-vampire hybrid character from Marvel Comics, Blade is a skilled vampire hunter. He possesses super-human abilities like other vampires but doesn't have any of their weaknesses.
As always, Snipes finds a way to captivate the audience with his sleek fight scenes. But what makes his character especially endearing are his sarcastic one-liners that are both powerful and memorable.
Where to watch: Blade is available for streaming on Prime Video and Max.
4) Underworld (2003)
In Len Wiseman's feature film directorial debut, viewers are thrown into a dangerous world where vampires have been engaged in a long and violent war against the lycans. Kate Beckinsale plays the central character, Selene, a vampire Death Dealer who is tasked with hunting Lycans.
Skilled and ruthless, Selene always gets the job done. But after she saves a medical student targeted by the Lycans, she unravels secrets that make her rethink her priorities.
One of the things that will appeal to viewers is the stylish gritty graphics, quite similar to those of The Crow. The complex narrative works because the team was able to draw from the vampire-werewolf mythology and create a plausible backstory for the conflict. Beckinsale also shines in the way she captures Selene's humane qualities underneath the tough-as-nails exterior.
Where to watch: Underworld can be viewed on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
5) Constantine (2005)
Before he gained worldwide popularity as John Wick, Keanu Reeves portrayed many iconic roles including John Constantine. Like Eric in The Crow, Constantine is not a virtuous superhero. He is stubborn and cynical, but he is also an extremely powerful exorcist. Not only can he travel between Earth and Hell, he can also communicate with half-angels and half-demons.
Francis Lawrence's directorial debut, Constantine doesn't shy from gory, violent scenes. As far as morally grey superheroes go, Constantine is as ruthless as The Crow, and they have other things in common as well including their motivation to fight evil which is closely linked to their personal interests.
One of the main highlights of this superhero horror movie has to be Reeves' charisma which endears the audience to his otherwise sarcastic and ego-centric character.
Where to watch: Constantine can be streamed on Netflix, Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
6) Sin City (2005)
This neo-noir movie doesn't have any superheroes but it matches the dark and intense vibe of The Crow. Several big names from the industry such as Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Jessica Alba, and more, made up the cast. Sin City centers around the lives of four characters who are entangled in the chaos, injustice, and deception rampant in Basin City.
The black-and-white visuals of the movie will remind viewers of comic book panels, which isn't out of character as the story is based on Frank Miller's comic books. In terms of action, there is enough blood and gore to keep even ardent slasher movie fans.
Everything from the unconventional camerawork to the eccentric characters, this movie is one-of-a-kind that viewers will remember long after having watched it.
Where to watch: Sin City by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller can be streamed on Prime Video.
7) Mandy (2018)
Similar to The Crow, Mandy is also about a man seeking revenge for the death of his beloved. Nicolas Cage plays a war veteran named Red Miller who is contemptuous of his life as a lumberjack. He is very attached to his girlfriend portrayed by Andrea Riseborough. When a cult leader asks a biker gang to kidnap Red's girlfriend, things go horribly wrong and she ends up dead.
Miller then goes on a blood-soaked rampage to make all of them pay for their crimes. Mandy is disturbing and violent but the striking visuals ensure that the audience cannot look away. Director Panos Cosmatos creates impressive stylized scenes that play with shadows and colors in a way that maintains tension and suspense throughout the narrative.
Where to watch: Mandy is available on Prime Video.
Fans of The Crow who are awaiting the release of the upcoming reboot should indulge in these entertaining movies that boast gritty plots and ruthless leads.
