Summary

Fans are upset with the new look of Bill Skarsgård’s
The Crow
remake, missing the ’90s goth aesthetic of the original.
The film’s attempt to deviate from the iconic look of Brandon Lee’s 1994 portrayal has disappointed many loyal fans.
The new version faces challenges in living up to the beloved and tragic legacy established by Lee’s performance in the original film.

Images of Bill Skarsgård’s The Crow have fans of the original up in arms. Following the story of a brutally murdered man who comes back to life to avenge his fiance’s murder, The Crow was originally released in 1994. Now, the film is being remade in 2024, and will be directed by Rupert Sanders.

Following the release of images from The Crow, fans of the original movie are dissing the new look. A number of fans were disappointed with the way that 2024’s The Crow made changes to Brandon Lee’s 1994 look. Check out some of the responses below:

Some people, such as @KHAOSANIMA418, said that they were “taken aback” by what appeared to be a lack of effort to make Skarsgård look like Eric Draven.

Others were willing to give The Crow remake the benefit of the doubt, given it was only “one pic.” @BrndnStrssng felt that the Lee version should not have “ever been touched.”

@LunaRaven90 also gave the look a thumbs down, saying that it was a mistake to make changes. Like other users, the mentioned the ‘90s music influences of Eric Draven’s look that the 2024 The Crow seems to have forgotten.

@Jayers220 called the remake “unfortunate” and said that it would make them “appreciate Brandon Lee’s version even more.”

Others likened the visual changes to that of Jared Leto’s Joker, including @pipingchangoi.

@skystarsdrawing echoed a similar criticism, saying “Why does he look like Jared Leto Joker…. Eric my love I’m so sorry.”

@mandanduno was particularly baffled, saying that “Holy fuck they done went and Jared Leto’d the Crow.”

2024’s The Crow Has Impossible Shoes To Fill

The 1994 version of The Crow has developed a cult following, and is particularly beloved because of Lee’s performance as Eric Draven. Not only was the quality of his acting revered, but The Crow is intertwined with a tragic story. At the age of 28, Lee died from a firearm malfunction on the set of The Crow. Thus, the ‘90s film honors not only Lee’s acting, but the end of his life.

Related Why The Crow’s End Credits Dedication Reads “For Brandon and Eliza” (Not Just “For Brandon”) After Brandon Lee’s devastating accidental death on the set of the cult classic The Crow, the film was completed and honored him and Eliza Hutton.

Lee is also not the only reason why The Crow is iconic. As mentioned by several of the dissenters, The Crow is synonymous with a certain version of ‘90s goth aesthetic. As @LunaRaven90 mentions, specific bands including Black Veil Brides have been cited as influences for The Crow.

The Crow Franchise Content Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score Audience Score The Crow (1994) 84% 90% The Crow: City of Angels (1996) 14% 40% The Crow: Stairway to Heaven (1998-1999) 20% 57% The Crow: Salvation (2000) 18% 43% The Crow: Wicked Prayed (2005) 0% 35%

For these reasons, Skarsgård’s version is presented with a near impossible task when trying to live up to this previous version of The Crow. No follow-up to the ’94 version has come anywhere close to the audience response that Lee’s had. While it makes sense that the production team did not want to duplicate the 1994 film’s look, its vast divergence is understandably upsetting. There is nothing The Crow remake could do to full live up to Lee’s version, and unfortunately, the film is not off on a good foot.

Source: Twitter (Various, See Above)

The Crow Based on the comic series, The Crow is a supernatural-action film that follows a murdered musician who returns from the dead for vengeance. Eric Draven and his fiancee are murdered during a violent home invasion – but supernatural forces have other plans for Draven. Resurrected by the power of a mysterious crow, the now superpowered Draven takes on the mantle of “The Crow” and seeks revenge against the entire gang that killed him and his wife.