In The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe is going through a rough patch. He hasn't written any of his beloved fiction in a while, his girlfriend's father hates him, and he can't afford to get drunk. Then Poe is confronted by the police and informed that his girlfriend has been kidnapped by a serial killer, whose modus operandi is to replicate or reference the murders in Poe's famous stories. Poe must work with the intrepid young detective to uncover suspects and win back his intended.
It's not a new plot, though Poe is a fascinating figure to utilize it. The thing is, I saw this on Castle fairly recently, and they got it solved in one entertaining hour - less if you consider commercials.
John, John... Brooding, yes, dark and romantic, sometimes, eccentric, always. Yet, nineteenth century poet still comes off as an unusual choice. I will say this for Cusack; while I've avoided his films since Must Love Dogs (painfully bad, the man must have hated making the movie), at least he's engaged and seems to enjoy the dialogue in The Raven. Alice Eve is a pretty heroine, and Luke Evans is very handsome as the persistent detective - but there's really nothing distinctive about the performances to recommend the film. Perhaps die-hard (pun intended) Poe fans will enjoy the references to his work, but more than that... pass.
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