Relativity just released this eerie-looking new poster for The Raven. Now, I still prefer this teaser poster that was released last July. I just think that one is much more creative and so brilliantly creepy. This new one isn’t not bad, I kind of like the subtle raven design on the title, but the wings reminds me a bit of this Constantine‘s poster.
Unfortunately, I also learned that this movie’s released has been pushed back from March 9 to April 27. No reason was given for this delay, which is a bummer as I’ve been curious about this for some time.
I’ve always been fascinated with movies about writers and lately I’ve been watching quite a few of them because Gregory Peck has played a number of writers roles, from novelist, journalist to screenwriter. The title of the film refers to a narrative poem by Poe that was first published in January 1845. Per Wikipedia, it tells of a talking raven’s mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man’s slow descent into madness. So no, it’s not a remake of the 1963 horror comedy of the same name starring Vincent Price and Peter Lorre.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In this gritty thriller, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans, Immortals) to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders. Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin), the film also stars Alice Eve (Sex and the City 2), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Faster).
When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper—part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story.
Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe’s writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author’s help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer’s next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it’s too late.
One major highlight for me in this is Luke Evans, the dashing Brit I’ve been watching for some time. He played Zeus in this Fall’s Immortals, but he wasn’t given much to do there but look good in his barely-there mystical outfit. I think he gets to flex his acting muscles on this one as he has a more prominent role here. My pal Ted astutely suggested a few times would make a great James Bond when it’s time for Daniel Craig to retire his tux. I absolutely concur! 🙂
Here’s the latest trailer from a few months ago, as soon as they released the newest one I’ll swap it:
…
P.S. Thanks to a tip from my friend Dezzy from Hollywood Spy, The Raven was filmed in Eastern Europe, mainly Budapest, Hungary and Belgrade, Serbia.
…
What do you think folks? Does this one interest you?
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Wow, that trailer opens with a bang! Made me jump. Looks gruesome too. Hopefully the Australian release date isn’t too far behind the American one!
Oh sorry, I should’ve warned everybody. That shriek does make me jump every time I watch it 🙂 I wish they just have one release date for every country!
I am an absolutely HUGE Edgar Allen Poe fan… I honestly could not be more excited about The Raven. John Cusack seems like the kind of guy who could play Poe very well, I only hope the film is as good as it could be.
Thanks for sharing Ruth!
Oh well then this is definitely for you, Matt! I hope it lives up to your expectation. I thought it was odd casting at first in regards to Cusack as Poe, but seeing how knowledgeable he was about the writer makes me think he might be a good choice. Let’s hope that’s true.
Hadn’t heard of this one before but Cusack is usually pretty good, so will check it out once it’s available.
Well I’m sure glad to be the one to tell you Nostra 😀
I am not really excited about this… there is one thing that is bugging me about it. THE ACCENTS are awful!!
I am sorry my friend
Ahah, whose accent are you referring to matey?
answering your question: yes I am waiting for this movie 🙂
as you know, I like thriller
This should be right up your alley, Nov!
how could you not mention that it was shot in Serbia, Flixy????
Did you know that our dear Luke Evans is going today to visit Prince Charles in UK? Just congratulated him over at Twitter on that 🙂
You know I love him, not just for being so charismatic and talented but also for being so nice to HOLLYWOOD SPY so many times.
Hey Dezzy, long time! You must be joking about not including where it was filmed… Flixy tells us exactly where in her P.S. ;-D
Ahah, no I added that after Dezzy mentioned it in the comment, Becky, hence the P.S. So it’s not an oversight on his part 😀
Dez, oh I didn’t know about Luke’s visit w/ Prince Charles. That’s cool! Yes, he seems like a nice guy and definitely VERY easy on the eye 😀
This movie definitely interests me! I’m very excited to see it. Didn’t realize it had gotten pushed back to April though. Bummer! Thanks for the heads up.
Like you, I think of Cusack in more rom coms and less in action period thrillers (or whatever mix of genres you want to categorize the film as 🙂 ).
I’ve heard quite a few people say this film is just going to be a bad copy of many other thrillers, but I think it can stand on its own two feet and really do something. The trailer does remind me a little of the most recent film adaptations of Sherlock Holmes in the look, idea of solving of a mystery, tracking a killer. The film definitely has my interest!
Yeah I know, this is the second movie in my Anticipated List of the first quarter that got pushed back. The Gerry Butler soccer flick Playing the Field is pushed all the way to December! 😦
I think it’s good that Cusack is venturing out into darker, more serious genre, I think he has the chops. I do hope the script is good as I think it can be a unique thriller in the vein of Sherlock Holmes, but without the bromance humor 🙂
I used to be able to recite about half of the poem ‘The Raven’ but now I’ve forgotten most of it.
Well perhaps seeing this movie will jog your memory? 🙂
This one looks very interesting, never read any of Poe’s work but I’m familiar with The Raven storyline. Also, I really like Luke Evans and I hope we’ll see more of him on the big screen down the road, I’m quite sure he’ll get more offers after The Hobbit came out.
Oh right he’s in The Hobbit too, wahoo!!! I think Luke, Karl Urban and Richard Armitage are the three Brit/Aussie actors I could see try out for James Bond. I keep hoping they’d get cast in things other than fantasy/horror/superhero movies as they are all very talented actors who can be tough when they need to be but can also give a dramatic performance.
This has loads of potential to be great but it could so easily turn out to be dull as well. More than anything, serial killer movies need a worthy central enigma, and a really dark, oppressive atmosphere. Hopefully, this turns out good.
“…serial killer movies need a worthy central enigma, and a really dark, oppressive atmosphere” You sum it up perfectly Castor, I sure hope it’ll live up to such expectation!
I think it looks interesting.
Glad to hear it, Julian.
Honestly, I’m not incredibly excited for this one, but that first teaser poster is gorgeous! Not, like in a pretty, way, of course. In a creepy, bloody, chaotic, perfectly-sells-the-idea-of-the-film way.
So awesome.
Ahah, “creepy, bloody, chaotic, perfectly-sells-the-idea-of-the-film” LOVE that. Yeah, that first poster is just brilliant, there are so few good posters these days that don’t use people’s shots.
This has interested me since I first heard about it Ruth. I’m hoping for a suitably tense thriller. John Cusack is due a good film.
Awesome Dan! Yeah, Cusack does need a hit doesn’t he? I hope this one delivers for him, and for us too 🙂
Looking forward to this one and I remember you talking about it from ComicCon. Excited to watch it.
Love that new poster too!
The comic-con panel was surprisingly fun, but maybe I was too mesmerized by Mr. Evans 🙂 Glad you’re excited for this too, T.