The Raven

Indian Express Ratings: **1/2

A FILM about a serial killer set in the 19th century,who derives inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories of grisly murders and macabre mysteries,The Raven promises all that it doesn’t turn out to be.

It’s an original idea to have Poe involved,first because of the killer’s obvious fascination with him and second because he kidnaps the love of the writer’s life. However,as it turns out,Poe is just an interesting aside in the film,nicely dabbled with in the beginning and later left to hang about towards the end.

Poe ends up becoming a character in a story he would have himself turned his nose up on for delving more into the means than the mind of the killer. Particularly one gruesome enough to slash tongues,insert compasses in bodies and saw a body in half.

It doesn’t help that Cusack,who plays the mocking hapless everyday American so well,is out of his depth as a writer who while broke,rejected and drunk,remains steadfastly convinced in the extent of his talent and the ardour of his love. Evans as Director Fields,the other anchor of this story,is equally unsatisfying,built more in the tradition of modern-day heroes than a steadfast 19th century cop.

The cape and the damp,foggy cobbled streets do create an atmosphere but Poe,considered one of the first writers of detective fiction who had a hard time making a living out of it,would know that it takes more to sell a story.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com