REVIEW: The Raven (15)

About 20 years ago I spent a few days in Philadelphia and visited Edgar Allen Poe's house there. It may have changed since then but when I visited the house was completely empty, there was no furniture or memorabilia, not even a bookcase with the author's books on it. The whole house was undecorated and the walls were, if I remember rightly, unplastered. Somehow, though, the tour guide made it into a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable visit weaving details of Poe's life with his poems and stories.



In many ways that is what The Raven does.

Edgar Allen Poe, the American master of horror, is found sitting on a park bench in Baltimore. He is dazed and confused and near death.

What follows is a ripping yarn of a serial killer inspired by Poe's writings, and all his most famous works get a mention. It is, on many ways, a bit like the movie Se7en but transferred to mid-19th century America.

It's not art but a great romp with cloaks and candles, graveyards and cellars, horse riding and a masked ball and a body count that would put Midsomer Murders to shame!

John Cusack, not known for period drama, is convincing as Edgar Allen Poe and the supporting cast all play their parts to support the twists and turns of the story. Alice Eve, the daughter of Actors Trevor Eve and Sharon Maughan, is Poe's love interest, the woman he wants to marry but her father objects to the suggestion of marriage.

Towards the end of the movie the possibility that it's all been the narrative of a near death dream - bringing together all the threads of his life's works. Has it all be an hallucination?

I'm not one for blood and guts and gore, and it's worth noting there are a few rather gory moments that, along with some fairly mild swearing, definitely warrant the 15 certificate

Overall - an enjoyable romp!