Raven's Hollow
By Danny Brogan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gothic horror story has jump scares, gory imagery.

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What's the Story?
In RAVEN'S HOLLOW, the year is 1830 and West Point military Cadet Edgar Allan Poe (William Moseley) and four other cadets discover a dying man while on a training exercise in upstate New York. While trying to establish where the man was from, the cadets stumble across a mysterious community whom a curse is said to hover over.
Is It Any Good?
This gothic horror has big ideas, despite its obvious modest budget. Raven's Hollow is essentially an Edgar Allan Poe "origin" story, albeit one with a large dollop of gothic fantasy horror. Set in 1830 -- before Poe has established himself as a much-lauded poet and author -- the film has fun suggesting the inspiration for his future writings. This inspiration comes in the form of a creepy community that appears to be under some kind of curse. Director and writer Christopher Hatton drops all manner of nods and acknowledgments to Poe's works. Character's share names with his poems, while some lines are directly lifted from his text.
Yet what begins as an interesting idea becomes lost in some uneven plotting and strange editorial decisions. Set in upstate New York, there are all manner of accents going on -- fans of popular kids' show Bluey may recognize Charlotte (Melanie Zanetti) as the voice of Bluey's mom. David Hayman's as the village doctor is particularly distracting. Poe also makes a bizarre decision toward the end of the film that makes little to no sense, despite his explanation. Hatton does a great job of creating a creepy, gothic atmosphere and there are a few jump scares for good measure. But ultimately, despite a runtime of just 98 minutes, the film drags and, unlike Poe's actual works, the conclusion is lacking.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the threat and violence in Raven's Hollow. Did the fantasy tone affect the impact of those moments? If so, how? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Did you think the movie was scary? What was most scary about it? Did it remind you of any other movies? What's the appeal of horror movies?
What do you know about Edgar Allan Poe? Has this movie inspired you to learn more about him?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: September 22, 2022
- Cast: William Moseley , Melanie Zanetti , Kate Dickie
- Director: Christopher Hatton
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Shudder
- Genre: Horror
- Topics: Book Characters , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 98 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 19, 2023
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