Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dull fantasy revenge sequel; violence, sex, language, drugs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Crow: City of Angels
What's the Story?
In THE CROW: CITY OF ANGELS, Ash (Vincent Perez) is murdered alongside his son. But then Ash's restless spirit is given the chance to return to Earth to get revenge on his killers, a criminal gang run by the sadistic Judah Earl (Richard Brooks).
Is It Any Good?
The Crow has a strong look, cool theme, and an iconic grunge soundtrack. The sequel, The Crow: City of Angels, rushed to try to replicate it, which resulted in a slapdash movie that makes very little sense. The supernatural story is fine. It's the character's actions and decisions that are the problem. It's no surprise to discover director Tim Pope is a music video veteran. Music videos entertain for three minutes with a strong look and a quick hook. This film follows the same formula, stringing together set pieces but never gelling to make a functional movie.
In fairness to Pope, he, along with writer David S. Goyer, disowned the film after interference from producer Harvey Weinstein. What's left is a baffling slog of a movie about a man coming back from the dead to avenge the murder of him and his son. It's a story that never takes flight, while the constant "cawing" of an actual crow in nearly every scene only adds to the irritating experience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in The Crow: City of Angels. What impact did it have? What consequences were there? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How was sex portrayed? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
How was drug use depicted in the film? Was it glamorized? Why does that matter?
What was Ash's motivation? Was he a sympathetic character? Why, or why not? What is the appeal of revenge movies?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 30, 1996
- On DVD or streaming : February 4, 1998
- Cast : Vincent Perez , Mia Kirshner , Iggy Pop
- Director : Tim Pope
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Miramax
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence, drug content, language and sexuality
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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