The Raven
The Raven
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Raven is an extremely gory serial killer thriller about author Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) that incorporates facts from his life, as well as fictional elements. There are several very bloody murders and mangled dead bodies, and the female lead is kidnapped and buried alive. There are also guns, shooting, punching, and shouting, and Poe is shown to be an addict (he drinks often, smokes cigarettes once or twice, and is referred to as an opium addict, though drugs are never shown). Language is fairly infrequent, with one possible use of "f---ing," as well as a handful of lesser words. Brief sexuality includes cleavage shots and some kissing.
Community Reviews
Great Adult film, John Cusack did great!
Report this review
LOVE
Report this review
What's the Story?
In 1849 Baltimore, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) has run out of stories and is now writing bitter criticisms for the newspaper, mainly to pay for his drinking. Fortunately, he has met Emily (Alice Eve) and is finally on the verge of happiness. Unfortunately, a serial killer has emerged, leaving a trail of bodies that echo the creative murders in Poe's dark stories. Police Detective Fields (Luke Evans) enlists Poe to help catch the fiend -- whose next crime is "The Premature Burial," with Emily as the victim. Can Poe and Fields rescue her before time runs out? What price will Poe pay?
Is It Any Good?
James McTeigue -- of V for Vendetta fame -- directs THE RAVEN with an eye mostly on art direction: wet cobblestone streets and foggy woods, as well as the occasional raven dotting the landscape. He adds tremendous amounts of gore, despite the fact that gore isn't really what drove Poe's original tales. And even if the story itself isn't particularly Poe-like, Poe is a great character, and even if the mystery isn't exactly brilliant, it's perfectly serviceable.
The Raven's biggest problem is that the ranting, tormented Poe in the movie's first half is more fun than the heroic Poe of the second half. Cusack is fine in the role, but even he can't seem to tie the two sides together. Additionally, Eve seems wrong for period fare, and Evans is a bit wooden. They're all aided, however, by sparking dialogue; Cusack especially savors each delicious word as he delivers them into the ether. Overall, the enjoyable elements outweigh the disappointing ones, and The Raven works.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Raven's violence. How does the blood and gore in this movie compare with the violence in Poe's stories? Which has more impact?
Does Poe seem like an addict in this movie? What makes him drink and smoke? Why do you think drinking is shown, but not drugs?
How accurate do you think this movie is? Why do filmmakers sometimes alter historical events? How could you find out more about Poe's real life?
Does this movie make it look fun to be a writer? Is it possible to be a writer without drinking and suffering?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 27, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: October 9, 2012
- Cast: Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson, John Cusack, Luke Evans
- Director: James McTeigue
- Studio: Relativity Media
- Genre: Thriller
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 110 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: bloody violence and grisly images
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Sherlock Holmes
Gritty, action-packed take on famous sleuth's adventures.
-
The Illusionist
Magic tricks and a murder mystery. Teens and up.
-
The Prestige
Rival magicians battle in smart, dark period tale.
For kids who love thrills
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate