The Raven
Justin Marks will write the script that will focus on a young man with powers being chased around downtown Los Angeles by robotic police drones, while a giant police ship coordinates the effort from the skies above.
[BEST & WORST '12] David Harley’s List of the Worst Horror Films of 2012!
2012 has been a snoozer of a year for horror for the most part. I can’t think of another year that I’ve been with the site when I’ve been more indifferent, bored, disappointed, and otherwise unamused by most of what I watched. Not like it should come as a huge shock to anyone that went to the theatre this year, but most of what I’ve included on my Worst Of list are studio films that feel like they were distributed and made by people who just don’t care. Marketing and brand loyalty made some of these movies money, not the actual quality of what was on screen – talk about depressing.
This year, one film stands above all others as the worst thing I had the displeasure of sitting through, regardless of genre, and everything else on my list might as well be second place; they’re all equally shallow and uninspired. As always, here’s to looking forward to next year, which will no doubt have a surprise or two, along with Stoker, Antiviral (hopefully), and You’re Next. READ MORE
Roger Corman Remaking Several Edgar Allan Poe Stories
86-year-old Roger Corman is gearing up for a slate of remakes. The B-movie king tells the Hollywood Reporter that he’s making new versions of eight low-budget horror films based on stories by 19th century American writer Edgar Allan Poe that he adapted and directed in the 1950s and ’60s.
House of Usher will be followed by The Pit and the Pendulum, Premature Burial, Tales of Terror, The Raven, The Hunted Palace, The Masque of the Red Death and The Tomb of Ligeia.
This time, Corman will produce but not direct the films, with the first to shoot in 2013, followed by two a year after that on budgets of $2 million to $2.5 million (the originals were shot for $250,000 to $350,000, not adjusting for inflation, on 15-day schedules).
The new productions will be self-financed by Corman’s New Horizons Productions, which will give the films at least a short domestic theatrical release and offer international rights at the American Film Market.
Corman says his biggest concern is replacing his legendary leading man Vincent Price, who died in 1993. Corman hopes to find a fiftysomething actor known from TV who, he says, can bring the same level of “sensitivity and neuroticism that Vincent was able to bring.” READ MORE
Exclusive Interactive Maps For ‘The Raven’
Dated October 9 for Blu-ray, DVD and VOD platforms from Fox Home Entertainment is The Raven, which stars John Cusack, Luke Evans and Alice Eve.
We’ve been provided with an exclusive 24 hour first look at an interactive map of Baltimore highlighting the locations in the film and Edgar Allan Poe’s hunt for the serial killer around town! Go play around inside and see if you can find the killer…
“John Cusack and Luke Evans star in this blood-curdling tale of terror that’s as dark and haunting as the legendary master of the macabre who inspired it – Edgar Allan Poe. Baltimore, 1849. While investigating a horrific double murder, police detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the killer’s methods mirror the twisted writings of Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack). Suspecting Poe at first, Fields ultimately enlists his help to stop future attacks. But in this deadly game of cat and mouse, the stakes are raised with each gruesome slaying as the pair races to catch a madman before he brings every one of Poe’s shocking stories to chilling life…and death.” READ MORE
Fox Home Ent. Dates ‘The Raven’ For Home Video
Dated October 9 for Blu-ray, DVD and VOD platforms from Fox Home Entertainment is The Raven, which stars John Cusack, Luke Evans and Alice Eve.
“John Cusack and Luke Evans star in this blood-curdling tale of terror that’s as dark and haunting as the legendary master of the macabre who inspired it – Edgar Allan Poe. Baltimore, 1849. While investigating a horrific double murder, police detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the killer’s methods mirror the twisted writings of Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack). Suspecting Poe at first, Fields ultimately enlists his help to stop future attacks. But in this deadly game of cat and mouse, the stakes are raised with each gruesome slaying as the pair races to catch a madman before he brings every one of Poe’s shocking stories to chilling life…and death.”
Extra features and cover art after the break. READ MORE
[BD Review] ‘The Raven’ Is Mediocre Poppycock
Relativity Media’s The Raven opens today. It stars John Cusack (Hot Tub Time Machine), Alice Eve (Star Trek 2), Luke Evans (The Hobbit) and Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) and is probably quite a bit bloodier than you’re expecting. But it’s also not very good.
From V For Vendetta director James McTeigue, The Raven is a good looking movie with decent performances, but it’s also deeply stupid. And it counts on the audience to be stupid as well. It’s not that the film isn’t enjoyable in moments, it is. The Raven isn’t an awful viewing experience or anything, it just thinks it’s something it’s not. Truly lush cinematography is utterly wasted in a film in which all the air has been vacuumed out and you’re too busy having your hand held to feel any suspense.
Click here for the review. And be sure to write your own review once you’ve seen it.
Slipknot’s Corey Taylor Chats ‘The Raven’ With John Cusack
ARTISTDirect currently has a pretty amazing interview where Bloody-Disgusting favorite Rick Florino (author of the DOLOR series), gets to chat with both Slipknot/Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor and The Raven’s Edgar Allen Poe himself, John Cusack! The interview ranges from Taylor’s thoughts on the movie to Cusack chatting about when he first read Poe to (my personal favorite topic) how important music is to movies. Check out the interview here as well as the trailer below.
From V for Vendetta director James McTeigue , “The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in this stylish, gothic thriller starring John Cusack as the infamous author. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.”
The Raven is in theaters tomorrow, April 27th. READ MORE
[BD Review] ‘The Raven’ Is Mediocre Poppycock
I once saw a move called The Raven
Directed by McTeigue, Not Craven
I thought it would be like Sherlock
But they totally went goth rock
And about that I’m not complainin’
It’s a dark little romp with plenty of blood
Of which so many of you will fall in love
But one thing you must know going in
It’s makers clearly thought that thought was a sin
So you probably won’t be wanting to see it again
Ooshy gooshy splooshy Poe gore
Horror fans will feast galore
The DP was keen
So the image has sheen
But no sense to behold renders a bore
Let’s get a few things straight
Performances are good to great
Cusack brings panache not to mention a stache
Eve brings allure while avoiding demure
While Evans is stoic and almost heroic
But man oh man oh man
The story is a kick in the can
If it had gotten its wish to be Se7en
Thoust would have been in heaven
But they didn’t have faith in your attention span
The audience’s brain is immense
But The Raven seems to think it dense
How else to explain those autopsy scenes
With trinkets and baubles and clues that gleam
Only to have Poe point out sh*t you’ve already seen
There’s a whole bunch of filler
When they reveal the killer
The motive is utter poppycock
That speech he gives is schlocktiy schlock
And the ending scene is so bad it doesn’t even deserve a line that rhymes.*
*Seriously guys. Between two screenwriters, a director and an army of producers you thought that would have us jumping out of our seats and cheering? The last ten minutes of your movie thinks that the 90 preceding minutes were good enough to deserve that moment? Let’s forget that it makes no sense.** What’s the motivation?*** Are you really thinking franchise?****
Quoth the critic, “SPOILERS”.
**What? How did he end up in the killer’s carriage in France? Did he catch an earlier boat?
***Does he really care that much? At what point was that established?
****Looking forward to The Raven 2: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
Score: 5/10
Exclusive
Producers Marc Evans And Aaron Ryder Talk About Getting Poe Right In ‘The Raven’
Relativity Media’s The Raven opens on Friday. It stars John Cusack (Hot Tub Time Machine), Alice Eve (Star Trek 2), Luke Evans (The Hobbit) and Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) and is probably quite a bit bloodier than you’re expecting.
Last week I sat down with producers Aaron Ryder (The Prestige) and Marc D. Evans (The Strangers) to talk about this film’s long journey to the screen as well as their efforts to stay true to the more graphic aspects of Poe’s work. Please be aware that there are spoilers contained within. I decided to include them because Marc Evans explicitly stated (and is sort of back up by historical fact) that he’s comfortable with the audience knowing this stuff going in. Not to mention the fact that this information is also contained in a title card at the beginning of the film. Still – I want to give you fair warning.
From V for Vendetta director James McTeigue , “The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in this stylish, gothic thriller starring John Cusack as the infamous author. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.”
Head inside for the interview. The Raven is in theaters this tomorrow, April 27th. READ MORE
Say What? Another Four ‘The Raven’ Clips Arrive At My Chamber Door!
The previously released four clips weren’t good enough? Fine then. We’ll just have to embed another four after the break from Relativity’s The Raven
In this gritty thriller from V for Vendetta director James McTeigue, “Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders.
When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper—part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story. Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe’s writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author’s help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer’s next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it’s too late.”
In theaters this Friday, the film also stars Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. READ MORE
Exclusive
Luke Evans Talks Tone, Gore And Character Dynamics In ‘The Raven’
As Detective Fields in The Raven, Luke Evans plays the straight man to John Cusack’s Edgar Allan Poe. The film is, in many ways, structured like a buddy cop movie – albeit with a historical figure in a period setting and lots and lots of blood. Nevertheless, two leads from opposite walks of life are forced to team up to solve a series of crimes. It’s not the easiest job to maintain the screen with a more flamboyant presence, but Evans rises to the occasion.
I hopped on the phone with Evans late last week to discuss his role, balancing fiction with reality and staying true to the gruesomely beautiful spirit of Edgar Allan Poe’s writing.
From V for Vendetta director James McTeigue , “The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in this stylish, gothic thriller starring John Cusack as the infamous author. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.”
Head inside for the interview. The Raven is in theaters this Friday, April 27. READ MORE
Contests
WIN ‘The Raven’ Poster Signed By Stars John Cusack & Alice Eve!
How’s this for a quick little giveaway, courtesy of Relativity Pictures’ The Raven, in theaters this Friday, April 27?!
(1) Lucky Bloody Disgusting reader will win an official poster signed by stars John Cusack and Alice Eve, along with (1) copy of “The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe”.
Entering is extremely easy: below tell us you’re favorite Edgar Allan Poe poem and John Cusack film, and why. Winner will be contacted this coming weekend. Winner must live in the U.S. and no P.O. boxes are accepted.
From V for Vendetta director James McTeigue , “The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in this stylish, gothic thriller starring John Cusack as the infamous author. When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Poe’s darkest works, a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) joins forces with Poe in a quest to get inside the killer’s mind in order to stop him from making every one of Poe’s brutal stories a blood chilling reality. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, which escalates when Poe’s love (Alice Eve) becomes the next target.”
The Raven also stars Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. READ MORE
Contests
Win Passes To See ‘The Raven’ In Orlando
Want to see James McTeigue’s take on everyone’s favorite poet before it opens on April 27th? Live in Central Florida? Relativity Media has provided Bloody-Disgusting with 25 passes (good for two people each) to an advanced screening of the violent whodunit The Raven, taking place at AMC Altamonte on April 25th at 7:30pm. We had to turn a few people away last week’s screening ofCabin in the Woods, so please remember to show up early!
To win passes, all you have to do is email your name to [email protected] with THE RAVEN in the subject line. Winners will be picked at random. Good luck!
“In this gritty thriller, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders.
When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper—part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story. Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe’s writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author’s help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer’s next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it’s too late.”
READ MORE
The Raven (2012) Featurette
http://api.indieclicktv.com/watch/4f8efef2789b6/video.js
Several ‘The Raven’ Clips Come Tapping At Our Chamber Door!
Even though April 27 is still a bit away, Relativity has already supplied Bloody with 4 clips and a special featurette for The Raven, a new violent whodunit from V for Vendetta director James McTeigue.
“In this gritty thriller, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans) to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders.
When a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in 19th century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields (Evans) makes a startling discovery: the crime resembles a fictional murder described in gory detail in the local newspaper—part of a collection of stories penned by struggling writer and social pariah Edgar Allan Poe. But even as Poe is questioned by police, another grisly murder occurs, also inspired by a popular Poe story. Realizing a serial killer is on the loose using Poe’s writings as the backdrop for his bloody rampage, Fields enlists the author’s help in stopping the attacks. But when it appears someone close to Poe may become the murderer’s next victim, the stakes become even higher and the inventor of the detective story calls on his own powers of deduction to try to solve the case before it’s too late.”
The film also stars Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Jackson-Cohen. READ MORE
Interview
Producer Marc D. Evans Gives Us An Update On ‘The Strangers 2′
Earlier today I attended the junket for The Raven, the new film by James McTeigue (V For Vendetta) starring John Cusack (Hot Tub Time Machine), Alice Eve (Star Trek 2) and Luke Evans (The Hobbit). As part of the press day I sat down with producers Aaron Ryder (The Prestige) and Marc D. Evans (The Strangers).
While I’ll post my entire interview with the pair sometime in the coming weeks, I figured I’d go ahead and offer up the following exchange that occurred when I asked Evans about The Strangers 2. Previously Laurent Briet had been the rumored director (as of three years ago), and that still may be the case, but Evans’ comments suggest that something may have changed during the film’s protracted development process.
I have to ask about The Strangers 2.
“Yes. ‘The Strangers 2′. Well, I think that’s been a bit more of a saga than we would have all liked, and it’s a result of companies being sold and moved around and things like that. But the goal is to move that ahead this fall. Relativity and I have a great script that we love and and we’re in the process of putting that together to get it moving.”
Do you have a director yet?
“I can’t say at the moment. I know, but I can’t say. That news will be coming soon, somewhere. We’re very excited to have that move forward and get off the ground. I wish this was the ‘Strangers 3′ at this point, but sometimes things don’t always move at the pace that you’d like.”
Be sure to check out the rest of my interview with them closer to the release of the film. The Raven opens April 27th.
John Cusack Quotes “A Tell Tale Heart” In First Clip From ‘The Raven’!
The macabre and lurid tales of Edgar Allan Poe are vividly brought to life – and death – in five Murderous Visions, which take us through the horrific murders inspired by Poe’s gothic tales in Relativity’s forthcoming The Raven. Bloody Disgusting is exclusively debuting the first of these murderous visions, “A Tell Tale Heart”, which features a very terrified Alice Eve who has been buried alive. Starring John Cusack as Poe, the movie is a deadly game of cat and mouse, which also stars Luke Evans, Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Jackson-Cohen.
For more exclusive content on The Raven keep your eyes at hellyeahtheraven.tumblr.com/.
In theaters April 27, “Luke Evans will play a detective who partners with Poe (Cusack) to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the author’s fiancee (Eve) and has gone on a murder spree that mimics the author’s work.”
READ MORE
The Raven (2012) Exclusive “Visions: Tell Tale Heart”
http://api.indieclicktv.com/watch/4f81bbb261bed/video.js
Nearly 50 Hi-Res Looks At Relativity’s ‘The Raven’
Relativity Media has supplied us with nearly 50 hi-res images from The Raven, the whodunit horror thriller from V for Vendetta director James McTeigue that stars John Cusack as the elusive Edgar Allan Poe. You’ll find the entire gallery by clicking either featured still.
In theaters April 27, “Luke Evans will play a detective who partners with Poe (Cusack) to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the author’s fiancee (Alice Eve) and has gone on a murder spree that mimics the author’s work.”
The new pics finally feature some haunting imagery such as the horseman below wearing a creepy skeleton mask. READ MORE
International Flair: ‘Dark Flight 407′ and ‘The Raven’ Posters
A pair of new one-sheets have been discovered for Thailand’s first 3D horror movie. From Art of the Devil 2 director Issara Nadee comes Dark Flight 407, a 3-D tale that mirrors Takashi Shimizu’s English-language 7500. Below you’ll find two haunting new posters, courtesy of Sanook. The pic follows a flight attendant who is haunted by the victims of plane crashes.
In other poster news, inside we’ve also added a hideous Italian poster for The Raven that displays a pretty graphic execution in the background. I guess that’s pretty cool. Directed by James McTeigue, Luke Evans will play a detective who partners with Poe (John Cusack) to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the author’s fiancee (Alice Eve) and has gone on a murder spree that mimics the author’s work. Relativity will release in theaters April 27. READ MORE
The Absence Of TV Spots For ‘The Raven’ Is Nevermore!
Relativity Media’s The Raven hits theaters on April 27th, 2012 and now the TV promo materials are starting to come into play. James McTeigue’s (V for Vendetta) thriller is set in the last days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, when he gets wrapped up in a serial killer investigation.
“In this gritty thriller, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack, Being John Malkovich) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans, Immortals) to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders. Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin), the film also stars Alice Eve (Sex and the City 2), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Faster).”
io9 got their hands on the new TV Spot. Hit the jump to check it out! READ MORE
Share Your Edgar Allan Poe Memories In Deathly ‘Raven’ Imagery
If you click right here you’ll find our updated image gallery for Relativity Media’s The Raven, which arrives in theaters March 9, 2012. The trailer continues to push the game of cat and mouse between an unknown killer and Poe, which can best be described as From Hell meets Sherlock Holmes.
James McTeigue’s (V for Vendetta) thriller is set in the last days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, when he gets wrapped up in a serial killer investigation.
“Luke Evans will play a detective who partners with Poe (Cusack) to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the author’s fiancee (Alice Eve) and has gone on a murder spree that mimics the author’s work.” READ MORE
New Poster For ‘The Raven’ Goes Blood Red
Relativity Media’s The Raven, has a new release date of April 27th, 2012. Presumably this gives the film enough time for the cluttered market to simmer down and for their new marketing materials to take hold. One of those being the new one-sheet that Entertainment Weekly just unveiled.
James McTeigue’s (V for Vendetta) thriller is set in the last days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, when he gets wrapped up in a serial killer investigation.
“In this gritty thriller, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack, Being John Malkovich) joins forces with a young Baltimore detective (Luke Evans, Immortals) to hunt down a mad serial killer who’s using Poe’s own works as the basis in a string of brutal murders. Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, Ninja Assassin), the film also stars Alice Eve (Sex and the City 2), Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges) and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Faster).”
Hit the jump to check out the new poster!
READ MORE
New Footage In ‘The Raven’ International Trailer
If you click on over to MyMovies you’ll find an international trailer for Relativity Media’s The Raven, which arrives in theaters March 9, 2012. The trailer continues to push the game of cat and mouse between an unknown killer and Poe, which can best be described as From Hell meets Sherlock Holmes.
James McTeigue’s (V for Vendetta) thriller is set in the last days of Edgar Allan Poe’s life, when he gets wrapped up in a serial killer investigation.
“Luke Evans will play a detective who partners with Poe (Cusack) to search for a serial killer who has kidnapped the author’s fiancee (Alice Eve) and has gone on a murder spree that mimics the author’s work.”
You’ll find the previous trailer and long synopsis inside. READ MORE
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[BD Caption Contest] Win “Texas Chainsaw 3D” On Blu-ray!!!