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The Real “Magic” of the Original Crow Movie
The concept of the magical familiar is a common one in fantasy fiction, but it was used to unique effect in 1994’s The Crow movie. As it turns out, if you’re looking to pick a familiar, crows might just be the ones you want watching your back!
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Alex Proyas’ 1994 The Crow is a genuinely great film, released at a time when “comic book movies” weren’t an all-encompassing pop culture phenomenon, and one that plays very much like a unique action-horror film (rather than a superhero one). We can’t recommend it, or its unbelievably badass soundtrack album, enough. The Crow has a little of everything: it’s a horror movie, it’s a love story, it’s a twisted superhero origin story and revenge tale, and it’s a unique time capsule of a particular moment in pop culture history.
But all of those things have been discussed to death elsewhere, right? Are we breaking down the unique ways that Eric Draven kills the men who wronged him during his life? Nope. Are we delving into the philosophies surrounding the prospects of life after death? Not this episode! Are we walking about how cool it would be to make friends with a crow? Abso-freakin’-lutely!
An under-discussed part of The Crow is the role that an actual, physical crow seems to play in Eric’s journey of post-life revenge. The bird is somewhat magical, but not a complete manifestation of the supernatural. In fact, it functions very much like the concept of a “familiar” often found in fantasy literature. So that’s the topic we’re taking a birds-eye look at this time around. And believe it or not, there’s a LOT to unpack. Seriously, you have no idea how smart crows are, or just how feasible some aspects of the magical familiar might have roots in real science.
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SUGGESTED VIEWING
Unfortunately, you can’t divorce The Crow from the real life tragedy that surrounds it, notably the untimely accidental death of star Brandon Lee during filming. Shudder’s Cursed Films season 1 episode 4 deals with this, and it’s worth a watch if you want more background on this infamous moment in cinema history.
There are a bunch of mediocre sequels to the original film (and even a TV series!), but we don’t recommend them. Anyway, the only piece of The Crow franchise that we considered for this episode was that original, classic 1994 movie. However, if you want to get a sense of just how great a talent Brandon Lee was, and how this movie SHOULD have kickstarted a new phase of his career that would have brought him a level of mainstream stardom, allow us to recommend 1991’s Showdown in Little Tokyo (co-starring the great Dolph Lundgren!) and 1992’s Rapid Fire. Neither are exactly masterpieces, but they sure do kick some ass and Brandon is a natural.
For some…less friendly…birds, you absolutely should watch Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds if you haven’t already. You’ll be perfectly happy not having any of them as your familiars.
And of course, there’s a new reboot of The Crow in theaters now.
There’s some crossover with our further readings below, but this New York Times video that asks (and kind of answers) the question of “how smart are crows” is quite a watch!
Oh, and the movie that freaked Hakeem out as a kid? That's a 1975 weird one starring none other than William Shatner in one of his...less memorable...rolls, called The Devil's Rain.
FURTHER READING
Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today’s episode? Of course you do!
But before we get into the scientific and mythological readings to go with this episode, allow us to suggest that you give James O’Barr’s original comic series that launched this franchise a read. It’s harrowing, beautiful, violent stuff, and just different enough from the movie that you won’t feel like you know everything that’s gonna happen!
OK, now back to your regularly scheduled science-y stuff.
It will come as no surprise to anyone that there isn’t a ton of serious scientific writing on the subject of familiars. But the more “new age” corners of the internet have done their homework, and the above article is a compelling read.
Crows and ravens are recurring symbols in a number of religious and mythological traditions. Learn up on them in case one decides to quiz you.
In case you need proof that you should never wrong a crow, because they WILL remember your face.
We’re serious. From no less a source than M.I.T!
Not only do crows know how to make and use simple tools to accomplish their goals, it apparently puts them in a really good mood, too!
No, that isn't the name of another horror movie. But Hakeem talks about this study on how these particular birds can read human expressions.
We’re kicking off our Halloween celebrations early, so go light some candles and read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” for some kicks. “Nevermore.”
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