The Crow (1994)
- Before Brandon Lee was cast, several major A-list stars turned down the lead role because they felt the script was too risky.
- The incredible score for The Crow was composed in just a few weeks after the original composer dropped out.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
The Crow is a 1994 American supernatural action film directed by Alex Proyas, based on James O'Barr's comic book series. Brandon Lee stars as Eric Draven, a rock musician who is brutally murdered alongside his fiancee Shelly on Devil's Night β the night before Halloween β by a gang of criminals. One year later, a mystical crow resurrects Eric from the dead, granting him invulnerability and supernatural abilities so he can exact vengeance on each of his killers and the crime lord who ordered the murders.
The Crow was forever marked by tragedy β Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee, was accidentally killed during filming when a prop gun malfunctioned, firing a fragment of a real bullet lodged in the barrel. The film was completed using a combination of body doubles, digital face replacement, and restructured scenes. Brandon Lee's performance β charismatic, mournful, and physically compelling β hinted at the major star he would have become.
The film's rain-soaked, Gothic visual style and industrial-rock soundtrack became defining aesthetic touchstones of 1990s alternative culture. The Crow earned $94 million worldwide on a $23 million budget.
