Writer: Ashraf Nasser

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Watch this if you liked: “V For Vendetta” and “Jack The Ripper”

"The Raven" is a thriller, adapted from the poem written by writer Edgar Allan Poe of the same name that describes a gruesome murder. John Cusack takes on the role of Poe, an egotistical, alcoholic writer who is at the end of his peak in 19th century Baltimore, when the city is ravaged by a series of gruesome murders.

Inspector Fields (Luke Evans), who has been given the duty to solve a series of grisly murders, eventually realizes that the victims were killed in ways described by Poe's works. Fields then enlists Poe to aid him in capturing the serial killer. However, Poe is instead flattered that his works has become an inspiration for the killer's own bloody handiwork, until his lover Emily Hamilton (Alice Eve), is kidnapped by the very same killer that he had inspired.

In order to save her, Poe has to identify the clues that are left behind in each of the killer's victims and deviate from his usual gothic tales to publish the story of how he would save his lady love.

Audiences would be taken on a journey through the various poems and stories written by Poe, including the violent and grisly natures from "The Pit And The Pendulum", "The Masque Of Red Death" and "The Cask Of Amontillado".

In terms of performance, director James McTeigue ("V For Vendetta", "Ninja Assassin") is clever not to introduce too many characters and only focusing on Cusack, Eve and Evans, which succeeds in making an impact to the audience as their attention would not be so fractured.

Overall, "The Raven" has similarities from McTeigue's previous film "V For Vendetta", but audiences would still be entertained and would not regret watching this.

Cinema Online, 10 May 2012