The Raven…The Movie?
Permalink for this paragraph 1 Ever since our day looking through archives of Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “The Raven” I have been hyper aware of its presence in modern day culture. Imagine my surprise and extreme curiosity when while trolling rottentomatoes.com I came across a trailer for a movie called The Raven.
Permalink for this paragraph 1 Here is a brief synopsis of the story: a mother and daughter are found brutally murdered in imitation of a story by a certain author (hint: its Poe). Detectives team up with Edgar to try and stop the killer who keeps striking with Poe-themed killings. The stakes are raised when Virginia, Edgar’s first cousin/child bride, is captured by the killer. The story is supposed to be a fictional account of the author’s last days, seemingly in an attempt to explain his mysterious death.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 So many parts of this premise confused me. First of all the poem does not depict a murder. Why did they use this title? Second Virginia died years before Edgar. Are they going so far as to resurrect her? Third such a serial killer never existed to my knowledge. Yes, yes, it says explicitly that it is fictional but by simply watching the trailer you don’t get this impression. On my first viewing I thought that this was a dramatization of a true historical account. My mistake, but one that many are apt to make.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 The fame and genius of Poe is depicted and celebrated in this film, showing that his influence is still strong today even 160 years after his death. The Raven is the most widely read of Poe’s work so in that respect it makes sense to use it as the title. Didn’t I immediately make the connection to Poe upon seeing those words? His life and the mystery of his death still fascinate us today. I am very interested to see how the movie makers tie the serial killer back into Poe’s last days and whether they address or explain Virginia’s early death in real life. There is so much potential for seeing how Poe influenced the world of the mid-nineteenth century and how that effect can still be seen today.
Permalink for this paragraph 0 May I propose a class field trip to see this movie?
Permalink for this paragraph 0 Note of Interest: John Cusack plays Edgar Allen Poe…yep, you read that right. It doesn’t sit right with me either.
tanyamontgomery
I too have noticed a lot of modern references to “The Raven” from a Simpsons episode to the introduction to the Mary-Kate and Ashley Movie we mentioned in class to an Edgar Allen Poe meme. It is really amazing how Poe is so prevalent in our culture when you take the time to notice him.