MOVIE REVIEW: THE RAVEN

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary..." Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven is one of the most famous poems ever written. While it is also one of Poe's most popular poems, it did not bring him much financial success during his lifetime. There have been many adaptations of Poe's work in films; most notably in the form of Universals horror adaptations starring Bela Lugosi and Boris Karlof in the 1930's and 40's also  Roger Corman's Poe films in the 1960's starring Vincent Price, and more recently in the "Masters of Horror" series episode "The Black Cat", directed by Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator) and starring Jeffrey Combs. The latest Poe adaptation is this year's The Raven directed by James McTeigue and starring John Cusack as Poe himself in this fictionalized, murder-mystery about the last days of his life.

In October 1849, Edgar Allan Poe (John Cusack) finds himself in Baltimore, Maryland. Drunk and penniless, he attempts to collect payment from a recent review in the local newspaper and to win the hand of Emily Hamilton (Alice Eve), despite the protest of her father Captain Hamilton (Brendan Gleeson). Meanwhile, the police investigate a series of brutal murders which bears resemblance to events in Poe's fiction as Detective Emmett Fields (Luke Evans) enlists the aid of the reluctant author to track down the killer. As Poe gets more involved in the case, the fanatical murderer then kidnaps Emily and buries her alive, leaving clues as to her whereabouts. It becomes a race against time as Poe and Fields try to find Emily and the killer while Poe is forced to write and publish the story of the killers exploits per his request or else Emily will die!
With the recent popularity of Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes movies starring Robert Downey, Jr., it seems that the old-fashioned detective story has reemerged in Hollywood. While Edgar Allan Poe remains the originator of the fictional detective story with his The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841) which predates Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories by almost 50 years. It is Poe's detective fiction which introduced the concept of ratiocination or logical reasoning, with his own detective: Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin. (although unfortunately, the French inspector does not make an appearance in The Raven.) Although The Raven is based much more on literary themes with strong elements of horror and suspense than the Sherlock Holmes movies ,which rely more on action and the relationship between Holmes and Dawson. The Raven brilliantly incorporates many themes and story elements from several of Poe's stories including: The Raven, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, and The Tell-Tale Heart. In the case of Emily being buried alive is reminiscent of The Premature Burial. Also the Masque of the Red Death ballroom scene is particularly exciting. The most impressive scene visually is the elaborate Pit and the Pendulum-style murder, while very bloody and gory, it loosely references the Saw movies to which Poe's torture story is also an inspiration. The whole movie's atmosphere is full of Gothic "Poe-esque" imagery, such as the cobbled streets, rain, fog, graveyards, blood and darkness.

As far as Cusack's depiction of Poe, it seems very sincere as he portrays the broad complexity of Poe's intense personality. From his very serious, and often highly egotistical literary self, to a very gentlemanly and passionate lover but also a very eccentric, almost manic drunk with a severe temper. While the real personality of Poe is often misconstrued as a drunkard, his bizarre eccentricities are nonetheless characteristics of Poe's unique genius. While many actors have played Poe on both the stage and screen, Cusack makes him very believable, at times a little over-the-top, but for the most part very convincing, particularly in one scene where he gives a sort of emotional soliloquy to his plight. While the character of Emily Hamilton (Eve) is introduced as a love interest for Poe, she is completely fictional! While it is known that Poe pursued many women in his lifetime, they often always ended in tragedy, particularly with his wife (and first cousin, who he married at the age of 13) Virginia Clemm Poe (1822-1847), who died young from Tuberculosis. (In reality, Poe was briefly engaged to Helen Whitman of Richmond, Virginia and then courted Sarah Royster of Rhode Island towards the end of his life.)
The Raven may not be entirely historically accurate of Poe's life, particularly his untimely end. He did die in Baltimore, although under somewhat mysterious circumstances. He was found on the streets of Baltimore, "delirious" and "in great distress, and in need of immediate assistance...wearing clothes that were not his own." he died on Sunday, October 7, 1849 apparently from "congestion of the brain" or "cerebral inflammation". It is said that he repeatedly called out the name "Reynolds" on the night before his death, although it is unclear to who he was referring to. His alleged last words were: "Lord help my poor soul." The actual cause of his death has been attributed to many ailments including: heart disease, epilepsy, syphilis, cholera and even rabies, but nothing was ever proven. As a Poe aficionado, I was both excited and reluctant to see this movie, fearing Hollywood would butcher the writer's life and his work. But after seeing it, I was very impressed with Cusack's portrayal of my favorite author and poet and with the director James McTeigue, who also directed V for Vendetta (2005). Although much of the story is fictionalized, I believe it to be a successful homage to Poe. "Quoth the Raven, Nevermore'..."

The Raven Official Website: http://www.imdb.com/theraven

INFLUENCES: EDGAR ALLAN POE

Edgar Allan Poe was born January 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. Even 203 years after his birth he is still a major influence on popular culture. Very few American writers are considered as influential and recognizable except for maybe a handful of writers including Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck. As a writer, teacher and lover of literature myself, I hold Poe above all others as both a major influence on my life, my writing and even my own personal philosophy. Having discovered Poe at an early age I was instantly captivated by both his stories and poems. His tales of the macabre, murder, and mystery appealed to me in a very strange way and I craved more. While many people may have their favorite story such as his most famous "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and my personal favorite "The Black Cat" or even his poems like "A Dream Within A Dream", "The Bells" and the popular favorite "The Raven". One poem in particular, although short, appealed to me in a very special way as it reflected much of the same feelings I had felt growing up and even still feel today. The poem was "Alone"...

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were — I have not seen
As others saw — I could not bring
My passions from a common spring —
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow — I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone —
And all I lov'd — I lov'd alone —
Then — in my childhood — in the dawn
Of a most stormy life — was drawn
From ev'ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still —
From the torrent, or the fountain —
From the red cliff of the mountain —
From the sun that 'round me roll'd
In its autumn tint of gold —
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass'd me flying by —
From the thunder, and the storm —
And the cloud that took the form
When the rest of Heaven was blue
Of a demon in my view.

Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849 in Baltimore, Maryland, penniless and alone. Even the cause of his death is a mystery itself. If not for his writings and the efforts of devoted readers, he would not have been remembered. Even today his legacy lives on as new readers discover his work in schools, libraries and on the Internet. His tales have been adapted in movies, animation, comic books and games over the years. His life and works are still celebrated today such as on the anniversary of his birth in Baltimore, Maryland. The Poe House and Museum sponsors the annual Poe Bicentennial, wherein I had the fortunate privilege to experience the 201st Celebration in 2010 (See my past blog entry: 2010 Edgar Allan Poe Bicentennial Birthday Celebration). Although the famous "Poe Toaster", a mysterious figure who would appear at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore for over 60 years finally stopped after 2009, the 200th anniversary of his birth, the Poe Society still carries on the tradition of celebrating his birth. This year will see the release of another tribute to Poe in the new movie The Raven starring John Cusack as Poe, in a fictitious story about a serial killer who mimics the murders in Poe's stories. As a devoted Poe fan, I am looking froward to this movie in the hopes it will maybe spark new interest in Poe.

"Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality." - Edgar Allan Poe

TOP 10 BIRTHDAY SPECIAL: Edgar Allan Poe Movies

Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849) is my favorite American author! His poems ("The Raven", "A Dream Within A Dream") and short stories ("The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Black Cat", "The Pit and the Pendulum") are what turned me on to reading around 8th grade and made me want to be a writer. I have my favorite poems and stories but there have also been a number of movies made based on his works (some loosely based and some faithful) and Chernobog's Lair presents the Top 10 Edgar Allan Poe Movies:

#10 The Raven (1963) Starring Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and a young Jack Nicholson this loosely based comedic horror film where a magician has been turned into a raven! (And it has NOTHING to do with the poem!)
#9 Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) Béla Lugosi plays Dr. Mirakle, a mad scientist experimenting with combining ape and human blood in this very loose adaptation of the story.
#8 The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) Vincent Price plays Verden Fell, who is haunted by his dead wife's memory.
#7 The Oblong Box (1969) Vincent Price plays Sir Julian Markham, an aristocrat who keeps his disfigured brother locked in a tower!
#6 The Black Cat, "Masters of Horror" (2007) Jeffrey Combs plays Edgar Allan Poe himself in this 1-hour made for cable horror series. Later, Combs would appear again as Poe in his one-man stage show "Nevermore: An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe".
#5 The Raven (1935) Béla plays Dr. Richard Vollin, a doctor obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe who creates elaborate torture devices.
#4 The Black Cat (1934) Boris Karloff plays Hjalmar Poelzig opposite Béla Lugosi in this macabre story of murder and satanic ritual. The scene at the end when Béla is skinning Boris alive in shadow is particularly disturbing for it's time!
#3 The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) Vincent Price plays Nicholas Medina who is tortured by his ancestor who was involved in the Spanish Inquisition.
#2 The Masque of the Red Death (1964) Vincent Price plays Prince Prospero, a Satanic ruler who terrorizes his peasants while using his castle as a refuge from the Red Death!
#1 The House of Usher (1959) Vincent Price plays Roderick Usher the eccentric last survivor of an old family who goes insane and buries his sister alive as his house crumbles around him!

Edgar Allan Poe Birthday Celebration in Baltimore, Maryland



Poe Monument



I have been a devoted reader of the works of Edgar Allan Poe for a long time and this weekend I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to make a literary pilgrimage to Baltimore, Maryland, to the grave site of Edgar Allan Poe. On my arrival in Baltimore I stayed at the Hilton Baltimore Hotel overlooking the Oriole's Stadium and traveled to the graveyard at Westminster Hall on West Fayette Street and visited both the original gravesite and the monument. The inspiration for this journey came from a special issue of Rue Morgue Magazine featuring Poe.
 

Since 1982, The Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum has sponsored "The Annual Edgar Allan Poe Birthday Celebration". With such talented actors such as John Astin portraying Poe in the past, this years celebration will be unique. Popular cult/B-horror movie actor Jeffrey Combs ("Re-Animator", "From Beyond", "Frighteners") portrays Poe in a new one-man show called "Nevermore...An Evening with Edgar Allan Poe", previously performed last summer at the Steve Allen Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Having also played Poe recently in the Showtime series Masters of Horror in the episode "The Black Cat" (Available on DVD), Combs was the perfect choice to portray Poe in this remarkable 90-minute performance. Writer Dennis Paoli and director Stuart Gordon, who also worked with Combs previously on "The Black Cat" and other films collaborated on the development of this incredibly unique theatrical performance. Make-up artist Kayla Barry was responsible for transforming Combs into Poe by adding a nose-piece and wig to turn him into the poet for the show. "Nevermore" recreates the public appearances and recitals Poe presented during the last years of his life. Set in 1848 a year after the death of his beloved wife (and cousin) Virginia from Tuberculosis and a year before his own mysterious death in Baltimore. Jeffrey Combs presents an all-too real portrayal of the troubled and alcoholic writer by reciting several of Poe's tales and poems wile in period costume and with only limited props. The play is performed without intermission or interruption. During the performance Combs/Poe also discusses his philosophies on writing and poetry along with some biographical information and some of his views on various peers (i.e. Walt Whitman).

Official Program



As the play begins, there is a somber single cello providing mood setting music as Poe emerges from the darkness onto a dark stage. As he lights a candle the spotlight comes up and illuminates as Poe recites his poem "Alone". After a brief introduction Poe then reads his short-story "The Tell-Tale Heart". After this, Poe addresses a fictional member of the audience his short-lived fiancé, widow Helen Whitman and recites both poems entitled "To Helen" and others. All the while, Poe has been drinking from a small half-pint whiskey (tea) bottle in his jacket pocket and becomes increasingly intoxicated. As he follows by explaining his views on writing and poetry he begins to rant, criticizing authors such as Washington Irving and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Soon he follows with "The Bells" in an incredibly manic display to the point of actually falling off the stage in a drunken stupor. Soon as he apologizes to the audience and composes himself he talks about his departed wife Virginia while holding a pressed flower he found in his book and recites "The City in the Sea" and "Annabel Lee". Soon he finishes the performance by reciting his most well-known poem, "The Raven" and closes with "A Dream Within a Dream" and ends the show by blowing out the candle...While some may expect any portrayal of Poe to be somber and solemn, Combs performance depicts a more eccentric and often unstable version as Poe's intoxication worsens throughout the show until the ultimate climax when he literally collapses on stage.

L to R: Paoli, Gordon, Combs, & Host

 After the performance there was an indepth interview with Paoli, Gordon and Combs. During the Q&A both Gordorn and Combs mentioned rumors of possibly taking the "Nevermore" performance on tour and the release of a DVD! I also had the pleasure of meeting Paoli and Gordon before the performace and met with COmbs after the performance and got their autographs! I had the priviledge of meeting Combs at the Texas Frightmare Weekend Convention in 2007. Where he also signed my DVD of Re-Animator! 

Original Burial Place of Poe



This was defintiely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I shall not forget it. I spent most of my time exploring the old graveyard at Westminster Hall and left a pen on the Poe monument. This was a deeply fulfilling experience and my only regret was I was unable to visit the actual Poe House and Museum due to their irregular hours. 

Afterthouhts: Edgar Allan Poe's 201st birthday (born January 20, 1809) also marks a perplexing end to a long year old tradition as the mysterious Poe birthday toaster. For the last 60 years, a mysterious robed figure had been leaving roses and a half bottle of cognac at the grave site of Poe in Baltimore, Maryland, early in the morning. This year marks the first time in the long unbroken tradition that the Poe toaster failed to appear! Nevermore...