In the highly anticipated revenge/action-thriller The Crow, skilled actor Bill Skarsgård steps into the iconic, multi-faceted role of Eric Draven — centered on a love story between Eric and his other half Shelly, (FKA twigs). However, their shared happiness is viciously severed when Shelly’s past catches up with the pair, leading to their gruesome demise.

With a supernatural twist and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to trade his life for hers, Eric earns another chance at redemption and embarks on a relentless quest for revenge, drenched in blood, violence, and undiluted rage. Director Rupert Sanders emphasizes the film’s duality through these specific avenues, explaining, “I wanted to invest audiences in their love story and to have them understand what Eric will do when that love is taken from him. So, The Crow is two movies in one: an action-thriller story of revenge, and a romance.”

Visually, the film’s technical approach heavily draws from the gothic atmosphere of the original graphic novel from James O’Barr, with Skarsgård’s portrayal of Eric depicting a fortified exterior that isn’t necessarily associated with your everyday comic book protagonist. As Skarsgård explains, “Eric is tormented, raw, and vulnerable. But there’s another side to him; he’s also gentle and hurting.” He continues, “[He’s] grown up in a destructive household and has been living on the streets. He uses drugs and other vices to survive, with only Eric’s creative work in music and drawing giving him purpose.”

Eric’s cinematic quest through this sorrow-tinted vengeance underscores the enduring motif of self-sacrifice woven into an ageless tale. As Skarsgård notes, “I think Eric feels that Shelly is some kind of angel who’s been sent to save him. Shelly becomes Eric’s savior as well as his lover. She rekindles a fire and purpose in Eric. When she’s taken away from him, it’s all about the lengths that Eric will go to get her back.”

While discussing her role as Eric’s kindred spirit, twigs describes Shelly as a fragmented soul who finds a sense of peace and acceptance in the titular character. “Shelly provides Eric with a kind of home to explore and express himself and be the most authentic version of himself,” she says. “They’re a perfect fit of jigsaw puzzle pieces. So, when she’s ripped away from him, Eric has no choice but to go and find her, no matter what it costs him.”

Through this powerful depiction of love and selflessness, Skarsgård firmly believes that The Crow is very much a universal tale. “This film’s Eric and Shelly are completely contemporary; they’re two outsiders to whom anyone can relate.” The actor continues, “It’s emotional, dark, gritty, romantic, with a lot of edgy action. I hope the movie speaks to everyone, especially those who don’t see themselves represented much in films today. Eric and Shelly are outsiders, rebels, and misfits, and this is their story.” 

With such attention to detail through all-consuming emotions and human connection, the relationship between Skarsgård and twigs became yet another crucial requirement to effectively execute the film’s intended vision. “There was indeed something chemical going on between Bill and twigs that was a joy to watch and capture on film,” Sanders says. “Without that chemistry, we’d wonder why Eric would go on this warpath to bring back Shelly.”

Addressing her own attachment to the story, twigs candidly admits, “I wanted to play Shelly because she felt like a magnified version of myself. Obviously, we’re not the same, but it felt like Shelly was one side of me that could be ‘blown up’ into the entire character.” She continues, “There’s something really light and childlike about Shelly, even though she’s been enveloped in darkness. I feel that in myself, as well.”

In terms of thematic intentions with this new iteration of The Crow, Sanders explains that he’s optimistic about its capacity to resonate with audiences on a profound level, noting, “The Crow is the original anti-superhero. His story is about tragic loss, about dealing with the pain of everything that comes with losing someone you love, something that all of us have or will encounter at some point in our lives.” He elaborates, “It is about the dark shadow of grief, about what we would do when something so meaningful is taken from us.”

Though, of course, there’s also no denying the fact that the 1994 film paved the way for this fresh entry despite its tragic history and the loss of its leading actor Brandon Lee, with Sanders reaffirming his respect for the past. “What Alex Proyas did with The Crow in 1994 — and Brandon Lee's iconic embodiment of that character — will forever impact that generation and others to follow.” He continues, “It was a culture-defining film that is beloved to this day and has inspired many other iterations both inside and outside The Crow Universe.”

After embarking on this unique modernized journey with a widely celebrated property, Sanders makes it clear that overall, he’s extremely proud of the pair who became perfect vehicles for this fresh, ambitious new vision, sharing, “I am very pleased to have worked with two young actors whose performances are the backbone of this film.”

The Crow filmmaker then notes, “Bill is so committed and vulnerable, monstrously violent and delicately tender, he brings so many layers to the complex emotion of a man consumed with so much love and hate, but also a man who will do anything for the woman he loves. He fights, numb with pain and grief, killing and maiming for the one he loves... but to what end?”

Lionsgate’s new film The Crow is in theaters, now.