Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		2.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		2.0

The Crow: Salvation Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 23, 2024

Who knows what would’ve happened to 1994’s “The Crow” if there wasn’t controversy and tragedy attached to it. The feature was a success, largely driven by ticket-buyers curious to see Brandon Lee in his final film role and how the production was going to deal with such a loss, especially when the material remains inherently violent and grim. “The Crow” worked as a stylish offering of doom and revenge, and Lee was incredible in it, but instead of walking away from a horrible situation, producers made the decision to keep going, with plenty of money still to be collected from the brand name. 2000’s “The Crow: Salvation” is the third installment of the series, coming after 1996’s “The Crow: City of Angels” (a sequel that has its fans, but I’m not one of them) and “The Crow: Stairway to Heaven,” a television series that elected to develop the events of the 1994 offering. At this point, there was little left to say when it comes to all things “Crow,” but try telling that to the moneymen, who attempt to sustain the “love is forever” theme for a picture that has no energy and personality, merely existing to keep an I.P. alive with a thoroughly uninspired endeavor.

Alex (Eric Mabius) is on death row, accused of murdering his girlfriend, Lauren (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), with her horrified sister, Erin (Kirsten Dunst), and father, Nathan (William Atherton), cheering on his date with the electric chair. The execution occurs, but Alex’s spirit is brought back to life with help from a magical crow. Newly empowered and determined to seek revenge on the ghouls who took Lauren’s life, Alex is introduced to a corrupt police force, using a witness list from his trial to find those who framed him. During the hunt, Alex finds a connection to Erin, who slowly understands what’s happening, and he makes his way to Captain Book (Fred Ward), who’s responsible for organized crime in town, eager to return Alex to the afterlife.

Instead of ghoulish makeup, Alex’s “Crow” look is created by scarring from his execution, which is the one and only interesting addition to “Salvation.” The rest is pure formula, with Alex pulled from death to set things right with the living, using the power of Lauren’s love to keep him going as he researches the players in this sick game. Screenwriter Chip Johannessen doesn’t offer much in the way of invention here, sticking with Alex’s revenge plan, which finds the figure of vengeance targeting those who lied in court to convict him. These are awful cops played by familiar character actors (including Dale Midkiff, Walton Goggins, and Tim DeKay), and the bulk of “Salvation” follows these confrontations and nervous conversations, with the police unsure what’s coming for them. Director Bharat Nalluri (who went on to some success with 2008’s “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”) tries to deliver some style, but he’s mostly stuck with weak ideas for menace and dystopian threat, with most of the imagery resembling a White Zombie music video. Soundtrack selections don’t help the cause, with the picture using bland tunes to bring edge to the endeavor.

The Crow: Salvation Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "The Crow: Salvation" is sourced from a very old master of the movie, perhaps dating back to the DVD days. Detail is largely filtered out, with a limited view of skin particulars and costuming choices, and some haloing is present. Exteriors remain slightly blurry, and interiors are limited, with a fuzzier view of decorative additions. Colors show their age, with a flatter appearance and limited vibrancy. More extreme hues, such as reds, are muddy, and period style delivers a mild appreciation for primaries. Skin tones are lifeless. Moments of solidification are present. Compression largely holds together. Source is in good condition.

The Crow: Salvation Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix works with the limited needs of the endeavor, which is primarily dialogue-based. Performances are easily understood and emotive moments are preserved. Scoring is clean, offering appreciable instrumentation and position, supporting dramatic moods. Soundtrack selections are more aggressive, with sharp vocals. Surrounds push out some musical moods, while atmospherics are acceptable, exploring city movement and group activity. Sound effects are snappy. Low-end has some presence with moments of violence.

The Crow: Salvation Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Bharat Nalluri, producer Jeff Most, composer Marco Beltrami, production designer Maia Javan, producer Jeff Most, and actor Eric Mabius.

• "Behind the Scenes" (8:12, SD) is a look at the making of "The Crow: Salvation," featuring interviews with director Bharat Nalluri, creator James O'Barr, and actors Eric Mabius, Tim DeKay, Kirsten Dunst, and Walton Goggins. Nalluri describes the movie as a "dark, brooding German opera," while Most explains how the production was chasing the youth market with the endeavor, proclaiming Nalluri as a "young Alfred Hitchcock meets Ridley Scott." More praise is offered to the helmer, with the cast selling his skill with preparation and thespian support. Casting tales are shared, with Nalluri pushing for Mabius, and DeKay notes the star's efforts to add bird movements to his performance. Jodi Lyn O'Keefe is also celebrated, joining the shoot late while expected to summon intense emotions for her small role.

• "Who's That Bird?" (8:04, SD) introduces viewers to bird trainer Larry Payne and his feathered employee, Magic, who's worked on the first three "Crow" movies. Payne explores the bird's diet (dog food and meat) and examines training efforts to keep Magic sharp for the camera. The interviewee celebrates the animal's intelligence and playfulness, also highlighting how he works with the elements of "Crow" world, including night shoots and rain. Tales from filmmaking are shared, and some BTS footage from "The Crow: City of Angels" is included. Payne also shares Magic's hope for future employment, eager to work with James Cameron and Steven Spielberg, also staying sharp for a potential "Crow 4."

• "Behind the Makeup" (2:03, SD) is a brief look at design choices and application time to bring the eponymous character to life. Interviewees include producer Jeff Most, actor Eric Mabius, and makeup artist Alex Diaz.

• Featurette (2:47, SD) examines the production design achievements of "The Crow: Salvation."

• Image Gallery (1:48) collects poster art, film stills, and publicity shots.

• And a Home Video Trailer (1:16, SD) is included.

The Crow: Salvation Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Salvation" doesn't find suspense in Alex's journey, and Mabius's lead performance is incredibly dull, borderline lifeless, unable to project the torment and fury of the character. Actually, most of the cast struggles to bring the subpar material to life, and Ward, who's supposed to be a force of villainy, simply looks like he wants to take a nap. Love is the power that's meant to fuel this version of "The Crow," but relationships aren't emphasized, pushed aside for T.V.-style bad cop action and lackluster direction from Nalluri, who's trying to maintain the cinematic grit of the franchise, forgetting to work on performances and pace. "The Crow: Salvation" feels cheap and quick, and it doesn't come close to matching the wonderfully bleak ways of the original feature.