‘The Crow’ Original Director Responds to Harsh Remake Reviews: “Cynical Cash-Grab”

As Rupert Sanders’ ‘The Crow’ update struggles with the fate of many remakes, Alex Proyas, the director of the original 1994 movie, isn’t shocked by its poor performance.

The new $50 million Lionsgate remake, which hit theaters recently, opened to a disappointing $4.6 million. Proyas, who directed the original movie based on James O’Barr’s graphic novel, seems to be taking some satisfaction from the negative reviews Sanders’ version has received.

Directed by Sanders, known for ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ and ‘Ghost in the Shell,’ the new film follows lovers Eric Draven (Bill Skarsgård) and Shelly Webster (FKA Twigs). They fall in love in a rehabilitation facility and run away together, but their love story meets a tragic end when demons from Shelly’s past murder them. Eric later comes back to life seeking revenge.

Ahead of the movie’s premiere on August 23, Proyas took to Facebook to post a monocle emoji and a screenshot of a review that called the remake “unfathomably awful.”

“Wow. The reviews are brutal,” Proyas wrote in one post. He added, “I thought the remake was a cynical cash-grab. Not much cash to grab it seems.”

Proyas even shared a meme on Facebook that read, “Marked safe from seeing Crow 2024 today.”

In another move, Proyas shared a message he’d sent to composer Michael Lira, who is working on his upcoming sci-fi satire ‘R.U.R.,’ which begins filming in Sydney in October. He discussed why indie filmmaking is the best type of filmmaking.

In the message, he wrote, “Having so much fun making this movie… About now the studio would call us to say they don’t like opera and we should make it a hip-hop song! Oh, that’s right – THERE’S NO F—ING STUDIO!!!”

Proyas capped off his critiques with a final post, sharing what he called “the review we’ve all been waiting for.” He wrote, “It’s a bit like flogging a dead horse now so I think I’ll stop after this… until another funny one comes along!”

Earlier in March, Proyas made an impassioned plea against the remake on Facebook after the trailer was released. He paid tribute to Brandon Lee, the original star, who tragically died at 28 after being struck by a live round from a prop gun on the set of the first movie.

“I really don’t get any joy from seeing negativity about any fellow filmmaker’s work. And I’m certain the cast and crew really had all good intentions, as we all do on any film,” Proyas wrote. “So it pains me to say any more on this topic, but I think the fan’s response speaks volumes. The Crow is not just a movie. Brandon Lee died making it, and it was finished as a testament to his lost brilliance and tragic loss. It is his legacy. That’s how it should remain.”

Source: Deadline