Raven's Hollow

A very atmospheric film, made in true Gothic style, which will draw you into its story and separate you from our world. The film is surrounded by a wave of mystery, from the very beginning you feel that something is not right, but what is that something, who is Raven or what is Raven? Watch the film to find out, otherwise the film effects are excellent and the acting is top notch.

What I didn't like about the movie was the last 20 minutes, and that's why I didn't give it a 10/10. Those 20 minutes are somehow rushed, illogical, you simply get the impression that the film should not have gone in that direction.

However, due to the positive things listed above, I think it is worth watching and that the film has its own artistic connotation. My recommendation.

Well this film certainly had POEtential but it falls flat from a dreadfully dull script and some rather suspect 2nd rate acting, at times. It's not all bad but it's barely half good. It's half-hearted. The mood is good. The sets and atmosphere are good... unfortunate that it couldn't deliver on tension or plot. There's no scares and it's not spooky enough. If it had those elements it could have been excellent. But that's like saying, if my baloney sandwich was a steak it would be delicious. The buzzing synthesizer soundtrack also was a little distracting whenever it appeared. So if you're wide awake and forgiving of the plodding storyline you might enjoy it. If you're tired going in, you'll be fast asleep about 10 minutes into this Raven tale, evermore.

I watched this film based on a recommendation from a source I trust without checking the rating here on imdb(which I usually always do).

I was shocked when I saw the low rating here after watching the movie. Usually imdb ratings are very accurate but not for this movie.

This is a great movie. It is a thinking person's horror movie. I would call it a horror-drama. While it could be considered a slow burn the movie is engaging and gripping throughout.

That strong atmosphere combined with it's engaging nature is very effective. I hesitate to call it a slow burn at all because things are happening and developing steadily through the entire movie. And I found it to remain very engaging.

The directing is very, very good. The story is complex and the are a few significant plot twists. So you have to pay attention and keep tracking with it.

Now some reviews said it isn't horror. False. It is indisputably horror. Strong horror. I think why some viewers fail to see that is because it has substance and intelligence and artistry and that it comes from a whole different world than your 'slasher of the week'.

And there is some extreme gore in this movie and coming from me that's a significant statement.

It is a violent movie. It doesn't compromise on violence like some would lead you to believe.

It has a good story. No cookie cutter backdrop for violence here. The story can be a little confusing and you need to pay attention to get the whole story.

It has this wonderful mysterious element to it. Even with what's revealed in the film's final act the mysterious atmosphere persists right through the end credits, in a good way.

One thing I liked about the movie is that the main character, Poe, is a good and noble person and that comes across in a very authentic way. He is a likeable and very admirable character, which is unfortunately rare for a horror movie protagonist.

This is not an iffy, maybe it's good, maybe it's bad movie. It's genuinely a great movie.

It's well paced. An intelligent viewer will be drawn into the steadily developing story. The atmosphere is so strong. It's very well directed.

And it has a great story. It's very intelligent. It plays outside of the stereotypes. Perhaps that is why the unperceptive didn't like it.

Raven's Hollow could be one of most imaginative adaptations from literature recently. Similar to Lincoln the Vampire Hunter the premise is intriguing. A clever portrayal of colliding cultures, reluctance to change and chaos that follows. The Raven's hatchling being stranded by Poe is a clever expression of human relationships. With regards to the visuals the colour tones are perfect and special effects are satisfying too. Great use of background audio which is unique and fitting well. Brilliant performances by the cast to keep up with sudden shifts kf the plot. Raven's Hollow surely has a good amount of shudder in store.

This movie had all the makings of a great folk horror/ creature feature... but a few missteps sent it down the wrong forest path...

Raven's Hollow had a relatively original and intriguing plot in the grand scheme of things. Is it 100% something you have NEVER seen before? No. But there were aspects and twists to this tale that felt fresh and different. Definitely a slow burn with some good tension building and solid spook factor. The movie also looked great (quality and shots), score was on point and the special effects were pretty great as well.

I would say the biggest misstep here was the acting/ casting. Unfortunately, some very stilted performances and iffy delivery did the movie some detrimental disservices. Pretty much everyone faltered at some point (except maybe the mother) causing a continual back and forth between being in the moment and being pulled out of it. Unfortunately, the worst of the bunch was the actor who played Poe. While I don't think he did an abismal job or is a bad actor, as an actor myself I didn't find anything particularly redeeming or down to earth about his performance as a whole or really his delivery in any one moment specifically either.

I also had a bit of an issue with the ending. Not so much with the ending itself but more so the way it was delivered to us. Maybe I'm simple, but it got a bit convoluted and a tad confusing, even with the exposition being in a moderately spoonfed monologue.

At the end of the day this was a creative bit of fiction about the makings of what we know Edgar Allan Poe to be today, filled with little Easter egg references to his works if you are familiar. It was spooky and had some interesting bits throughout and if you can look past the questionable acting and the slow pace it is worth a watch. Would recommend.