I prefer to ignore the scandals surrounding the film and judge it on its own merits. The film has a beautiful gothic atmosphere, both the unnamed city in which it takes place and the lead character himself. In the film it's become a custom for buildings to be set on fire every year on October 30th, the day before Halloween, Devil's Night. On this day rock musician Eric Draven and his fiancee Shelly Webster are murdered by arsonists, using the annual chaos as a cover. A year later Eric rises from the grave with supernatural powers to avenge their deaths. He battles evil dressed in black leather with a crow on his shoulder and a guitar in his hand.
Though made in 1994 the film has an 80's feel to it. Its style makes it seem older than it is. I had to deduct a quarter star for the slushy music at the beginning and the end.
Quite possibly one of my favourite comic book movies. The style and story is a great tale of tragedy and revenge. As a quick note on the death of Brandon Lee, it's a bit more complicated than just a real bullet being used instead of a blank.
ReplyDeleteThe second unit team was running behind and had to make "Dummy Cartridges" by purchasing live rounds, removing the bullet, dumping out the gunpowder and replacing the bullet. The primer that is triggered by the gun's hammer was still in place and was accidentally discharged, leaving the bullet lodged in the barrel of the gun due to the weaker explosion. A blank was put in the weapon for the scene with Brandon and, rather than point away from him as per safety standards, the weapon was pointed at Brandon and fired. The bullet was forced out and sadly did what bullets do, ending the life of a brilliant young actor.