MOVIE | "The Raven," a spectacular battle of wits between the world's first detective writer and a murderer.
LOUNGE / MOVIE
January 7, 2015

MOVIE | "The Raven," a spectacular battle of wits between the world's first detective writer and a murderer.


MOVIE | A Gripping Battle of Wits Between the World's First Detective Novelist and a Killer


The Raven | Unraveling a Serial Murder Mystery Modeled on Detective Fiction


Edgar Allan Poe, who carved out his place in history as the world's first detective novelist, died in 1849 at the young age of 40, largely unrecognized. The film "The Raven," which boldly and stylishly reimagines the mystery surrounding his death with dynamic visuals, will be released nationwide on Friday, October 12th.



Text by YANAKA Tomomi




Director James McTeigue's Stylish Portrayal of Poe's Final Days



Edgar Allan Poe, renowned for his gothic tales of mystery and the supernatural, is also credited as the world's first detective novelist. His works have profoundly influenced countless writers and filmmakers worldwide, from Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, to Edogawa Ranpo, a pioneer of Japanese mystery fiction who adopted a pen name inspired by Poe, and even director Tim Burton. His legacy continues to be celebrated over 160 years after his death.


The Raven 02

This film, "The Raven," delves into the mystery surrounding the enigmatic death of this genius writer. John Cusack, known for his roles in hits like "2012" and "Shanghai," stars as Poe. Luke Evans, recently seen as Aramis in "The Three Musketeers," plays Detective Emmett, who teams up with Poe to pursue the serial killer. Alice Eve, a rising actress who portrayed the young Agent O in "Men in Black 3," takes on the role of Poe's lover, Emily.



The film is directed by James McTeigue, who previously served as an assistant director on "The Matrix" series and later delivered the stylish mystery-action film "V for Vendetta."


Unraveling a Serial Murder Mystery Modeled on Poe's Novels!




Baltimore, 1849. A scream tears through the city, accompanied by a gruesome murder. Two bodies lie in a locked room. Young Detective Emmett, arriving at the scene, notices the striking similarity between the crime and Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." Poe, struggling with alcoholism and poverty, becomes a suspect. But as the investigation closes in, a second and third murder occur, eerily mimicking Poe's writings, as if challenging him.


The string of murders, rather than implicating Poe, serves to prove his alibi. He transforms from suspect to pursuer, determined to catch the killer desecrating his literary legacy. However, the mysterious murderer kidnaps Poe's lover, Emily, and issues a challenge: Poe must serialize the "masterpiece" of his killings in the newspaper.



A message from the killer left on a corpse. A missed clue. A cipher pointing to the whereabouts of his kidnapped lover.Thus begins a five-day battle of wits between America's first detective novelist and a murderer obsessed with his work!

The Raven 03



The Raven Poster

We are inviting 5 pairs (10 people) to a preview screening of "The Raven"!

Date | Wednesday, October 3rd
Time | Doors open 6:00 PM, Screening starts 6:30 PM
Venue | Yomiuri Hall
1-11-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 7th Floor, Yomiuri Kaikan
Eligibility | Ages 15 and up
Application Deadline | Friday, September 21st (12:00 PM)


Applications are now closed.
Thank you for your many applications.

*Winners will be notified via email. Winners must reply to the email, keeping the subject line intact and including all necessary information. Please note that failure to reply by the deadline will result in forfeiture.



"The Raven"
Nationwide release starting Friday, October 12th
Director | James McTeigue
Starring | John Cusack, Luke Evans, Alice Eve, Brendan Gleeson
Distribution | Walt Disney Studios Japan
2012 / USA / 110 minutes
*This film is rated R15+
http://poe5days.jp

©2011 Incentive Film Productions, LLC. All rights reserved.