There are many who seek to entertain by illustrating the darker elements of human existence. Murder, intrigue, the macabre. One of the greatest, perhaps the greatest, author to do so was Edgar Allen Poe. Most have been lucky enough to have never experienced the horror they put on the page brought to life. In this latest John Cusack film, Poe is not so lucky. We first see Poe (played by Cusack) in the last days of his life. The event depicted has been the subject of debate among historians but, for dramatic purposes, it’s accepted as fact and I take no issue with that. Days earlier, a woman and child are found and have been murdered in a grisly manner. The murderer managed to flee the scene despite the doors being locked when the police arrived and windows that appeared to be nailed shut. An investigator, Detective Emmett Fields (played by Luke Evans) discovers how the killer concealed his escape and recognizes that the inspiration for the trickery was a work of fiction produced by Poe. He is the prime suspect until another murder is committed while he is being questioned. It appears to be inspired by yet another work of Poe’s and so Fields (Evans) hopes that involving the man who used to be his prime suspect might allow him to gain some advantage over the murderer who’s now claimed the lives of three innocent people. All the while Poe is madly in love with the daughter of a respected military officer who cannot stand him. But when Emily (Poe’s love interest, played by Alice Eve) is in jeopardy, the Captain (Emily’s father, played by Brendan Gleeson) and Poe put their differences aside and work together to save the one person they both love more than anything. Now, I believed this was Cusack’s first film since 2009’s 2012. In fact, I’d forgotten about Hot Tub Time Machine which followed that as did two other films I never even knew about. Also noteworthy is the fact that, of numerous works based on or otherwise connected to Poe and his publications, this is the third to be given the title The Raven. But even with all that against it, this film is entertaining. No member of the cast should hold their breath waiting for an Oscar nomination. Neither should anyone who was involved behind the scenes, but it’s an involving tale in an interesting setting with a well-acted cast and I liked it.

I watched this on my birthday the year it came out. I was fascinated w/ the concept, and having read most of Edgar Allen Poe's material (still working my way through it), it was very interesting to see some of his more famous stories brought to life with such vivid imagination. While I thought it was odd they made some kind of hero out of the man who was anything but, it is just a movie, and well worth watching if you enjoy mystery thrillers.

An interesting twist on a man who every thinks they know. Edgar Allan Poe is a man who had some hardships, but wrote some of the greatest literature of our time. This film explores what happens if someone takes his tales and begins to commit crimes based on them. It's a good film, and the performances are great!

Love the sick gory mystery that this movie brings. Reminds me of "From He**" with Johnny Depp. I feel John Cusack does a great job portraying Poe, very believable washed up writer and drunk. Sad ending but I would have liked the killer to have gotten away, to lay way for a serial killer of authors series.

Set in 1849. Writer Poes suspense crime novel encouraged a serial killer to commit the murders based on Poes novel. At the beginning of the movie police was confused and later the detective started seeing the truth. It's a high suspense detective thriller. Must watch for thriller lover.