Now Showing: The Crow: Wings of Isaiah

 

The Crow: Wings of Isaiah

Genre: Action/Supernatural
Director: Sam Raimi
Writer: Jacob Jones
Based on the comic characters
Cast: John Boyega, Ian McKellen, Lili Simmons, Josh Hutcherson, Logan Lerman, Megan Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Santiago Cabrera, Shirley Jones, Algee Smith, Zoe Bell

Plot: September 1st, 2005:
Several knocks on the door are heard, followed by some gunshots. Police are called in to investigate the premises, asking those who saw what happened.

October 30th, 2011:
Inside an extravagant churchroom, several men and women gather, awaiting for the arrival of their leaders. To much pomp and circumstances, two elderly people dressed in white step out. They introduce themselves as Judea (Ian McKellen) and Mary Porter (Shirley Jones) and call for the meeting to order. After reading a verse from the Bible, they discuss the departure of Ezekiel Martel (Algee Smith), all lamenting his 'treacherous decision'. Moses (Kiefer Sutherland), the strongest of the group hopes to one day find him and purge his sins. The second order of business, Moses reveals that one of their good friends has discovered the holiday known as Devil's Night. The very mention of it terrorizes Adam (Logan Lerman) and Eve (Megan Fox), siblings of the Porters, not only for it's perverse, unholy nature, but as they've heard, once a year, a mysterious figure named The Crow (John Boyega) rises from the ashes, taking revenge on all who have done him wrong. Judea remains calm, confident that he can be useful if he remembers who killed him. He nevertheless insists everyone remain vigilant in case. The Crow is an unpredictable creature. You can never tell who you're going to get.

At Diego’s Yard, the bar is a buzz with people excitedly gabbing about what they’ll be doing this Halloween and dancing to the latest tunes. Diego (Santiago Cabrera) stands by the cashier, seemingly minding his business when he sees his friend Elizabeth enter alongside a new man. Elizabeth introduces him to Andrew (Josh Hutcherson), her new boyfriend. The two shake hands and the three talk about what they’ve been up recently. To Diego’s surprise, Elizabeth has been discovering religion, specifically Christianity. She promises to still attend Devil Night events when they happen, even if it’s not as frequent as they used to be.

Suddenly, Diego realizes that it’s been two years since The Crow last appeared. Andrew reveals that he’s heard the story of The Crow. Every year, on this day, The Crow makes his return, bringing a spirit back from the dead to get revenge on the person or people that have wronged them. He remembers hearing about Troy and Sparrow, expressing his condolences. Elizabeth and Diego begin to wonder, could The Crow make his return? And if so, what will he be like? No two Crows are alike after all. Diego jokes that as long as he doesn’t hit him in the face with a kendo stick like last time, they’re good.

As the three toast to a happy Devil’s Night, a crow flies among the skies, coming across a cemetery and landing on the tombstone of Isaiah Mondale. A hand pops out of the grave and a body pops out. He wanders around the cemetery, confused. He follows the bird until coming across what used to be his house. He enters, seeing how desolate it has become before looking out the window. A flashback shows a teenage Isaiah finishing his homework when the doorbell rings. He rushes to the door, opening it and finding his best friend Ezekiel with a look of distress on his face. Isaiah asks him what’s wrong and is surprised when Ezekiel points a gun at him. Ezekiel lowers his head, shooting his friend in the face and killing him.

Horrified, Isaiah looks around the house for weapons, finding several knives in the kitchen and a gun by the table. He picks it up, sensing it’s similarities. He realizes that this is the same gun Ezekiel used to shoot him and puts it by his pocket. He walks inside the bathroom, donning the facepaint and trench coat that has become synonymous with his namesake. One look in the mirror makes it clear. Isaiah Simmons has become the next to take the mantra of The Crow. His mission? Find Ezekiel Martel and kill him. He heads out the door, heading into the dark streets of Detroit to find his former friend and murderer.

Inside another house not too far away, Ezekiel is gathering weapons as well, as well as a handbook and several notes he has jotted down. All of a sudden, the door breaks open. Ezekiel picks up a gun, preparing to defend himself until he takes a closer look at his assailant’s face, finding that he looks exactly like the friend he shot. Isaiah Mondale. Ezekiel tries to reach out, but The Crow lunges toward him, rocking him with several punches before pushing him to the table, getting out a gun. Ezekiel begs him to stop so that he can explain, revealing that he was set up by someone else.

The Crow lets him go and sits down, listening to Ezekiel explain the story of Isaiah's murder. In flashbacks, we learn that Ezekiel and Isaiah, much like Troy and Sparrow were best friends. In their teens, both became very interested in a religious group called The Judean Court. At first, Judea and Mary seemed very open to both, but after doing a background check, they found that Isaiah was 'impure' and capable of sin. When they applied to join the Court, Ezekiel was accepted while Isaiah wasn't. Ezekiel tried to defend him but failed. One day, Moses told him that he needed to prove his allegiance and pressured him to kill Isaiah. Intimidated, Ezekiel did what he was told.

He stayed with them for six years, yesterday being his last day. He exclaims that it is not a benevolent group of Christians. It is a religious cult that believes they are acting on behalf of God. He has seen men get beaten, women tortured and innocent people killed because 'God willed it'. And he couldn't take it anymore. His family practiced Christianity, and if they saw what they were doing, they would convert immediately. Sympathetic to his plight, The Crow apologizes and offers his assistance. The two shake hands, making plans to meet tomorrow morning. Just outside the house, Moses has been watching fervently, a knife in his hands.

The Crow heads outside when he is ambushed by Moses, viciously stabbing him with the knife. To his shock, it has no effect. The following battle that ensues is one-sided as The Crow is a step ahead of Moses. The Crow picks up his own knife, preparing to stab Moses only to see him run away. Ezekiel rushes outside, having seen the fight, amazed that The Crow remained unscathed. The Crow tells him that it's how it works and encourages him to speak to Diego. When asked how he knows him, he explains that the spirit of The Crow is connected to everyone who the bird brings back. It tells them everything about those who once gained its powers and their memories.

The next day, Ezekiel goes to Diego's Yard, finding Diego dressed as The Phantom of the Opera and asks if he can speak to him in private. The two head outside where he tells Diego that The Crow came back yesterday and beat up a member of the Judean Court. He tells him his story, leaving Diego with traumatic flashbacks of last time. He asks if he comes in peace, Ezekiel assures him that he does. Relieved, Diego offers to look up the Judean Court and find out their weaknesses, much to Ezekiel's delight. While he has him, Diego then asks a personal question explaining that his friend has been acting weird lately. For whatever reason, she's been more religious, more conservative, and has a morally superior vibe to her. Ezekiel struggles at first but suggests asking if everything is alright.

Ezekiel begins to head home for the evening when he sees a woman sitting on the sidewalk, crying. Concerned, he walks up to her and learns that her boyfriend has dumped her on the street. Ezekiel offers to walk her home and the two go hand in hand. Standing from Ezekiel's roof, The Crow decides to follow them and see what happens. As they continue walking, the woman reveals she's been doing some charitable work at a prestigious organization. When asked what it is, she asks Ezekiel to close his eyes and leads her inside a building.

Ezekiel opens his eyes, finding himself cuffed to a chair. The woman reveals herself to be Eve and tells him she liked being around him. She says Judea has given her the freedom to express her faith as she pleases and urges Ezekiel to give up his crusade and rejoin his brothers and sisters. To sweeten the pot, she begins to perform a striptease right in front of him. Ezekiel tries to escape, but cannot. Just as Eve strips to her lingerie, her brother Adam flips a switch
shocking Ezekiel with a painful jolt. Adam laughs at his misery before slapping him across the face. Before he can shock him again, The Crow breaks in and throws a knife right at the eye of Adam. As he screams out in pain, The Crow fights off Eve and breaks the cuffs off Ezekiel's hands, the two escape from the church. Soon after, Judea and Mary arrive at the scene, seeing the damage done to Adam and Eve and angrily call for vengeance.

Upon getting to Ezekiel's house, The Crow warns him to be careful. Like he said, The Judean Court can suck you back in at any time. Ezekiel promises and watches as The Crow goes off into the night. The morning after, Judea and Mary announce the punishment of Adam and Eve, Judea motioning for her to follow him in his room. Mary assures Adam that she'll be alright after he teaches her how to be a 'good lady' and watches as Moses forcibly takes him away. Suddenly, the door opens. The metallically-clad warrior Susanna (Zoe Bell) blesses Mary, claiming to have been listening to what 'he' has told her. She tells Mary of the plan and is given the task of defeating The Crow. When Moses returns, Mary informs him that Judea has a special task for him.

Diego sits on a chair outside his porch, trying to reach Elizabeth to no avail. Wanting to take his mind off this, he goes for a walk down the street until he accidentally bumps into Andrew. As the two chat, Diego asks Elizabeth has been doing alright. Andrew reveals she has never been better, having announced her retirement from modeling. Diego expresses his shock, questioning the decision, saying it's her dream job. Andrew insists that she's doing what she thinks is best and asks him to trust him. Despite his reluctance, Diego takes his word on it and bids him farewell. As Andrew walks down the street, he is suddenly hit by a fast-moving vehicle. Having seen it unfold, Diego gets out his phone and takes a picture of the man who drove the car before calling 911.

Later that day, Andrew awakens inside the hospital, seeing Diego stand by a doctor and lets a tear-stricken Elizabeth hug him. Diego tells him of the car crash and that he saw a man that looked similar to Moses do this. To their surprise, Ezekiel and The Crow enter the hospital, having heard the news from Diego. The Crow shares his condolences and offers to heal him immediately if he can tell him about the Judean Court. Andrew accepts the deal and touches The Crow's hand.

The group sit down at the waiting room where Andrew claims to be a cult historian, having researched some of the most despicable cults and leaders in history, none more so than The Judean Court. They are a radical Christian organization that want to transform America into a dominionist nation. Being Christian himself, he finds them extremist and a threat to society. Alas, their weakness is hard to decipher, which is why they've grown so much. He hopes The Crow can figure out a way to defeat them.

Suddenly, the door opens and Susanna swarms over the group, pointing her sword at The Crow. The Crow stands up, accepting the challenge and the two head outside. Susanna puts up the best fight out of anyone in the Judean Court, her conditioning nearly matching that of The Crow. But him being impervious to pain always leaves her so close and yet so far. Nearing defeat, Susanna finds an opening when she spits his bird companion standing on a tree. She manages to distract The Crow so she can aim her sword towards the bird. Before she can do anything, Ezekiel runs out, shooting Susanna with his gun multiple times. Frightened, the bird comes close to his companion as if to tell him what happened. The Crow tells Ezekiel that The Judean Court must've learned that if his companion dies, so will his powers. The rest head out, surveying the damage. The Crow invites everyone to Ezekiel's house tomorrow, fearing that they are on the brink.

The next morning, The Judean Court hijacks broadcasting stations across Detroit, showing themselves on television. Judean gives a eulogy for their friend and devoted ally Susanna and declares war on The Crow and his group of friends for their actions. To add to the drama, Judean claims to have acquired a 'raven' in the ranks. Watching from Ezekiel's house, Diego throws a fit over the news when Andrew and Elizabeth (who at this point looks nothing like she used to) enter. Diego charges at Andrew, accusing him of working with Judea. Ezekiel tries to calm everyone down to no avail. Suddenly, Elizabeth snaps at Diego, accusing him of being against her and her relationship with Andrew, claiming to be truly happy for the first time in her life. The Crow stops her, sensing something wrong. Elizabeth dares him to show her and he puts her a sleeperhold, looking deep into her mind.

Judea sits by his throne when Andrew walks in and proudly tells him that he has managed to get to Elizabeth and assures him that she'll be here shortly. Judea reminds him to keep his shtick of being a cult researcher going when Elizabeth enters. He puts on his benevolent expression, welcoming her to The Judean Court and gives her a tour. Over the next few days, she is tortured by Eve, beaten by Adam, Andrew and Judea and 'cleansed' of her 'sins'. When The Crow puts her out of the hold, Elizabeth stares at Andrew like a wounded animal and begins to hit him in rage. Realizing he has been exposed, he rushes outside the house, fleeing from the scene. With tears in her eyes, Elizabeth turns toward Diego, apologizing for everything and burying the hatchet. The four begin to think of ways to defeat The Judean Court.

That evening, The Crow sits on top of the roof of Ezekiel's house when his bird companion flies off, guiding him to the streets where he sees Judea. Claiming to come in peace, he tells The Crow that tomorrow evening they are to duel at his tombstone, calling it a Duel of Death. All weapons are welcomed. The Crow accepts the challenge and asks if he knows what he's doing slaps in the face of good, honest folk who represent his religion. Judean suggests that they see God's words differently and wishes him luck.

Among a stormy evening, The Judean Court stands by Isaiah's tombstone. As Moses sees lightning, they watch as The Crow leads his troops to battle. The two groups stare at each other eye to eye, waiting for someone to make the first move. Judea looks up at the sky, crying out "FOR SUSANNA!", and causing the court to charge after The Crow's group. It isn't long until The Crow's group gets the upper-hand however as their leader manages to heal his allies every chance he gets.

The tide really begins to turn when The Crow pins Moses to the tree and stabs him in the head with the knife, cutting deep to get as much blood as possible. From there, it's a bloodbath. Adam's skull gets cracked after Ezekiel throws him onto a tombstone and shoots him in the back, Elizabeth strangles Eve, punching her face repeatedly until she is unconscious and among it all, Mary flees the scene, wanting no part in it.

With numbers dwindling, Judea sees the crow on top of the tree and orders Andrew to kill it. Diego manages to tackle him before he can fire his gun. The rest of the group take turns beating down Judea until he is coughing up blood. He begs them all to forgive him as he has sinned himself. The Crow refuses, citing the damage he has done to everyone physically and mentally. He slits his throat and watches Judea bleed.

Seeing Judea dying, Andrew breaks free and rushes to him, tears in his eyes. In his dying breath, he tells him to let God control his fate. Andrew looks up at the tree and in a fit of rage climbs up, aiming his knife at the back of the bird. Everyone tries to stop him, but to no avail. Andrew grabs the bird by the throat and hails The Judean Court before stabbing it repeatedly. Ezekiel watches The Crow look on in horror, feeling his powers diminishing with every moment. Desperate, he rushes toward Andrew, shooting him with the same gun that ended Isaiah's life all those years ago. The bullet lands on Andrew's heart, killing him instantly.

Ezekiel rushes to The Crow, watching as his spirit begins to fade away. He begs him not to leave but The Crow tells him that it's time. The Judean Court is no more. Not wanting to be without his friend, Ezekiel takes his gun and shoots himself in the head. With his last few breaths, he tells Isaiah that he loves him and the two pass away. Elizabeth offers to take Ezekiel to a hospital while Diego stays behind, putting Isaiah back in his grave. A few days later, a funeral is held for Ezekiel. Elizabeth and Diego sit together, looking at each other and holding hands. Whatever happens now, they're in it together.

End Credits Scene:
Twenty Years Ago:
In the chilly streets of London, a crow flies among the gray skies before swarming down to a cemetery. It wanders about before finding a tombstone of someone named Anton Dermon. It flies up to the tombstone, tapping it several times. A hand pops out soon after. The Crow it seems has risen again.