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The Raven

Play trailer Poster for The Raven G Released Jan 25, 1963 1h 26m Horror Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Magician Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price) is still deeply depressed two years after the death of his beloved wife, Lenore (Hazel Court). One day, he's visited by Adolphus Bedlo (Peter Lorre), who has been transformed into a raven after losing a duel to Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff), an evil wizard. After Craven transforms Bedlo back into a human, Bedlo claims to have seen Lenore's ghost at Scarabus' castle, prompting the two to head to Scarabus' castle to seek Craven's lost love.
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The Raven

Critics Reviews

View All (17) Critics Reviews
Peter John Dyer Sight & Sound A pity the equation doesn't always add up: there's too much slack, due perhaps to an imbalance between the comedy, which runs riot, and the horror, which trails behind in the wake of previous Corman films. Feb 11, 2020 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy What other motion picture in history allows viewers the opportunity to see a young and awkward Jack Nicholson cast as Peter Lorre's son? Rated: 3/4 Sep 10, 2021 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid A fun monster mash with three horror icons, and Jack Nicholson besides. Rated: 3/4 Sep 3, 2021 Full Review Alberto Abuín Espinof The result can be puzzling, but also highly enjoyable. [Full Review in Spanish] Apr 28, 2020 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine The official ballyhoo promises an avalanche of horror, but the film itself is an intentional burlesque - and, for the most part, very funny. Oct 7, 2019 Full Review Paul Chambers Movie Chambers For a B-movie, "The Raven" rocks. Rated: A- Nov 1, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jay W This is a very strange film. So strange that it helped with the creation of Marvel's Dr. Strange. It is so unashamed of the crazy world they created that it just throws the audience in with no warning. Typically, in a movie like this, there would be some P. O. V. Character. A character that would be the audience surrogate and react to all the wild things going on. But not this film, they just go with it. One of the big selling points of this film is the all-star cast of horror and acting legends. Directed by Roger Corman, it has Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, Boris Karloff and Jack Nicholson. And they are dressed in silly outfits as they travel to a castle to participate in a grand wizard duel. That's really all I have to say. If it sounds awful, this isn't the movie for you. If that description sounds like fun, then you're who this movie is for. Quote the raven never more. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 11/21/24 Full Review Dave S It’s one thing to take liberties when turning a short story into a feature length film, as Roger Corman did with his Edgar Allen Poe adaptations. However, when you take Poe’s most iconic poem, The Raven, and turn it into a rollicking comedy about combative 16th century magicians, it feels a bit disrespectful and unnecessary. The cast is impressive (Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, Jack Nicholson) and seems to be having a lot of fun and the sets and cinematography are both impressive, but the comedy never reaches the level of being even remotely funny and the special effects, especially during the final showdown, are embarrassingly bad. Best advice? Stick to Corman’s classics (House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, etc.) if you’re interested in his Poe adaptations. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 10/21/24 Full Review Jędrzej D This is my favorite film of Corman's Poe Cycle. With these low budget amusement park Haunted Hause type stage sets, props and nice comedy aspects it would lighten any Halloween. I watched this unprepared and every face that appeared on screen was a lovely surprise. It is such an all star cast that a regular watcher in the year 2024 should recognize at least most of the cast. I loved the duel and it's goofy special effects but it drags a bit too long. That's my only complaint. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/19/24 Full Review Dr. Michael J. B I use this movie for my film classes a lot. Students enjoy seeing a poem adapted into a goofy 60s horror-comedy. While the wizard-battle at the end is limited by the dated technical effects and Corman's budget constraints, it's still one of the best third acts in cinema. While other Corman adaptations of Poe are better in a technical sense, this one is enjoyable and is a good starting part for studying Corman films. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/06/24 Full Review Suzanne G Loved these classic horror actors showing a baby Jack Nicholson the ropes. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/05/24 Full Review Dallas H Roger Corman, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and Jack Nicholson. By default, this group joining together for a movie should be fun to watch. This film is goofy, but in an enjoyable manner. It is always good to periodically sit down and watch it, like a comfort food of movie watching. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/10/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Raven

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Cast & Crew

The Raven

The Raven: Official Clip - A Duel to the Death The Raven: Official Clip - A Duel to the Death 2:15 The Raven: Official Clip - Bedlo vs. Scarabus The Raven: Official Clip - Bedlo vs. Scarabus 2:55 The Raven: Official Clip - Driving Under the Influence The Raven: Official Clip - Driving Under the Influence 2:23 The Raven: Official Clip - The Castle Burns The Raven: Official Clip - The Castle Burns 2:07 The Raven: Official Clip - A Ghost? The Raven: Official Clip - A Ghost? 1:41 The Raven: Official Clip - You're Alive! The Raven: Official Clip - You're Alive! 2:05 The Raven: Official Clip - Dr. Craven's Choice The Raven: Official Clip - Dr. Craven's Choice 1:25 The Raven: Official Clip - Dead Man's Hair The Raven: Official Clip - Dead Man's Hair 1:55 The Raven: Official Clip - The Raven Speaks The Raven: Official Clip - The Raven Speaks 2:08 The Raven: Official Clip - Transformation The Raven: Official Clip - Transformation 2:12 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Magician Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price) is still deeply depressed two years after the death of his beloved wife, Lenore (Hazel Court). One day, he's visited by Adolphus Bedlo (Peter Lorre), who has been transformed into a raven after losing a duel to Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff), an evil wizard. After Craven transforms Bedlo back into a human, Bedlo claims to have seen Lenore's ghost at Scarabus' castle, prompting the two to head to Scarabus' castle to seek Craven's lost love.
Director
Roger Corman
Producer
Roger Corman
Distributor
American International Pictures
Production Co
Alta Vista Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Horror, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 25, 1963, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 26m
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