Finally, a slasher movie for adults!
What a premise! A copycat killer steals his act not from another murderer, but from the first master of horror-slasher stories, Edgar Allan Poe. The killer re-creates Poe’s stories in real life and then makes it even more horrifying by involving the love of Poe's life.
Yes, there's blood and gore. The most cringeworthy scene: from The Pit and The Pendulum. Best to finish off that popcorn during the commercials and previews.
The one reason to see this film: John Cusack. He's stunning as the manic author/poet. Who knew Poe was such a sex symbol? Then again, many poets and authors were the rock stars of their time. Alice Eve plays the victim with an effective, subtle tone and looks exquisite - even in her coffin.
This is also a fascinating goth period piece. Loved the fashions in this one and the whole look of the movie.
My one complaint: a few too many lulls along the way. Given the rich subject matter, this one should have "popped" a whole lot more. Still, for the legions of Poe fans, this is like a rock concert. You can’t wait for your favorites to come along, except in this case, it’s your favorite murders.
2-and-a-half stars
