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A murdered man comes back from the dead to exact revenge on the gang who killed him and his fiancée in director Alex Proyas’s stylistically dark and decadent adaptation of James O’Barr’s comic book series. Stories of revenge always risk a boring second act where we’re forced to watch our hero slay a series of bad guys, but The Crow does a pretty good job overcoming this obstacle with some interesting characters and a solid ensemble of performances. Brandon Lee, son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, gives a charismatic performance as the title character. (Lee died in an on-set accident before the film was completed.) Michael Wincott commands the screen as the main villain — I’m still not sure why this guy hasn’t had a bigger film career. Ernie Hudson helps ground the story as a sympathetic cop, and young Rochelle Davis gives a passable child performance in the critical role of Sarah, a young girl who was good friends with the deceased couple.

The film’s gritty violence is counterbalanced by its gothic romance, which under the direction of Proyas achieves operatic proportions. The movie’s soundtrack is a winning combination of Graeme Revell’s ethereal score, and a collection of tunes from the likes of The Cure, Stone Temple Pilots, and Nine Inch Nails. The editorial flow isn’t always perfect — perhaps because of the Lee’s untimely demise (different actors clearly double him in some scenes). Nonetheless,The Crow became an instant cult classic upon its release and it has lost no luster in the ensuing decades. It’s an artistic fete on multiple levels and a compelling reminder that there is beauty even in darkness.

With Bai Ling, David Patrick Kelly, Anna Thomson, Tony Todd, and Jon Polito.