Chronicle of the Raven - more like Appetite of the Raven . . .
. . . an appetite that is not so easily quenched at that.
Also known as
Jennifer's Shadow, this gothic horror movie chronicles Jennifer Cassi's (Gina Phillips) return to her decrepit family home after the death of her twin sister Johanna. She soon finds that Grandmother (Faye Dunaway) has taken control over everything. You get this overwhelming feeling that there is no love lost between the two of them. Jennifer then decides to stay a few days while she gets the house ready for sale - mistake number one.
It seems Grandmother has more than a few skeletons hidden around the old family homestead and is none too thrilled about Jennifer's plans. Not that there is much Jennifer can really do anyway as she has already begun to show symptoms of the family illness that has taken the life of her mother, father and twin sister. They all suffered from a form of cancer that causes the body to feed on its own organs - or at least that is what was believed until now. Interestingly enough, old Grandmother has never suffered from the family illness and Jennifer cannot help but wonder why.
The moment Jennifer came back home, she began to be plagued by dreams of being devoured piece by piece by a ravenous raven. Every time she awoke from one of these dreams whatever the raven happened to be knawing on became a part of Jennifer's latest ailment. And lo and behold, Grandmother just happens to have a raven in what used to be Johanna's room, a room which is now kept locked at all times.
Jennifer soon makes friends with the local grave digger, Dario Bardevil (Duilio Marzio) who at first frightens her but then becomes her number one ally in the fight for her very life. The two go through a series of rituals to try and rid Jennifer of the horrendous fate which is befalling her and has befallen her family before her. But are they already too late?
This was one of those films that was only mildly entertaining. It wasn't the worst film I've ever caught on tv while flipping through the stations, but it certainly wasn't the best (or even one of the better) films I've happened to flip on. With a leading actress like Gina Phillips of
JEEpers CrEEpers fame, I am not really surprised that I was not in love with this one. Where did this girl learn how to act - or maybe that's the problem, she never did . . .
Definitely not a strong recommend but if you happen to catch it you probably won't be totally disappointed.
Chronicle of the Raven Movie Cast and Credits
Directed by
Daniel De La Vega
Pablo Parés
Writing credits
Daniel De La Vega
Pablo Parés
P.J. Pettiette
Cast (in credits order)
Faye Dunaway .... Mary Ellen Cassi
Gina Philips .... Jennifer Cassi/Johanna
Duilio Marzio .... Darío Bardevil
Nicolás Pauls .... Roberto
Hilda Bernard .... Aunt Emma
Elvira Onetto .... Lilith
Peter Holten Andersen .... Medical Technician
More Reviews of Chronicle of the Raven
Movie Review of Chronicle of the Raven from Monsters At PlayChronicle of the Raven Movie Review and Information Page at The Internet Movie Database
