Halloween 2013
The original movie poster for the 1994 film "The Crow." The Crow

Halloween 2013 is upon us and it is that time of year where people love to watch horror movies and other creepy sci-fi films that scare you to death or leave you with an uneasy feeling. There are many opinions about the best movie to watch on Halloween Some say it is the holiday's name sake movie "Halloween," others say "Friday the 13th," "A Nightmare on Elm Street," "Paranormal Activity," the list goes on and on. There is one movie, in the humble opinion of Latin Times that surpasses all others in suspense, the paranormal, romance and drama.

"The Crow" staring Brandon Lee is the best movie to watch on Halloween. Now stay with us, we know what you are thinking. "The Crow" is not a horror movie!" Did we guess right? Is that what you were thinking? Well if it was than yes, you are right, "The Crow" is not a horror movie. But allow us the opportunity to explain why this cult classic is the best film to watch on Halloween. "The Crow" has a number of elements that make it a great Halloween film.

For starters the premise of "The Crow" is about a slain musician who comes back from the dead to avenge the gruesome murders of his fiancée and himself. Right off the bat we have elements of suspense, fantasy and the paranormal. For those old romantics out there "The Crow" also has a beautiful love story. Eric Draven and his fiancée Shelly Webster are hopelessly in love. They plan to marry on Halloween but are tragically murdered the night before the ceremony by the gang working for the crime boss Top Dollar.

One year after their deaths, Draven returns to avenge Shelly and himself so their souls will finally be reunited. A famous quote from the 1994 film reads, "People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes something so bad happens, that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can't rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes the crow could bring that soul back to put the wrong things right." With the help of the mystical crow Draven returns killing all responsible for the murders.

So why else is "The Crow" the perfect Halloween movie, well it has an air of mystery, tragedy, and the magical. Not everyone likes to be terrified on Halloween, some people would prefer a movie that gets you scarred in a different way. While "The Crow" may not have any moments that will make you jump out of your skin, it has plenty of moments that will keep you on the edge of your seat and possibly hold the blankets over your head.

Graphic scenes depict the rape of Shelly Webster, the fatal stabbing of Eric Draven, not to mention the shot of him being tossed out a window and images of the aftermath of T-Bird being flash fried to his car. Halloween is also a time when people begin to look into urban legends and tell tragic stories. "The Crow" has its own tale of tragedy, which took place behind the scenes. Actor Brandon Lee, who starred as Eric Draven was fatally shot and killed on set during the final days of filming in 1993.

Since then there have been numerous rumors, theories and urban legends surrounding the tragic accident that took the life of a gifted actor. One of the most circulated, but entirely false legends is that the moment Brandon Lee was killed is actually shown in the film. In one scene in which Draven goes after the last member of the gang that killed Shelly, Draven stands up on a table and tells Top Dollar to enforce his decision not to hand the gang member over.

Top Dollar tells the number of bad guys sitting at the table to kill Draven and they all open fire on him. Draven falls to the ground and many assume that is when Brandon Lee was killed. In actuality the scene in which Brandon Lee dies is never used in the film. Using a body double the director reshot the scene in which Draven comes home to find Shelly being attacked. Originally Draven is shot as he walks through the door. This is the unfortunate scene in which Lee is actually killed. The director reshot the scene showing Draven getting stabbed and not shot.

There are two rumors as to what happened to the film depicting the moment Brandon Lee was shot, one says the director burned the film so no one would ever see it. The other says police confiscated the footage and it is sitting in an evidence bin somewhere. Other myths surrounding Lee's death say he was killed by the Chinese mafia or by a strange curse that followed the men of the Lee family, killing father (Bruce Lee) and son. There are also rumors that father and son haunt the Seattle cemetery where they are buried and their souls cannot rest because of the nefarious nature surrounding their deaths.

So, did we convince you that "The Crow" is the best movie to watch on Halloween? Remembers it has suspense, romance, magic, the paranormal, action and mystery. All qualities that make a great Halloween film. "The Crow" is a cult classic and many fans have mixed feelings about the remake that is rumored to start filming in the early part of 2014. Just like fans of Heath Ledgers' portrayal of the Joker many fans of "The Crow" say there is no one who can play the role of Eric Draven better than Brandon Lee. Welsh actor Luke Evans is said to be dawning the white face paint and black coat in the 21st Century remake of "The Crow."

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