The Raven

The Raven

Year: 2012

Runtime: 110 min

Language: Danish

Director: James McTeigue

Budget: $26M

MysteryThriller

In 19th century Baltimore, the city is gripped by fear following a series of gruesome murders that eerily resemble the dark tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Detective Emmett Fields investigates the killings and discovers a disturbing link: the crimes are being meticulously planned and executed based on Poe’s stories. As the body count rises, Fields is forced to team up with the author himself to decipher the killer's motives and stop the escalating violence before another victim falls prey to the twisted killer’s macabre design.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen The Raven yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – The Raven (2012)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Raven (2012). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

19th century

The 19th century was a period marked by significant social, cultural, and literary shifts. This era saw the rise of many renowned writers, including Edgar Allan Poe, who confronted themes of death, horror, and the macabre in their works, reflecting the darker aspects of human nature and societal fears.

Location

Maryland, Baltimore

19th century Maryland serves as a dark and atmospheric backdrop for the film, encapsulating a time of both literary innovation and growing societal tensions. Baltimore, known for its rich history, becomes the stage where gruesome murders intertwine with Edgar Allan Poe's haunting tales, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.

🏙️ City 📚 Literature

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:15

Main Characters – The Raven (2012)

Meet the key characters of The Raven (2012), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Emmett Fields

Detective Emmett Fields is a determined lawman who becomes embroiled in a series of grisly murders that mirror the works of Edgar Allan Poe. He exhibits a strong sense of justice and bravery, but is also a deeply flawed character, grappling with the weight of the investigation and the chaotic circumstances surrounding him.

🔍 Detective 🦸‍♂️ Hero

Edgar Allan Poe

Poe is portrayed as a tormented artist, struggling to gain recognition for his literary talent while coping with personal demons and societal rejection. His character embodies the duality of genius and madness, as he reluctantly immerses himself in the investigation to confront the very horrors he writes about.

📚 Writer 😔 One of a Kind

Emily Hamilton

Emily Hamilton is the object of Poe’s affections, representing beauty and innocence amid the dark themes of the story. Despite her father's disapproval of Poe, she adds depth to the narrative, as her abduction propels Poe into a harrowing journey to save her, underlining the theme of love intertwined with danger.

❤️ Love Interest 🎭 Complex

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:15

Major Themes – The Raven (2012)

Explore the central themes of The Raven (2012), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔍 Mystery

Mystery permeates the narrative as Detective Emmett Fields seeks to unravel a series of murders that echo Poe's literary works. The tension mounts with each clue, presenting enigmas that challenge the characters' wits and resolve, ultimately leading to chilling revelations about the killer's true motives.

📖 Literature

The film significantly highlights the influence of literature, particularly the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe's stories serve not only as inspiration for the crimes but also as a reflection of his own struggles with identity and societal acceptance, ultimately raising questions about the impact of art on reality.

💔 Love and Sacrifice

Unrequited love and the theme of sacrifice are central to Poe's motivations, particularly in his relationship with Emily Hamilton. Poe’s willingness to risk everything, including his own life, for Emily showcases the lengths one will go to for love, culminating in a tragic interplay between the heart and destiny.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 20:15

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies with Literary-Inspired Killers like The Raven

Dark investigations where classic literature inspires a killer's macabre game.If you liked the premise of The Raven, where Edgar Allan Poe's stories fuel the murders, you'll enjoy these movies. This thread gathers thrillers and mysteries where killers pattern their crimes after famous literature, creating a uniquely dark and intellectual brand of suspense.

literarymacabresuspensefulintellectualdarkartistic crimepuzzle-solving

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread typically follow detectives or experts forced to engage with a killer who is following a script from classic literature. The narrative is driven by solving literary puzzles and anticipating the next horrific act based on a known text, blending a crime investigation with literary analysis.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together by their shared core premise: a killer who uses iconic literature as a blueprint for murder. This creates a specific vibe of intellectual dread and darkly artistic crime, appealing to viewers who enjoy a mystery steeped in literary history.

Bleak Historical Crime Dramas similar to The Raven

Gothic-era investigations into brutal crimes with a melancholic, desperate atmosphere.Fans of The Raven's gloomy 19th-century Baltimore and its desperate hunt for a serial killer will find more like it here. This thread features period crime stories with a dark tone, high stakes, and a pervading sense of melancholy, capturing the grim reality of justice in a bygone era.

gothicgloomymelancholictensehistoricaldesperategrippingdarkly atmospheric

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a dogged investigator in a historical period grappling with a new kind of monstrous crime. The journey is often solitary and fraught with period limitations, leading to a climax that sacrifices personal happiness for a hollow victory, reinforcing the bleakness of the world.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a cohesive atmosphere defined by their dark historical settings, high-intensity investigations into gruesome crimes, and a consistently heavy, melancholic mood. They offer a similar viewing experience of being consumed by a grim and gripping past.

Unlock the Full Story of The Raven

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Raven in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Raven is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Raven Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Raven, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Raven Summary

The Raven Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Raven with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Raven Timeline

The Raven Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Raven that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Raven Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Raven

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Raven: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Raven

Similar Movies to The Raven

Discover movies like The Raven that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.