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Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons for free on DAZN. Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

After a difficult 2023 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are looking good in preseason action. They’ve notched up wins against the Kansas City Chief and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Particularly impressive was the fact that the Jaguars fielded mostly secondary players but still dominated against the Buccaneers. Preseason is always a chance for reserves to show their stuff.

Conversely, the Atlanta Falcons are 0-2 in preseason games, following a tricky season that saw them fire their head coach. This is only preseason, of course, so it makes no major impact other than seeing how the roster will likely shape up. But Falcons fans will be hoping to see rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. get some game time against the Jaguars. Can Penix be a difference maker for Atlanta in 2024?

If you want to watch NFL preseason games for free, no matter where you are around the world, here’s all the information you need.

When is Jaguars vs. Falcons?

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

How to watch Jaguars vs. Falcons for free

To watch the NFL preseason for free, you can simply register with DAZN.

This platform is showing the NFL preseason for free — both live or on-demand — but only to viewers outside the U.S., Canada, and China. However, anyone can bypass these geo-restrictions by using a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and then connect you with secure servers in other countries, which allows you to unblock geo-restricted content from around the globe.

Access free live streams of the NFL preseason by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL preseason

Visit DAZN

Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world.

The best VPNs for streaming are not free to use, but the leading VPN providers tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can gain access to NFL preseason live streams — all without spending a dime. This is a short-term fix, but you’ll have time to watch the NFL preseason before recovering any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is currently on sale for $99.95, which is an overall saving of 49%. The plan is available for a limited time and also includes a bonus three months at no additional cost, along with a year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers for free on DAZN. Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

With just two weeks until the NFL season kicks off for real, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Miami Dolphins — a second Florida showdown following the Buccaneers’ preseason loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Dolphins are 2-0 in the preseason and want to head into the real competition with some momentum, following a patchy 2023 campaign and a 24-year losing streak in the playoffs. Will the Dolphins wrap up this preseason by showing fans they can do better in 2024?

If you want to watch the NFL preseason for free, no matter where you are around the world, here’s all the information you need.

When is Dolphins vs. Buccaneers?

Miami Dolphins vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers takes place at 7.30 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture will be played at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

How to watch Dolphins vs. Buccaneers for free

To watch the NFL preseason for free, you can sign up with streaming platform DAZN. This service is showing the NFL preseason live and on-demand for free, but only to viewers outside the U.S., Canada, and China.

That’s frustrating, but anyone can bypass these geo-restrictions by using a VPN. If you haven’t used them before, VPNs are brilliant tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and then connect you to secure servers in other countries, which allows you to unblock geo-restricted content from around the globe.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL preseason

Visit DAZN

Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world.

The best VPNs for streaming are not actually free to use, but leading VPN providers tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can gain access to NFL preseason live streams — all without spending anything in the long run. Sure, it’s a short-term fix, but it gives you enough time to watch the NFL preseason before claiming back any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is currently on sale for $99.95, giving you an overall saving of 49%. The plan is available for a limited time and also includes a bonus three months at no extra cost, plus a year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Live stream San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas Raiders for free on DAZN. You can watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 49ers’ Quest for Six — to win their sixth Super Bowl — enters its 30th year, though the franchise has come close in recent NFL seasons. The 49ers lost to the Chiefs in overtime earlier this year at Super Bowl LVIII — an emotional sucker-punch of a loss. But experts are predicting big things for the 49ers this season. They’re amongst the favorites, alongside the Chiefs, to win Super Bowl LVIIIX.

The Las Vegas Raiders meanwhile are battling to earn a spot in the playoffs, having failed to reach the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. But a preseason win over the 49ers might give the Raiders a boost heading into the 2024 season. Their Super Bowl drought extends back further than the 49ers’ Quest for the Six, having last won a Super Bowl in 1983.

If you want to watch the NFL preseason for free, no matter where you are around the world, here’s all the information you need.

When is 49ers vs. Raiders?

San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas Raiders takes place at 10 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture will be played at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

How to watch 49ers vs. Raiders for free

To watch the NFL preseason for free, simply sign up with sports platform DAZN. This service is streaming the NFL preseason live and on-demand for free, though it’s restricted to viewers outside the U.S., Canada, and China.

However, anyone can bypass these geo-restrictions with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and then connect you to secure servers in other countries, allowing you to unblock geo-restricted content from around the globe.

Access free live streams of the NFL by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with free coverage of the NFL preseason

Visit DAZN

Watch the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world.

The best VPNs for streaming are not actually free to use, but the leading VPN providers usually have incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these deals, you will be able to access free live streams of the NFL preseason — all without spending anything. Sure, it’s a short-term fix, but this gives you enough time to watch the NFL preseason before you claim back any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

Fast connection speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is currently on sale for $99.95 — a saving of 49% for a limited time only. With this plan you get a bonus three months at no extra cost, plus a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the NFL preseason for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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Watch the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Watch the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix for free on ORF, ServusTV, or RTBF. Access these free streaming platforms from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Fans have been patiently waiting for competitive F1 racing for years, and after a disappointingly routine start to the season, it looks like things are heating up. Recent races have been thrilling battles between a number of drivers, and we’re hoping for more of the same at the Dutch Grand Prix.

If you’re interested in watching the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix for free from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.

When is the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix?

The 2024 Dutch Grand Prix takes place over 72 laps of the 4,259-kilometre Circuit Zandvoor. The full schedule can be found here:

Practice 1 — 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 23

Practice 1 — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on Aug. 23

Practice 1 — 5:30 to 6:30 a.m. ET on Aug. 24

Qualifying — 9 to 10 a.m. ET on Aug. 24

Race — 9 a.m. ET on Aug. 25

The good news is that it’s possible to stream the Dutch Grand Prix without spending anything.

How to watch the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix for free

You can find free F1 live streams on these platforms:

Austria — ORF or ServusTV (12 races each)

Belgium — RTBF (every race)

ORF, ServusTV, and RTBF are geo-restricted, but anyone from around the world can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can access these streaming services to watch F1 for free from anywhere in the world.

Unblock free streaming services by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria or Belgium

Connect to ORF, ServusTV, or RTBF

Watch the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix from anywhere in the world

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch F1 live streams for free. This is clearly not a long-term solution, but it does mean you can stream the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix without actually spending anything.

What is the best VPN for F1?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming F1 for free, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including Austria and Belgium

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected

Fast streaming speeds

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Watch the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix for free with ExpressVPN.

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Watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Las Vegas Aces and Minnesota Lynx are next on the court as the WNBA season continues. Las Vegas Aces have had a strong season thus far, and are among the top three teams shooting for the playoffs. The Minnesota Lynx will be fighting for a playoff spot after an improved performance over recent games.

If you want to watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need. Don’t miss out.

When is Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx?

Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

How to watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx

WNBA fans can live stream Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx and the remainder of the 2024 WNBA season from anywhere in the world by using the WNBA League Pass.

However, the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams’ local areas. But not to worry, there’s a way around this. You can beat these geo-restrictions by using a VPN, a useful tool that works by hiding your real IP address to help you connect to secure servers in other locations. So, you’ll be able to bypass any blackouts and watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

You can access every WNBA League Pass game by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

Log in to WNBA League Pass

Stream every WNBA game live (barring games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

Fast connection speeds free from throttling

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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Watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA from anywhere in the world.

TL;DR: Watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA with WNBA League Pass. Avoid blackouts and watch the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2024 WNBA season is well underway and it’s Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream next on the court. Players including Kahleah Copper and Rhyne Howard are expected to feature, so it’s not a game you’ll want to miss.

If you want to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA from anywhere in the world, keep reading to find out all the information you need.

When is Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream?

Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 23. This fixture takes place at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia.

How to watch Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream

WNBA fans can live stream the 2024 WNBA season from anywhere in the world with the WNBA League Pass.

It’s important to note, however, that the WNBA League Pass may not show locally televised games live in the participating teams’ local areas. However, you can bypass this by using a VPN. These helpful tools work by hiding your real IP address so you can connect to secure servers in other locations. This means you can bypass blackouts to watch every WNBA League Pass game live, excluding games hosted by Amazon Prime Video.

To access every WNBA League Pass game, follow these easy steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with no broadcast deals for the WNBA

Log in to WNBA League Pass

Stream every WNBA game live (except games hosted by Amazon Prime Video)

What is the best VPN for the WNBA?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for hiding your real IP address and streaming more sport, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries

Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

Fast connection speeds free from throttling

Up to eight simultaneous connections

30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Phoenix Mercury vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

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The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

If you’re reading this, you’re looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times‘ elevated word-search game.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you’re feeling stuck or just don’t have 10 or more minutes to figure out today’s puzzle, we’ve got all the NYT Strands hints for today’s puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The nose knows.

These words are intoxicating.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are aromas.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today’s spangram is CommonScents.

NYT Strands word list for August 23

Cedar

CommonScents

Sandalwood

Lavender

Rose

Lemon

Musk

Looking for other daily online games? Find one you might like – or hints for another game you’re already playing – on Mashable’s Games page.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Strands.

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Here’s the answer for “Wordle” #1161 on August 23, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.

If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for August 22’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.

Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:

Aquatic parasite.

Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today’s Wordle starts with the letter L.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today’s Wordle is…

LEECH.

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.

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Connections is a New York Times word game that’s all about finding the “common threads between words.” How to solve the puzzle.

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for August 23’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Want a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: UI/UX

Green: Burlesque outfit

Blue: Generic whiteish colors

Purple: Sounds like a language

Here are today’s Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Visual Interface

Green: Burlesque Wear

Blue: Beige Shades

Purple: Language Homophones

Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s Connections #439 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

Visual Interface: DISPLAY, MONITOR, SCREEN, TERMINAL

Burlesque Wear: BOA, CORSET, FAN, GLOVES

Beige Shades: BUFF, CREAM, FAWN, TAN

Language Homophones: BASK, CHECK, FINISH, TIE

Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.

Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.

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Bill Skarsgård and FKA twigs fall hard as doomed lovers in this remake of “The Crow.” Review.

It doesn’t matter how low your expectations are for Rupert Sanders’ The Crow, because this callous and clumsy remake will still fail to exceed them. But this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. 

Director Alex Proyas’ 1994 The Crow was a hit at the box office, but its fandom truly exploded in the following years; this was due, in part, to the electrifying performance of its late leading man Brandon Lee, who was fatally injured in the movie’s making. Three sequels followed, boasting stars like Kirsten Dunst, Iggy Pop, and Edward Furlong, but none could recapture the magic of Proyas and Lee’s collaboration. That didn’t stop folks from trying. A relaunch of The Crow has been threatened for over a decade. Now, 30 years after the first adaptation of James O’Barr’s dark and deeply personal comic books arrived on the big screen — with a game-changing soundtrack to match — The Crow returns, like the revenant at its center. But unlike poor Eric Draven, there’s no heart at the center of this grim and gruesome reboot. 

The Crow‘s plot has been changed for the worse and the WTF. 

It‘s Bill Skarsgård and British singer/songwriter FKA twigs star as doomed lovers Eric Draven and Shelly Webster. This time around, however, they won’t be swiftly slaughtered in the first act by a vicious gang led by a nefarious and chicly goth kingpin. Instead, screenwriters Zach Baylin and William Josef Schneider construct a convoluted and yet ambiguous urban hellscape run by Roeg (a smarmy Danny Huston). This villain may look like your average wealthy and powerful white man who treats everyone like pawns in his twisted game, but also, he’s an actual demon, collecting souls to extend his life on Earth. 

This change from the 1994 movie means Eric isn’t just unleashing violence on a Detroit drug ring in the name of love and vengeance. It means he’s looking to save Shelly’s soul from the grips of hell itself. And this time he is not the cackling dark clown, swaggering shirt-off and bare hips out, swinging from broken window frames and relishing the kill. A grim and pretentious opening sequence involving a hurt horse and a mucky rural landscape establishes this Eric as a country boy with vague but damning childhood trauma. Shelly can relate. She’s got a hard history too, which is briefly alluded to when the two of them meet in rehab. 

FKA twigs and Bill Skarsgård can’t save The Crow. 

Where the first film began with the lovers as an established couple on the brink of marriage, this Crow chucks Eric and Shelly into a whirlwind romance that plays as if the screenwriters saw the trailer for American Honey. Once. 

Drug-loving free spirits with wounded souls, they bond over cafeteria trays before escaping rehab to a series of inexplicable montages. The self-proclaimed “degenerates” wander into the swanky apartment of an unknown friend, allowing for a fashion show in designer clothes and lovemaking on silk sheets. Then they tumble into a day out with friends (whose are unclear) — which is odd as Shelly is on the run from Roeg. 

While Proyas’ The Crow established a cast of supporting characters who showed Eric and Shelly as a part of a community, this version takes such associations for granted. Across The Crow, characters aren’t even introduced as much as they shuffle on-screen to provide a plot point, then either disappear or die. Likewise, Shelly and Eric’s lives beyond their days-old romance are illustrated via flimsy quick cuts to flashbacks. These two are less characters and more a Pinterest board for a grungy, romantic aesthetic. Thought they have a certain chemistry, Skarsgård and twigs can’t elevate the cringeworthy dialogue. The love story — which takes up the first 40 minutes of the film — is a tedious trudge to its inevitable tragedy. 

Rupert Sanders’ The Crow is a familiar husk stuffed with grisly, greasy nothing. 

Sanders, the director behind the largely forgotten fantasy-actioner Snow White and the Huntsman and the actively underwhelming live-action remake of The Ghost in the Shell, brings a sickly green/gray palette that recalls DCEU drudgery. Gone is the high-contrast face paint of Lee’s sad clown, replaced with Skarsgård smearing tattoo ink across his eyes and high cheekbones for a look that reads more Jared Leto’s Joker than The Crow. (That’s in no small part to the barrage of trashy tattoos that litter Skarsgård’s pale skin.) 

To Sanders’ credit, this palette does make the hard reds and blacks of blood and bile all the more putrid on-screen. The director seemingly relishes in the movie’s R-rating, creating an ultra-violent spectacle that is at times hard to stomach, much less watch. Eric spends the first two-thirds of the film not only horrified by the violence inflicted on his own body — which is shot, stabbed, and run over — but also mortified to cause violence, gawping in shock when he takes a life with a gunshot through the chest. But he’ll conveniently get over this in time for a finale that is overflowing with nameless goons who are ripped to pieces with a ruthless abandon. 

I consider myself to have a pretty high tolerance for gore and violence on-screen, as I am an avid horror-lover. But frankly, I was aghast at the graphic violence of this Crow. Part of it is that the villains — outside of Roeg — are barely established. There’s little individual flare, much less the evocative nicknames like Tin Tin, Funboy, and Skank, so these malicious minions become a row of blood-gushing dominoes to be knocked down on the way to the big bad. This kind of move might work in a sequel, where you trust in the hero and so follow him into moral gray areas readily. (See John Wick 2 through 4.) But this is not the Eric Draven that Crow fans know and love. He’s an inferior imitation that lacks the haunting charm of Lee. Despite his efforts, Skarsgård’s is more a pose than a protagonist. 

In the end, 2024’s The Crow is only an echo of an echo of the original, sometimes literally repeating the 1994 film’s best lines, but in a new context that makes them more cringe than compelling. Sanders didn’t even manage to create a soundtrack that scratches at the distinctiveness or greatness of the original. Ugly, incoherent, and ultimately cynical, The Crow evokes the words of wisdom from another horror movie about resurrected corpses on a rampage: Sometimes dead is better. 

The Crow opens in theaters Aug. 23. 

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