Skull Cowboy

(Skull Cowboy:Michael Berryman)

The Skull Cowboy is seen only 3 times in the graphic novel, but it was decided to make him Eric's first source of information. He acted as Eric's guardian angel, and told him exactly why he had been brought back and what he must do. At first he just tells Eric to "Follow the crow", but appears later to explain more including that Eric will bleed if he works for the living. In the script he was to play an integral part of the storyline. According to the original script the reason Eric lost his powers in the final scene of the film was because he had finished what he had been brought back to do, get revenge on his death. The Skull Cowboy actually tells him this when he returns to his grave and warns him before he enters the church that he is now vulnerable.

However, they eventually decided to cut the character and put more emphasis on the bird giving him the powers. As it is explained in the film, the bird is his link between the land of the living and the land of the dead.Director Alex Proyas cut the Skull Cowboy for a variety of reasons, but mostly because his scenes became somewhat redundant. Alex was also not entirely happy with the effects used to create the character. Michael Berryman, who played the character, is said to be disappointed that his performance did not reach the big screen.

Smokes and Road Beers

The scene where T-Bird and Skank set out on another arson run was originally longer. T-Bird sends Skank to get "Smokes and road beers.", and Skank obligingly goes into a store to purchase them. As originally filmed, two pre-teens enter the store with automatic weapons and appropriate Skank's .45. When Skank runs out of the store to see why T-Bird's driving off, he gets shot in the leg with his own gun; you may notice he is limping before he gets hit by the guy in the small red car. However, the limp doesn't look at all odd after that as you assume it's from the car accident.

The Crow's Power

In the movie as we know it, the actual bird, as Myca puts it, is "his link between the land of the living, and the land of the dead." Well, this is partly right, but according to the original screenplay, the reason Eric lost his powers is because he had finished what he came to do: get revenge on Shelly's and his own death. The Skull Cowboy tells him this when he returns to his grave, and stands on the steps of the church before he enters warning him he is now vulnerable. However, they decided to cut the character, and put more emphasis on the bird = power link

Take Your Shot Funboy

(Cut Scene with Funboy)

The scene when Eric deals with Funboy had a second fight at the end, where Eric is wounded. In the scene , Eric shoots Funboy in the leg and drags him into the bath, turning on the shower. Eric then talks to Darla, and we see the straight razor she was holding fall to the floor. Darla runs out of the apartment and Eric pauses to look at one of Funboy's syringes as the scene cuts away. As originally filmed, Funboy sneaks up behind Eric at this point (see picture) holding the razor that was dropped on the floor earlier. According to Jeff Imada (stunt coordinator), the fight went like this:

"The fight begins at the door when Eric picks up the hypo. Funboy slashes him across the back, driving him down to his knees. Eric is stunned, in shock, showing a lot of pain; Funboy grabs a big bag of coke and just inhales it, just going for it." It seems surprising that Eric's wounds aren't healing - this is because of the Skull Cowboy's warning (see above) - he had been 'working for the living' in helping Darla. "Funboy - now totally jacked up, coke all over his face - jumps on Eric and starts slashing him some more. Eric rolls over on his back, fending off Funboy's attack with his arms, which are getting all cut up. Funboy tries to slash Eric's face and neck, but Eric knocks him away and they struggle on the floor. Eric finally knocks Funboy back against some furniture, tables and lamps and stuff, and the straight razor goes flying. He goes after his gun, which Eric has left on his bed. This gives Eric a little bit of advantage, he does his throw, and knocks Funboy down to the ground, groggy. Then Eric reaches reaches for the hypo again.

It was as a result of this fight that Eric used black electrical tape as bandages. You should notice the tape from this point onwards in the film. The tape helps define Eric's look - it comes straight out of the graphic novel. However, in the graphic novel, Eric carvs up his own arms out of despair and it is because the wounds are self inflicted that they don't heal. (I am uncertain as to whether the scene showing Eric applying the tape was shot or not.)

Arcade Scene at Beginning

Always Choose Loved Ones

After Sarah is kidnapped, near the end of the film, the Skull Cowboy (see above) appears to Eric and tells him that his work is done and he must return to the grave. Eric, knowing that Sarah is in trouble, refuses to abandon her. "Then choose and be damned!", the Skull Cowboy replies, and crubles into dust (this special effect was not filmed, though the rest of the scene was). This is why Eric gets hurt at the end (in the church) - the idea of shooting the crow was brought in later, when the Skull Cowboy was cut.