The film is a modern retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's short story "Ligeia", it explores the themes of addiction, obsession, love, and death and features an all-star cast with Wes Bentley as the protagonist, Ligeia played by Sofia Vassilieva, Lady Rowena played by Kaitlin Doubleday, and Azrael and Nehushtan portrayed by Michael Madsen and Eric Roberts, respectively.
The story follows the life of Jonathan Merrick, a gifted artist who falls prey to opium addiction after the death of his beloved wife Ligeia. In his struggle to cope with her loss and overcome his addiction, he becomes increasingly obsessed with Ligeia, whose spirit seems to haunt him in both waking life and his opium-induced dreams. As he descends further into madness, he begins to blur the lines between reality and fantasy, unable to tell what is real and what is not.
Merrick is eventually rescued from his addiction by Lady Rowena, a wealthy widow who falls in love with him and nurses him back to health. However, his obsession with Ligeia and the spirits of Azrael and Nehushtan continue to torment him, leading to a dark and eerie climax that leaves the audience questioning what was real and what was not.
The film's visuals and soundtrack are haunting, adding to the overall eerie and unsettling atmosphere of the film. The performances by the main cast are also noteworthy, with Bentley delivering a captivating portrayal of Merrick's descent into madness and Vassilieva and Doubleday adding depth to their respective characters.
Overall, Edgar Allan Poe's Ligeia is a visually stunning and haunting film that explores deep and complex themes through the lens of Poe's gothic horror storytelling.