The first notes seep from the screen like blood on snow. An eerie, mournful waltz that hangs in the air, an unspoken promise of something just beyond the veil of the ordinary. Welcome to Crimson Peak, Guillermo del Toro's gothic dreamscape where the ghosts aren't just a metaphor – they're breathing down your neck.
Crimson Peak 2015 Key Takeaways
The power of atmosphere: Del Toro masterfully creates an atmosphere of creeping dread and unease. The film's visuals, score, and sound design will stick with you long after the credits roll.
Beauty can be deceiving: Crimson Peak is filled with stunning imagery, from the costumes to the mansion itself. But this beauty masks the darkness and decay that lie beneath the surface.
Ghosts aren't always spectral: While the film includes ghostly apparitions, the real horror lies in the monstrous acts of the living characters.
The complexities of Love: Love can be beautiful, but it can also be twisted and destructive. Crimson Peak explores the dark side of love and obsession.
Gothic Romance with a twist: The film embraces the tropes of classic Gothic Romance - a young heroine, a brooding hero, a crumbling mansion – but subverts them with its horror elements and strong female protagonist.
The strength of women: Edith Cushing isn't a helpless damsel. She possesses a quiet inner strength and resilience allowing her to face the film's horrors.
The past never truly dies: The characters are haunted by the past, both literally and figuratively. Their past mistakes and traumas have far-reaching consequences.
Ambiguity and interpretation: Crimson Peak leaves some room for interpretation. This allows viewers to ponder the motivations of characters and the overall meaning behind the events.
Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), an independent young woman at the turn of the 20th century, is more at ease among the pages of her ghost story manuscript than she is in the rigid confines of society. Haunted by the apparition of her dead mother, her world is already a landscape of shadows, of whispers, of things unseen. Then, as if the ink of her nightmares has somehow stained the real world, Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) appears.
Thomas Sharpe, a baronet fallen on hard times, arrives in Buffalo to enchant Edith's wealthy father. What he gets is both Edith's heart and the funds to return home to England. Swept away to sprawling Allerdale Hall, crumbling and isolated on a peak of blood-red clay, Edith finds herself a stranger in her own life. Her new husband is an enigma, his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) a coiled snake ready to strike. It's a house that bleeds, literally, the clay oozing through the floorboards and dying the snow a sinister crimson. Del Toro uses vivid imagery to transform the mansion into something monstrous – a malevolent thing with its own terrible pulse.
And there's something else here too. The dead aren't quite so quiet. Whispers slither down corridors, their touch the cold breath of a forgotten promise. Ghostly figures flicker in the corner of the eye, half-seen horrors that gnaw at Edith's sanity. Del Toro masterfully crafts an atmosphere so thick with dread that you can almost feel the chill clinging to your skin.
Crimson Peak isn't a film for jump scares – it's about the slow, relentless creep of something unnameable, the constant sense of another presence just outside your field of vision.
A Review For A Guillermo Del Toro Experience
Yet, beneath the gothic grandeur and horror elements, lies a story with ghosts as old as time. Greed, jealousy, love perverted into something twisted – the real monsters aren't spectral, but flesh and blood. Edith, while haunted, is no wilting flower. Wasikowska imbues her with a quiet, resolute strength. Like a Jane Austen heroine given a ghost story twist, she's determined to find her place in a world that expects her to fade into the wallpaper.
And though Thomas is a man of dark secrets, Hiddleston brings a complexity that prevents him from ever becoming a caricature of evil. Lucille, however, practically hisses with malice, her performance a chilling masterpiece of contained fury.
Visually, Crimson Peak is a feast for eyes long-starved of beauty amidst the brutal. Every frame a gothic painting come to life. The costumes are sumptuous, dripping with lace and hidden meaning. The crumbling grandeur of Allerdale Hall contrasts starkly with Edith’s luminous gowns, emphasizing her fragile determination in the face of its decay. And the gore, when it comes, is somehow strangely elegant, a flash of crimson against the snowy landscape, or a single, impossible drop of blood against bone-white porcelain.
There will be those who say Crimson Peak isn't really a horror film. In a way, they're right. It's a love letter to gothic horror, yes, with nods to Poe, Mary Shelley, even the granddaddy of Gothic lit, Horace Walpole. Crimson Peak is what would happen if Jane Austen died and decided she'd rather be Mary Shelley.
But make no mistake, this is del Toro's world through and through, a dark carnival where the beautiful and the grotesque collide in spectacular fashion. Yes, there's a touch of the fairytale in the doomed romance, the sweeping score, and those hauntingly delicate ghosts. But the true horror of Crimson Peak lies in the reflection it shows us. The darkness we're capable of, the monstrous things we do, all in the name of love.
And that is Crimson Peak 2015 Reviewed. Another visually stunning modern horror movie from an incredible director.
Stay tuned for more Horror Movie Reviews.
If You Liked Crimson Peak 2015 You Might Also Like These Films
Sleepy Hollow (1999): Tim Burton directs this visually stunning and darkly humorous take on the classic tale. Johnny Depp stars as Ichabod Crane, a quirky detective sent to investigate a series of murders in a remote village seemingly committed by a headless horseman. Its gothic atmosphere, touch of the supernatural, and offbeat characters offer a similar feel to Crimson Peak.
The Haunting (1963): Based on Shirley Jackson's novel "The Haunting of Hill House," this psychological horror classic is a masterclass in building tension and dread. A group of people are invited to a haunted mansion to investigate paranormal activity, but the line between reality and their own inner demons begins to blur.
The Innocents (1961): Based on Henry James' "Turn of the Screw," this chilling film stars Deborah Kerr as a governess who begins to suspect the children she cares for are possessed by malevolent spirits. Its themes of ambiguity, psychological horror, and a crumbling mansion setting will resonate with Crimson Peak enthusiasts.
The Changeling (1980): This classic ghost story stars George C. Scott as a grieving composer who moves into a secluded mansion, only to discover it holds a tragic history and possibly a very real haunting. It's more atmospheric and chilling than outright scary, a trait it shares with Crimson Peak.
The Fall of the House of Usher (1960): One of several film adaptations of the classic Edgar Allen Poe story, this version by Roger Corman is considered one of the best. Visually atmospheric, it follows a man visiting a strange, decaying house occupied by a brother and sister with a dark family history. Fans who enjoy Crimson Peak's gothic visuals will appreciate this film.
Crimson Peak 2015 Reviewed FAQs
Q: What is Crimson Peak all about?
A: Crimson Peak is a gothic horror film directed by Guillermo del Toro, known for its gothic atmosphere and visually stunning set design. At its core, it's a twisted love story set against a backdrop of supernatural horror. Edith Cushing, a young American author, marries the enigmatic Sir Thomas Sharpe and moves to his crumbling, isolated mansion in England. There, she must grapple with ghostly apparitions, her husband's secretive past, and his chillingly protective sister, Lucille. All while uncovering terrible secrets that threaten to destroy her.
Q: Who are the main actors in Crimson Peak?
A: The main actors in the movie include:
Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing, a strong-willed aspiring author with a tragic past.
Tom Hiddleston as Sir Thomas Sharpe, a mysterious baronet with a haunting charm.
Jessica Chastain as Lady Lucille Sharpe, Thomas's intensely possessive sister.
Charlie Hunnam as Dr. Alan McMichael, Edith's childhood friend and a potential love interest.
Q: Can you provide a brief movie review of Crimson Peak?
A: Crimson Peak is a visually engrossing film with a chilling storyline that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The performances by the cast are commendable, and the gothic aesthetic adds to the overall eerie atmosphere of the movie. While it might not be the scariest horror film ever made, the tension and dread it builds are masterful, and its exploration of love, greed, and obsession lingers long after the film ends.
Q: Are there any other movies similar to Crimson Peak that you would recommend?
A: Fans of Crimson Peak might enjoy movies like:
Pan's Labyrinth (also by Guillermo del Toro): A dark fairytale blending fantasy and the harsh realities of war.
Bram Stoker's Dracula: A classic gothic horror with lush visuals and a seductive villain.
The Woman in Black: A traditional ghost story with a focus on chilling atmosphere.
The Others: A suspenseful film where a family living in a darkened old house is convinced they're not alone
Rebecca: More psychological thriller than horror, but its gothic mansion and themes of a lingering past echo Crimson Peak.
Q: Who is the director of Crimson Peak?
A: Crimson Peak was directed by Guillermo del Toro, a renowned filmmaker known for his unique storytelling, visually striking movies, and his love of monsters and fantastical creatures. Other notable works of his include Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy, and The Shape of Water.
Q: What role does Jim Beaver play in Crimson Peak?
A: Jim Beaver portrays the character of Carter Cushing, Edith's wealthy and protective father. His role, though smaller, is pivotal in setting the film's events into motion.
Q: What is the significance of the red clay in Crimson Peak?
A: The red clay plays a symbolic and thematic role in Crimson Peak. It seeps through the floors of Allerdale Hall like blood, representing the house's dark history and the sins of its inhabitants. The clay also stains the snow a startling crimson, a constant reminder of the violence and secrets lurking beneath the surface.
Q: How would you describe the genre of Crimson Peak?
A: Crimson Peak falls into the category of gothic horror movies, with a heavy emphasis on the gothic romance sub-genre. It features classic elements like a crumbling mansion, a mysterious past, family secrets, and the supernatural.
Q: What is the connection between Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak?
A: Both Pacific Rim and Crimson Peak are directed by Guillermo del Toro. While vastly different in terms of genre (sci-fi action vs. gothic horror), they both showcase his signature visual style, his fascination with the monstrous, and his ability to blend genres in unexpected ways.