It’s been quite some time since I watched a horror flick. I was enticed to watch Crimson Peak as it’s directed by famed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro who gave us Pan’s Labyrinth. Apart from directing, Crimson Peak was also written by him as well. I’ve always loved his visionary images that recreates a world full of mystery.
At the start of the movie, Edith (Mia Wasikowska) mentioned ‘Ghosts are real’ but unimaginative horrors are made of flesh and blood. As a novelist, she uses ghost as a metaphor for she was able to see them since young. Her mother who is deceased came to her and warned her ‘Beware of Crimson Peak’ in a horrifying black skeletal frame. Fast forward, she’s a young woman ready to see the world.
Unfortunately, she had the uncanny fortune to fall for a sinister blackguard, Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). Not to mentioned, he’s got an eerie sister Lady Lucille (Jessica Chastain) in tow as protector of their family’s dark secret. Upon, the brutal death of her father, Edith was swept away to Thomas’s gothic mansion. In her new home, she was visited by more ghostly visions. As she tries to decipher the mystery behind it, she comes to realize that nothing is as it seems.
Edith plays a convincing role of a naïve and protected young lady with her wide set eyes. Her acting ability on seeing gory bloodied ghosts hit quite on the spot as well. As for Thomas, he does play a believable role as a highly ambitious young man struggling to protect his sister and Edith at the same time.
The movie tone is definitely set by his sister, Lady Lucille. Her emotionless tone and demeanour truly matched Crimson Peak’s dark and mysterious settings. I loved for the fact director, Guillermo del Toro paid attention in creating an eerie house that looks exquisitely haunted with creepy sounds echoing everywhere which seems like the house is alive. To top it off, most of the ghostly visuals are in gory and bloody red skeletal frame and they just pop at the opportune moment to scared me silly.
However, the storyline is quite predictable but at the end it’s still slightly shocking and sickening. What I like about Crimson Peak is how easily director, Guillermo del Toro brings the vision alive. I feel like I was transported into the era and was looking thru Edith’s eyes. It was easy to relate and yet still managed to raise some goosebumps on my body. A simple but surely memorable plot. In cinemas 15th October 2015!
Ratings: 3.5/5
Crimson Peak’s trailer: