Director:
Guillermo del Toro

Starring:
Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain

Other notable appearances:
Jim Beaver, Charlie Hunnam

Running time:
119 minutes

Watch this if you liked:
Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shining, The Others

Writer Edith Cushing (Wasikowska) has seen ghosts for most of her life. When her father is viciously murdered, she marries the mysterious stranger Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston) and moves from America to his home in England. Also in residence is Thomas’s sister Lucille (Chastain) who is cold towards Edith.

Edith soon realises that not all is as it seems in Crimson Peak and that the ghosts of her past are nothing compared to those in her future.

There is no denying that Guillermo del Toro is a filmmaker who knows how to put a masterpiece together. Crimson Peak is no exception to this.

The cast were well suited to their roles and performed admirably. Wasikowska portrays Edith Cushing well, especially given the range of intense emotions Edith experiences throughout the film. Hiddleston excels as the conflicted Thomas, torn between familial and romantic love. Chastain is delightfully wicked in her portrayal of the cold and sometimes cruel Lucille.

Visually, Crimson Peak is magnificent. The landscape is stunning, the dilapidated gothic home is spectacular and the costumes are gorgeous.

The plot is well woven together and has a great twist ending. Predictable? In parts, yes. Less enjoyable? Not at all.

As far as horror films go, Crimson Peak is not scary enough that people averse to horror movies should avoid it. It does have some aspects that are quite disturbing. I must admit, dear reader, I left the cinema with an initial feeling of “what did I just watch?” that gradually evolved into “that was pretty great”.

If you enjoy gothic stories with beautiful sets and stellar actors, Crimson Peak is a must see.

Rating: 5/5

“The horror was for love. The things we do for love like this are ugly, mad, full of sweat and regret. This love burns you and maims you and twists you inside out. It is a monstrous love and it makes monsters of us all.”