The storyline has good flow but is perhaps a bit predictable, acting is decent though the characters don't have much depth. But the winner for this film are the visuals. The house itself is stunningly haunting and the ghosts are almost ethereal. This movie doesn't have much substance but is a real treat to watch.
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Calicodreamin17 April 2021
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Jerghal26 December 2015I was getting pretty sick of those jump-scare-there's-something-lurking-in-a-dark-corner style movies like Insidious and the Conjuring. And Guillermo Del Toro must have thought the same thing because Crimson Peak is a gorgeous looking Gothic style movie with awesomely designed sets which have an incredible amount of detail to them. This adds a great dark and brooding atmosphere to the film and alleviates the need for these aforementioned jump scares. The story is well written and has great characters played by Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston and other well cast actors. Unfortunately it got only moderate critical reviews and was also somewhat ignored by the audience in favor of Goosebumps no less. Damn kids, they ruin everything! wink emoticon
But it might get a second life in the video circuit as people might still discover this very enjoyable movie. Big thumbs up for me! -
rivkasue18 October 2015I only saw this film because I am a del Toro fan--Pan's Labyrinth is my favorite movie. While Crimson Peak does not come anywhere near the quality of Labyrinth in terms of the script, it still showcases del Toro's unique skill for beauty and suspense.
The sets, costumes and general atmosphere are sumptuous in that signature del Toro way. The luxurious train on the heroine's robe that audibly thumps behind her as she sweeps down the staircase? Yes, please. There is a nod to all the images our minds ever conjured while reading fairy tales. The rich colors, the music, the textures all help draw us in to this world and settle us in for the story.
The film is not without its flaws. There are a few glaring plot contrivances that had me groaning. There is a superficial quality to the scenes involving Thomas Sharpe's clay mining business.
I was impressed with Jessica Chastain's talent for conveying two conflicting emotions at once, all playing out on her face, reminiscent of Gillian Anderson in Bleak House. -
SnoopyStyle5 February 2017Ghosts are real. Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) has known this since childhood when her mother died and her spirit warned her, "Beware of Crimson Peak." As a young woman, she's trying to publish her ghost story only to face sexism. English baronet Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) has come to America seeking investments from Edith's father Carter Cushing (Jim Beaver) for a clay-mining machine invention. Carter distrusts the failing aristocrat and his sister Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain). His investigator Holly finds something damning and he pays Thomas to leave his lovesick daughter Edith. Carter is murdered and Edith marries Thomas. They go back to England but Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam) is suspicious as the Cushing fortune is liquidated to the Sharpes in England.
This is a beautiful Gothic horror from Guillermo del Toro. It is simply gorgeous. On the other hand, the story lacks thrills or scares. There is no real mystery since the Sharpe siblings lay out their cards early on. It's also unlikely that Carter wouldn't reveal the secret to his daughter. All of it takes away the tension. The Sharpe mansion looks beautiful in a haunted manner. The story needs some reworking to inject more thrilling tension. -
This film is visually amazing. Anyone familiar with some of Del Toro's other work will see a lot of his signature visual touches, which is far from being a bad thing, and the design of the ghosts was refreshingly innovative and blended into the overall visual style. The plot is interesting once it gets going, however slightly predictable.
Sadly, there are some noticeable downsides. The most obvious one is how slowly this film starts, with seemingly very little happening for the first twenty or so minutes. The focus is very heavily on the plot, and while some characters are developed more slowly because it ties in with the plot, others can feel underdeveloped. When this is combined with the slow start, it makes the first part of this film fairly boring. Some of the chronology of this film can seem slightly strange as well, when scrutinised.
However, despite its faults, this is still a good film and worth watching. 7/10 -
georgef-6559928 August 2020Whilst it does have its problems, I would recommend watching it and forming your own opinion if you're on the fence about this movie. It wasn't scary for me, but it was creepy. The horror is peppered throughout so didn't become stale, but I also didn't feel starved of it. I would recommend if you like the idea, just don't watch it expecting a ghost story, it just has ghosts in it.
Crimson Peak is a spooky movie about a woman (Edith) who falls in love with a mysterious man (Thomas) who is trying to restore his mining business. Thomas has a dilapidated family home which is sinking into his clay mine.
Plot- The start of the movie was its weakest point in my opinion. Thomas' appearance felt forced to begin with but in retrospect fitted with the story. I'm not a fan of lengthy time skips (few days or maybe a month) and the start of this movie had a few. This led to the romance between Thomas and Edith mostly happening offscreen and felt rushed. Once the characters arrived at Thomas' house (crimson peak) my enjoyment of the movie skyrocketed.
I personally thought that the plot was quite simple, which isn't necessarily a problem but I was left wanting to see more of the house and the characters could've been explored further, especially Thomas. There was a good explanation for the ghosts but it was done at the wrong time and this is my least favourite part of the movie and what I think is the weakest scene.
Cinematography- The way this movie looks is excellent. It's gorgeous. The only criticism I have is the weak CGI. It's not terrible, but I could tell it was CGI.
Length- I thought that it was an enjoyable length for me and it didn't outstay its welcome, just a shame it left me wanting more.
Immersion- For me, what went on was believable in the context of the movie (or depending on your beliefs regarding ghosts.) The time skips at the start hurt my ability to get really immersed, but I never looked at my watch.
Soundtrack- The music was fine and wasn't distracting. None of the tracks apart from the main theme really stood out to me.
Would I watch it again- Yes, I plan on watching it again. -
MarketaN28 October 2015This was highly anticipated film. The director didn't succeeded in fulfilling the expectations of audience and not at all film-critics. Still this picture does not belong to the category of completely useless pictures that you wouldn't enjoy.
The art design including costumes, scenery, stylization, camera operating and everything made to satisfy the eye is perfectly done with detail. The topic for it's self must be the house of the Sharp family. The building has its own spirit, which the characters itself unfortunately lack.
And characters is the next important thing to talk about. There is quite a top actors basis. Mia Wasikowska representing a young Victorian woman absolutely fits. Tom Hiddleston as the wanted perfect man with dark secrets is a natural choice. And finally the amazing Jessica Chastain showed a perfect performance as the evil sister. She nearly stole the whole spectacle for herself. But still it does not work very well. The main problem is that the relationship between Edith and Thomas is not believable. They lack ''chemistry''. Some converging and strongly intimate scenes are missing. The other problem is Edith Cushing herself. When arriving at the house, she suddenly changes from an intelligent emancipated woman to classic scared horror virgin type who needs a protection and loses a good deal of sympathy.
The story itself is predictable, and so does not need to be focused on. Maybe the reason is that Guillermo del Torro planned to shoot this picture a long time ago and he simply lost the connection with the topic and focused on technical stuff. On the other hand, this is an opportunity to see a pure cliché, not meant in a bad way, horror- drama movie with all its attributes and great visual quality. The treatment with sounds for increasing the tension is comparable to The Woman in Black (2012).
It does not deserve to be strongly criticized nor praised, but since I'm fan of all three actors and Guillermo del Toro, I must say I enjoyed it quite a lot. -
jen-lynx16 October 2015Guillermo del Toro is a director and artist whose films fall into two distinct categories: big budget English language blockbusters like "Hellboy" and "Pacific Rim" and lesser known, low budget Spanish language horror films like "Devil's Backbone" and "Pan's Labyrinth". His latest film, "Crimson Peak" is what happens when these two worlds collide, in other words, a big budget English language horror film.
"Crimson Peak" is set in the late 19th century, first in New York, then in rural England. Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is a young budding writer who is intelligent, beautiful, and strong willed, refusing to allow Victorian sensibilities dictate what she can and cannot do, and as a result butts heads with those around her. Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) is an English aristocrat and inventor who is in New York seeking financial backing for his mechanized clay mining business back home. When tragedy strikes, Thomas marries Edith and brings her to his home, Allerdale Hall in Cumberland, where his sister Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain) is waiting. As Edith tries to fit into her new surroundings, she discovers that secrets abound and nothing is as it seems.
The visuals in "Crimson Peak" are so glorious, they are almost overwhelming. The sets are spectacular visions of beauty and decadence in decay; costumes are intricately detailed and gorgeous; the lighting and over saturated color bring depth and meaning; the ghosts are grotesquely beautiful; and, of course, the del Toro trademarks of insects and clockwork gracefully found their way into the story as well.
Because "Crimson Peak" is a rather large studio production, it is being marketed to a large audience. I believe this accounts for some of the lackluster reviews I have been reading. If one is not familiar with del Toro's prior Spanish language films, they may not understand his unique cinematic perspective. For some, this will mark the beginning of a journey into del Toro's fantasy world, for others it will be a disappointment. For me, it was almost everything I wanted it to be. -
ThomasDrufke17 October 2015Guillermo del Toro is that kind of superstar director that brings audiences to the seats no matter the genre of film. Much like Nolan, Spielberg, and Tarantino, Del Toro draws fans to see the next visual spectacle he brings to the screen. Make no mistake about it, Crimson Peak is an awe to see on the big screen, especially in IMAX. Unfortunately I think the marketing team hurt Del Toro's film this time around. The trailers were centered around this house and the ghosts that supposedly haunted it. While I loved the trailers for what they were, they didn't properly represent the movie as it actually is, which is most definitely a Gothic romance.
The film stars Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, and Charlie Hunnam. We focus on Edith, played by Wasikowska as she deals with a recent family tragedy without anywhere to go and no one to stay with. Enter Hiddleston and Chastain, playing Thomas and Lucille respectively, who seem to target Edith specifically. As Thomas and Edith grow closer to each other, he brings her to his childhood house, which is conveniently miles away from the next home or any part of civilization. It also happens to have an issue with the red clay that stains the snow around the house and floods underneath during the winter. This gives the whole feel of the movie a bloody undertone.
While the film isn't really a horror film, it certainly has frightening elements. Edith is constantly haunted by not only the ghosts of Crimson Peak but her mother's for whom she basing a book around. The strongest aspect of Crimson Peak is the visual spectacle you're given. Whether it's the costume design, special effects, or the sets themselves, this film is gorgeous. So there's no denying that seeing it in theaters is the way to go. The problem is that the film itself isn't all that original, and the characters aren't all that interesting. The first act is rather slow but the climax most definitely makes the film worth seeing. The performances are all great, in particular Wasikowska and Chastain, which in some way make up for the lack of character development. Go see the movie if you want to see a visual spectacle, but not if you want a horror-ghost centered film.
+Visually stunning
+Performances all around
+Climax
-Not all that scary
-Starts slow
6.8/10 -
'Crimson Peak' had a lot going for it, with a talented director and, while this reviewer is not a huge fan of Mia Wasikowska, two talented actors in Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain, plus the story had great potential.
Unfortunately, this great potential is not entirely lived up to. 'Crimson Peak' is not an awful film, it's just that it is frustratingly uneven considering the talent in front of and behind the camera and how with the right execution the story and the combination of supernatural horror and Gothic melodrama/romance (the latter of which the film essentially is, despite being advertised misleadingly) could have been really intriguing.
The best thing about 'Crimson Peak' are the production values, which are just gorgeous (a vast majority of them anyhow). Not only are the costumes and sets lavishly colourful, sumptuously elegant and splendidly Gothic but they have a real atmosphere and depth to them. It's atmospherically and evocatively lit too, and beautifully shot. The music score is resolutely haunting, giving the right amount of chills and nuance. Guillermo Del Toro's mastery of visual style does come through, as does for the first third at least his knack of combining more than one mood all at once. The first third is entertaining and rich in atmosphere.
'Crimson Peak' benefits too from the performances of Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain. While he may seem a little subdued in places, Hiddleston is superbly brooding and very believably flips from charming to chilling in a short space of time when needed, his very eloquent way of speaking makes one want to listen to him for hours. Chastain comes close to stealing the film, playing with verve, mysterious allure and quite scary intensity. Their chemistry is magnetic.
However, Mia Wasikowska doesn't fare so well. In all fairness she does have a very passive and indecisively written character, but while Wasikowska has come on a lot since 'Alice in Wonderland' (for example she is good in 'Jane Eyre') her performance here is devoid of emotion. Her chemistry with Hiddleston is rather dull and cold too. Charlie Hunnam, while not as annoying as in 'Pacific Rim', is similarly very bland. The ghost characters, as well as looking very fake (the one sore spot visually was the crude-looking effects), were not needed (likewise with the supernatural horror elements, which were executed to very predictable and lazy effect generally here, the film would have been far better just as a Gothic romance), don't inject much personality let alone thrills or scares and they felt like they were shoe-horned into the story.
Where 'Crimson Peak' particularly disappoints is in the script and story. The script is quite threadbare and often sounds very awkward. The story started off with so much promise, had some good moments in the middle act atmospherically despite starting to meander pace-wise (parts quite badly drag in fact) and tire narratively before falling apart completely in the last act, which was implausible, lost momentum and became silly and anti-climactic. A good case of Del Toro taking on more than he could chew.
In conclusion, looks gorgeous but is frustratingly uneven. Starts strongly before finishing with a thud. 5/10 Bethany Cox -
reoroy18 October 2015Crimson Peak is one of the most artistic horror movies I've seen in recent times. The movie's aristocratic splendor won my heart and is one of the main highlights of the movie. All the main characters in this movie are rich and you will realize why once the movie culminates in its climax. And then there are the ghosts. Now I have to admit that I have seen "better" ghosts in other horror movies because the ghosts in this movie look out of shape and straight out of a child's horror story book. ( Once again if you watch the movie carefully you might actually be able to infer why the ghosts in this movie look the way they do) BUT I won't deny the fact that the movie has it's spooky moments, some of which are extremely creepy. Moments like these get a horror movie going.
So watch Crimson Peak mainly for the following reasons
(1) The spooky moments-- Not exactly the moments when you see the ghosts but the prologue to those moments are the ones to cherish.
(2) The movie's medieval Gothic architecture and the director's eye for detail that made Crimson Peak look so beautiful-- Yes, this is a ravishingly pretty horror movie. The architecture used in this movie more than makes up for all the ugly ghosts it features. If you are aspiring to be an interior decorator and want a cathedral for a home look no more beyond Crimson Peak.
3) The aristocracy-- Like I mentioned earlier there is no dearth of opulence in this movie. The costumes are amazing and there is this exquisitely glamorous feel to this horror flick.
So have a field day in the movie theater as you watch some wealthy people of the Middle Ages tackle vindictive ghosts against an immensely beautiful backdrop. -
Having been a fan of Guillermo Del Toro for some time now, I had expected 'Crimson Peak' to be his next great masterpiece. Although the film didn't meet my expectations, I can't say that it disappointed them either.
Near the end of the 18th century, aspiring author Edith Cushing (Wasikowska) meets a struggling inventor by the name of Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston). The two quickly fall in love and move into Sharpe's dilapidating mansion - which is also inhabited by Thomas' sister, Lucille (Chastain). Once there, Edith slowly realizes that not everything is what it seems and decides to dig deeper, in spite of the growing dangers.
First, 'Crimson Peak' is not a horror film; it is a 'gothic romance' (with some horror elements thrown into the mix). The genre hasn't been visited upon for decades, yet Del Toro does a fine job of offering his own take on it. The film also contains plenty of blood and gore - so if you don't have a stomach for that kind of stuff, your chances of finishing this film are nil (for there are far more disturbing aspects).
The story constantly switches in tone. I get that its a 'gothic romance' (two genres that can't be any further apart from each other), but it can get confusing for some people very quickly. One scene might seem like it was from a romantic period film while the next might seem like something out of a thriller! I think Del Toro and Robbins did a fine job of balancing the pacing, but they could have certainly tweaked a few things and cut the runtime down by an extra ten or fifteen minutes.
That being said, the plot is pretty straightforward - up until the last third of the film. Again, there are some disturbing details that both Edith and the audience discover. It took me some time to connect certain things, but I eventually figured out the bigger picture. Nevertheless, the very nature of this film will undoubtedly shock you - and will do it in a way that no other film released this year has.
Both Wasikowska and Hiddleston give good performances, but Chastain is the standout. Her role as a cold-hearted, manipulative aristocrat is done with sheer excellence; you can't help but suspect of her something. She allures your attention with her mysterious persona, yet you can't help but hate her for who she truly is.
Just like in any other Del Toro film, the visuals in this film are amazing. This time, instead of the visual effects (like in 'Pacific Rim'), the main focus is on the production design and costume design. Every set, prop, and article of clothing not only have their own unique design but are also very telling of a scene's or character's given mood (now that's some good attention to detail). I would honestly be shocked if this film wasn't nominated for Best Prod. Design nor Best Costume (although I also wouldn't be surprised as the Academy usually forgets about films like these).
Despite its narrative problems, 'Crimson Peak' is a grand visual experience that needs to be seen on the big screen (notwithstanding the blood and gore). Del Toro's directing has not faltered one bit, and he truly has come up with an original concept that we haven't seen in a very long time. And although I didn't completely fall in love with this film, I will say I'm glad I watched it in theatres.
My actual rating for this film is 7.5/10 -
jorged-116 October 2015I have just watched this movie and it was a terrible disappointment. I loved other Del Toro's movies, but this ones feels totally empty. The film is a visual feast. Gorgeous locations, wonderfully lit serve as the background for the tale. Fantastic shots and good acting would make you think that this is a good movie. But it is not. The plot is so cheap, that you can tell what is going to happen since the first frame. The evil characters are so cartoonish that you can see their next movements from miles away. The "good" character is so bland and pathetic that you never have a real connection with her. In fact, as you can see where the film goes from the beginning, this movie is a total bore. Do not waste your time and watch "The Devil's Backbone" instead.
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RELEASED IN 2015 and written & directed by Guillermo del Toro, "Crimson Peak" is a Gothic drama/mystery/horror about a young woman (Mia Wasikowska) in the opening years of the 1900s who falls in love with a mysterious English man (Tom Hiddleston) and moves from Buffalo, NY, to a creepy English manor, where his weird older sister also lives (Jessica Chastain). Ghosts of the past make themselves known, ultimately leading to the truth.
Aside from Jane Eyre and House of Usher, both of which have been filmed several times, "Crimson Peak" has similarities to haunting Gothic flicks like "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992), "The Others" (2001) and "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" (1994), but it's thankfully nowhere near as ridiculously melodramatic as the latter. The spectral horror is more low-key than "Dracula" and "Frankenstein," which is why I cite "The Others." Psychological Gothic horror like "Demons of the Mind" (1972) and "The Eternal" (1998) are other comparisons. If you're in the mood for a movie like these, you'll probably appreciate "Crimson Peak."
Honestly, this is one of the most sumptuously LOOKING movies I've ever seen. Take, for instance, the numerous scenes of Edith (Mia) walking down the lavish halls in an alluring white nightgown and flowing blond hair. The Gothic lushness is to die for.
Some people think the story is meh, but it's no better or worse than the plots of the seven movies listed above. Whilst the first act in Buffalo is somewhat tedious, the movie picks up interest once Edith (Mia) moves to the unsettling English chateau, which has seen better days. I read a critic's list of a dozen questions in an attempt to tear the film to pieces, but I easily answered all of them, which showed that this critic was intentionally LOOKING FOR something to dislike. Every potential quibble is effortlessly explained by clues in the picture or simply reading in-between the lines.
THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 59 minutes and was shot in Hamilton, Kingston and Toronto, Canada. ADDITIONAL WRITER: Matthew Robbins.
GRADE: B -
bensonmum212 July 2018I hate skipping plot summaries when I write one of these, but I think it's probably best when discussing Crimson Peak. The plot here isn't all that important. Crimson Peak is one of those "style over substance" movies. The plot takes a backseat to the cinematography, lighting, costumes, sets, special effects, and just about anything else you can list that makes a movie look good. And what plot there is in Crimson Peak is so filled with holes, I fear that dwelling on it will only make me like the movie less. I'll just say that the plot left me with more questions than it answered.
If films are art, Crimson Peak belongs next to the Mona Lisa. It is one of the most stunning pieces of film I've ever seen. Every frame looks like a painting. I'm not sure I've seen a film this beautiful since I watched House of Flying Daggers over ten years ago. The colors, the shadows, the lights - gorgeous. My absolute favorite image (and I'm not alone based on what I've read across the internet) is the ceiling-less grand hall in the rotting great house. It's amazing. Another element that really helps the images come alive is the atmosphere. I may not care for Guillermo del Toro's plot, but there's not denying his skill as a director. He mastfully fills the film with atmosphere so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Combine the atmosphere with the visuals and you end up with a movie I'm going to enjoy on some level despite its other flaws.
The acting in Crimson Peak is hit or miss. Normally, I feel that Tom Hiddleston outshines his co-stars, Here, however, he's completely over-shadowed by Jessica Chastain. She acts circles around everyone else in the film. Her role is the smallest of the three main characters, but she dominates everything - even the scenes she's not in.
Overall, if you're a fan of gothic romance/horror/mystery (although the horror elements don't come to much and the solution to the mystery is all too obvious) you owe it to yourself to check out his gorgeous film. -
cnycitylady14 October 2015"Crimson Peak" has much to recommend it. Its cast is spot on, its costume design and set are beautiful and spooky. The story itself doesn't really go for the cheap thrills that most horror today goes for, and I appreciate that.
Mia Wasikowska and Tom Hiddleston have a fantastic chemistry and you readily fall in love with the love story they present you, but the real jewel of the film is Jessica Chastain. As soon as she walks on screen you know something wicked this way comes. Her piercing glare and overall sense of distaste for the other characters really unease's you in the most fun way. You can see little to no sympathy in her face and you cannot wait to see just where she'll go with it.
The story starts off as pleasantly as any period piece and you wonder what the ghouls and ghosts are up to, and whether they are in cahoots with Hiddleston and Chastain. Unfortunately by the second half, the movie looses some of its spook and becomes somewhat predictable in plot, but because of this you will be able to watch it over and over again without ever really getting bored. This is because the horror isn't the selling point of the story, the heart of the characters are. And each character has more heart than they could possibly know what to do with.
The acting is superb and although this story has been told in one way or another, you still root for a positive outcome. Guillermo del Toro creates yet another masterpiece of film. I fully enjoyed it. 8/10 -
ferguson-619 October 2015Greetings again from the darkness. "It's not a ghost story. It's a story with ghosts." Leave it to writer/director Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, 2006) to make this distinction. The line is spoken by our lead character Edith, who is striving to write like her literary idol, Mary Shelley. She is explaining her most recent writing effort to a publisher, but the line also represents the movie we are watching ghosts appear (some grisly ones at that), but they certainly aren't the focus.
The story begins around the turn of the 20th century as young Edith has just experienced her first family tragedy, the passing of her mother. She grows into an independent young woman (played by Mia Wasikowska) being raised by her successful self-made-man father Curtis Cushing (played by Jim Beaver, "Justified"). Tip of the cap to del Toro for his tip of the cap to the horror film great Peter Cushing. Edith has remained steadfast in her independence despite the advances of her lifelong friend, the handsome Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam, "Sons of Anarchy"). Things change when a mysterious stranger sweeps into town. Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) seeks investors for his "clay harvester", a machine he designed to automate what now takes many men and much hard labor. The elder Cushing senses something is "off" about Sharpe and his sister and traveling companion, Lady Lucille (Jessica Chastain), but the strong-minded Edith soon finds herself waltzing and blushing with Sir Thomas.
It would be pretty easy to recap the balance of the story, but that is actually the film's weakness. It plays like a re-imagined script from one of those old 1940's or 50's movies that I watched on Friday nights as a kid. In other words, it's not very frightening and the viewer's enjoyment is totally based on the atmosphere. Fortunately, that's where del Toro and his team excel. The set design (Tom Sanders) and costumes (Kate Hawley) are truly spectacular and among the best ever seen, especially for a horror movie. Dilapidated Allendale Manor features a hole in its roof allowing the elements to freely enter the colossal entry foyer. The furnishings and fixtures, as well as the layout of the house are perfection as a setting. The costumes for all characters are superb, but pay special attention to the fabrics and frills of Edith and Lucille. Camera work from Cinematographer Dan Lausten ties it all together for the eerie feel.
The film is so stunning and interesting to look at that it's actually quite easy to forgive a story that has little to offer, and often and I do mean often relies on horror film clichés in what should be moments of difference-making. Having five such talented lead actors, who each go "all in" for their characters, help us overlook the script weakness, and it's really the look and atmosphere of the film that make it worth watching not words I have written many times over the years. For del Toro fans, you should know that Doug Jones does play the creepy ghost that inspires Edith's first words (as narrator) "Ghosts are real, that much I know". -
I don't understand "Crimson Peak". It's a terrific horror film from Guillermo del Toro...yet it flopped at the box office and there are a lot of rather nasty (possibly hateful) reviews here on IMDb. I just don't get it.
When the film begins, Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), a charming but creepy guy, arrives in the States to try to get money for a bizarro project (the weakest aspect of an otherwise great film). However, there is definitely much more to this weirdo and the audience is definitely on to him...but the industrialist he's come to see has a young daughter and Mia (Mia Wasikowska) is very taken by Sharpe and his attentions. The father definitely is NOT pleased and learns something damning about Sharpe but before he can act he's brutally murdered. Next, the sweet young Mia is married and heading to Britain with her new husband, Sharpe.
Sharpe's home is a creepy old mansion--definitely the stuff of nightmare fodder. There Sharpe and his creepier sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain), live...and Mia immediately starts getting creepy vibes. It seems that Mia has supernatural abilities and can see the dead on occasion. While very scary, she is able to communicate with these spirits...and one of them is trying to get her to leave this awful house. Why and what's next? You'll just have to see this film.
This film is pretty typical of some of del Toro's other films, such as "The Devil's Backbone". The dead, while scary and menacing, are not necessarily malevolent. And, like a typical del Toro film is it NOT for the faint of heart...it is very bloody, visceral and kind of gross. Do not, for the love of God, let kids watch this film!!!! But if you can handle the gore, it's a wonderfully surprising film with many original story elements. Well worth seeing and a surprisingly good film. -
claudio_carvalho14 January 2017In the turn of the Twentieth Century in Buffalo, New York, the aspiring writer Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is the daughter of the wealthy entrepreneur Carter Cushing (Jim Beaver). Edith saw the ghost of her mother that warned her to beware of Crimson Peak when she was a child and presently she is writing a ghost story. Now she is visiting a publisher that is friend of her father and she stumbles upon her childhood friend, the ophthalmologist Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam), who has returned from overseas and is opening an office in the same building. Out of the blue, she meets the English baronet Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), who has come to Buffalo with his sister Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain) to seek investors to his machine that operates with clay. He has a meeting with Carter Crushing and other businessmen, but Carter refuses to invest in his invention. During the night, the ghost of Edith's mother visits her and warns Edith again to beware of Crimson Peak. Soon Thomas seduces Edith and Carter hires a private detective to investigate the lives of Thomas and Lucille. A couple of days later, the detective brings a report to Carter disclosing dark secrets from the past of the siblings. Carter pays a large amount to Thomas to end his relationship with Edith but he is brutally murdered. Thomas explains to Edith his attitude and they get married and travel to England to live in his derelict mansion over a red clay mine at Allerdale Hall with Lucille. Edith starts to see a red ghost and discovers that an Italian woman has sent a letter to him. Then she becomes weak and coughs blood. What is happening to Edith and what is the mystery of Allerdale Hall and the siblings Sharpe?
"Crimson Peak" is a combination of drama and ghost story by Guillermo del Toro. The performances, direction, locations, cinematography and costumes are magnificent. The conclusion is predictable and the plot uses many clichés, but the film is highly entertaining even for those that are not fans of horror. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "A Colina Escarlate" ("The Crimson Hill") -
aurasilversky16 October 2015Del Toro's movie was just like Edith's book in the film. It needed more real romance, not some weird contrived romance that never felt real at all in any facet...and just missing something despite a lot of potential. So much wasted potential.
I am very disappointed by this film. I was looking forward to something with Del Toro (as well as Hiddleston) for some time. While I'm not generally a fan of much horror I do tend to like Gothic romance. I feel that this story started out delivering all of that.
I love the cinematography, the staging, and the costumes. Everything was gloriously detailed and lovely. I really enjoyed the amount of effort that went into the pictures as they were made. Sadly, the plot starts wonderfully and is even a bit surprising but then it falls flat and doesn't get up again. I'm not sure if parts were just a result of poor editing, or if it was planned to become dull after the trio move to England.
The opening was really inviting, there was a lot of promise in the plot. Some of the hints for the future were a little obvious in my opinion but others were less so. I feel like the director must have been trying to insult people that like romance because there was incredibly little. There were a few lines that didn't feel all that romantic and instead felt a little more like bad smut novel lines.
Once you get to England and the haunted house things just get weird. Half the time no one is around as Edith wanders about discovering all the murders that the siblings were up to. Edith is almost always left to her own devices while Thomas works on his red clay machine and his sister...plays the piano and I dunno...sharpens her knives? I guess they must have been off practicing the 'incest is best' mentality almost all of the time - to include the middle of the night. Why does she never ask her husband why he is never actually in bed with her? Is this for the same reason none of his marriages have been consummated without any questions? A tradition followed by law to this day. She just assumes all husbands don't want their wives? What? This was the first of many glaring issues.
Why is the heroine first depicted as incredibly clever, self-reliant, and capable in the first half of the film? (Before they arrive at the crumbling manor - I now take this to be a symbol for what is about to happen to the movie.) All of these aspects sort of fall apart when she ignores all manner of clues despite previously noticing small details. When she, even though she has the money, just goes along with living in the estate at all when all logic dictates to not...yeah, well there goes a reasonably intelligent main character. Damn, we had one for the first half.
Then suddenly he does have sex with her the night they're in town? Why? It was just ill-timed, forced, and awkward, not romantic. I think Del Toro just figured he'd sell the movie more if he added a bizarre Hiddleston sex scene.
From the first scene with both siblings I knew they were shagging. It's not like it's a new theme for Del Toro. He's done it before. (Hellboy 2) It was overtly predictable and boring. Which leads me to believe he must have had some pretty unhealthy thoughts about his own sister.
Thomas as a character felt worthless. Never was I convinced he actually loved Edith, I think he just really wanted to love her and wanted her as an escape from his abusive sister. I didn't feel bad for anyone. Thomas was a coward, that was pretty obvious and clear from the get go. Edith would have been good if she hadn't suddenly turned into a retard instead of seeking real help.
The ending bothered me the most. The order of it was just all over the place. Thomas was bumbling about like the imbecile he is. He doesn't come to really mean much of anything. Edith saves herself and he just wanders in to his sister's lair. He might as well have just stabbed himself in the face and saved everyone else the trouble of his existence. His presence might have meant something if he would have walked in to declare that this wasn't okay and that he was going to let Edith go or that they'd live together or something in his crazy head BEFORE Edith had already saved herself. But since Edith had already seemingly stabbed the bitch in the heart (a lot of that pen went pretty deep) it wasn't really meaningful. That plot arrangement was just as pointless as the character, Thomas.
Then crazy sister goes on a merry chase when she's been stabbed heavily near her heart. Cause you know, she wouldn't be bleeding to death or anything...evil people don't bleed, just not totally horrible ones. Then finally Edith doesn't get any real help from Thomas' ghost other than to function as the oldest trick in the book: 'hey look over there!' before she smashes in evil sister's head. Wow really? Worst ending I've seen in a long time. If at least he would have intervened before Edith saved herself then it might have had an ounce of feeling, but this was just poorly put together. So incredibly hollow, I'm sad good acting was wasted on that. -
srgymrat3328 October 2020I am not sure honestly why this movie got so much hate . It was INCREDIBLY visually appealing, the colors , cinematography, costume design , casting, dialogue and overall feel we're on point .
Plot wise , it wasn't meant to be scary, give cheap thrills or make you jump. It set out to be a time piece in which everything was supposed to look and feel as it would in the late 1800s, and it did . This was focused on the fact that the real ghosts in our lives are emotion, trauma and intuition and we need to learn to let some go and keep others with us.
There are some BRUTAL scenes but they are placed well and used to add effect . It was a little predictable , but I don't think that's always a bad thing. It set out to be a story with a ghost (s)in it, but a ghost story and it did a great job of this and creating the incredible tension between all of the characters .
I think this is one of his best and I would highly recommend it . -
ma-cortes6 October 2020A gothic story with great cast being competently made by Guillermo del Toro . Set XIX century in the aftermath of a family tragedy , an aspiring author , daugher : Mia Wasikowska , of a wealthy nobleman : Jim Beaver, is torn beween love for childhood friend : Charlie Hunnam and a mysterious stranger , Tom Hiddleston . Attempting to getaway the ghosts of her past , she is swept away to a creepy mansion that breathes , bleeds and remembers. Beware , love makes monsters of us all ! .
A ghastly fairy tale with plenty of chills , thrills , passion and creepy happenings .A superior story with terror , fantasy , unexpected scary events and horrifying elements, including visually strking creatures with noticeably inhuman appearances . This ghotic romance film packs glamorous sets by designer Tom Sanders with perfect settings from the impressively isolated house , and brilliant photography by Dan Laustsen along with moving musical score by Fernando Velazquez . Stirring and twisted script with plenty of surprises, twists and turns from Matthew Robbins and Guillermo Del Toro himself. A fabulous main cast giving extraordinary acting from Mia Wasikowska , Tom Hiddleston , Jessica Chastain and Charlie Hunnam . Adding a good support cast providing brief but interesting interpretations such as Jim Beaver , Burt Gorman, Leslie Hope , Jonathan Hyde and Del Toro's frequent cast : Doug Jones, playing his usual terrifying appearance as a supernatural being.
This haunting , sad and beautiful motion picture was competently directed by Guillermo del Toro in his usual style, though sluggish at times . The film was hailed and praised by audiences and critics alike. Del Toro uses to shot including insects ot insect imagery , as well as archangels, symbols and other religious items. Guillermo is a cinephile who often shows on his films dark atmosphere and sinister events . He is a nice writer , producer and director with particular penchant for fantasy , horror and weird stories . As Guillermo has made a lot of successful films , such as Cronos, Devil Backbone , Pan Labyrinth , Mímic, Hellboy I and II , Blade II , Pacific rim, The shape of the water , and this Crimson Peak . Del Toro is also a prolific producer, his production works include big hits and acclaimed movies, such as The orphanage, Julia' eyes, Biutiful, Kung Fu Panda 2, Mama, Puss in boots, among others. Rating 7/10 . Better than average, though overlong . The picture will appeal to Guillermo del Toro aficionados. Essential and indispensable watching . -
timcain8124 October 2015What can I say about this movie? It was not what I expected. I am a big fan of Del Toro so I was pretty excited going in to see it.. First of all, this is not a horror! By referring to it as such is an insult to horror fans. Its more like Shakespeare in a creepy house! The acting is as wooden as the floorboards and Jax Teller was ridiculously miscast as the pretty boy Doctor. I think the best performance belonged to Jim Beaver as the protective father, but then I'm a Supernatural fan. I was so bored watching this I kept wishing it would end! Even the violent finale was boring! And the ghosts? What was the point of them?? They had nothing to do with the plot and the cgi was terrible. Then there is the performance by Jessica Chastain. She seemed more bored than I was! I get that she was meant to be a dark character but she only had the one facial expression throughout. I am giving this 5/10 because i was actually impressed with the cinematography and sets, even if there was far too much red. This one is for fans of Jame Austen, not horror.
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ZenShark17 October 2015Extremely predictable movie. Literally knew what would happen in the first 15 minutes. But thought that was so obvious I'm sure it's something else. But alas no, this movie is by the book. And all the supernatural elements added absolutely nothing to the story except the running time. Every single supernatural element could have been cut from the film and the story would be unaffected. That's just bad writing in my opinion.
Mia is so one note. Very boring actress to watch, but I guess Guillermo was going for the Alice character again because really it's a copy paste job here too. One minute the character is portrayed as a feminist and a thinking woman, and the next moment she's a total idiot. 'I pretend to be an independent woman because no one asked me to the ball'. Really? Chastaine is always good. Although she's showing up everywhere these days, she owns her roles so well it's not a problem. She was fun to watch, given what she had to work with.
I just feel this film wasted Del Toro's talents. The movie is long, and only a few small times does it feel like it's dragging. Even realizing the weaknesses in the plot, the viewer is not in pain for putting up with it. That is credit to del Toro, who has always been a visual master. And here too he keeps us visually entertained.
But that is not enough. This movie is a 6 at best. Just above average. Nothing more. -
TheAnimalMother16 January 2022Visually the film is interesting, but in all honesty, it isn't very interesting beyond that. It is a decent story, and it seems interesting for a while. However the film dragged a little, and really offered nothing all that new by the time it's all said and done. While there were some good aspects, the film was far too predictable for how slow it was. Overall an okay watch, but I certainly wouldn't watch it a second time.
6/10.