WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Beware. On the film poster for director Guillermo Del Toro’s newest epic story, “Crimson Peak”, there is good reason for the primary character of the tale, aspiring author Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), to take heed of such a warning. After a decidedly eerie encounter as a young girl, Edith finds her life in turn of the 20th century Buffalo, N.Y. turned upside down by a chance meeting in her workplace with Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), an English peer of the realm in the United States seeking sponsorship for an mechanical invention he wishes to utilize to revolutionize mining. Edith’s self-made industrialist father, Carter (Jim Beaver), however, not only mistrusts Sharpe and his ideas, but also his eyes being fixed on Edith.
But when an unexpected and savage turn of events occurs that leaves Edith reeling, Sharpe is there as a means of comfort and, along with his equally aristocratic sister, Lady Lucille Sharpe (Jessica Chastain), soon whisks Edith away to his home in England, Allerdale Hall. A massive, yet crumbling mansion set high on a peak which is rich in a specialized red clay that literally seeps through snow and through conduits in the home’s lower level walls, almost like blood. But as Edith’s attempts to both settle in the ruin and also gain some sense of connection with a cold and distant Lucille, it becomes more than evident the house holds more sinister secrets and spirits. Once the revelations come, Edith is forced to fight for her very life.
Next, my Mind:
Being a huge fan of Del Toro’s previous work, the overall quality of the film itself was never in question. However, the one error made was going into this expecting more of a true horror-style, creepy scare fest (ie: “The Conjuring”) with epic visuals, as opposed to what the final, and intended, product delivered was–a straight up gothic romance/thriller with ghosts included in the mix. Make no mistake, the ghosts are creepy, Allerdale Hall is a perfect setting for the tale, and the utilization of the mansion’s ground’s red clay is a stroke of artistic genius. But again, there was such an anticipation of more hand-wringing fear accompanying the ghosts, it fell short in that respect for this reviewer.
Wasikowska was superb casting for Edith, as her thin frame and pale complexion more than fit into the grander story unfolding, especially once the events move to Allerdale Hall. Her sublime mix of innocent yet confident girl turned panicked and frightened victim is very convincing. Likewise, Hiddleston emotes excellently as the pompous, smooth-talking Sharpe, who uses his charm and guile to woo Edith into a much darker purpose, though sees things differently in the end. And Chastain channels her best “Fatal Attraction”-type demeanor in playing Lucille, who really becomes the larger force of evil as the film progresses, despite her seemingly calm, though scary, exterior most times.
In total, “Crimson Peak” is an intense thriller whose inclusion of some grim horror elements does put it above most films of its overall ilk, and the lush, sweeping vistas within the mansion also up the ante. But again, if watching for major scares here, that is not found, nor again, was that the intent.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
