Crimson Peak (B) Movie Review
Crimson Peak stars Mia Wasikowska as Edith, a young writer who falls for Thomas Sharpe, played by Tom Hiddleston, a British inventor who owns a large estate with his mysterious sister Lucille, played by Jessica Chastain. Edith marries Thomas and moves to the estate with Lucille but finds that the estate, known as Crimson Peak, has some dark secrets.
Guillermo del Toro, director of films such as Pan's Labyrinth and more recently Pacific Rim, returns to the director's helm with this gothic romance/horror. Though, Crimson Peak is more romance than it is horror. It's being mismarketed and it's a shame because audiences will expect a scary horror film and Crimson Peak just isn't that. To be more accurate, it should be called a gothic romance with creepy imagery.
That being said, there are a few genuinely tense and creepy scenes in the film. The scares could get a bit repetitive in how they go about their scaring but Guillermo del Toro takes the time to build tension and it's refreshing when today's horror films are all shaky cam and jump scares.
All of the performances here are captivating. They won't be nominated for any Oscars but they're all so charismatic and entertaining. Jessica Chastain takes a delightfully spooky turn as Lucille, the sister of Thomas, who's welcoming in a fake way and seems always on-edge. Mia Wasikowska is frightened the whole time but she's not a foolish girl. Wasikowska embodies Edith's intelligence and practicality very well. Tom Hiddleston gives a believable and engaging performance also.
And now let's talk about Guillermo del Toro a little bit. His vision is apparent throughout and feels clearly realized. His eye for the look of a film is fantastic, as Crimson Peak is gorgeous. He brings the gothic time period to life beautifully. No other director could have envisioned this film the way he does. Del Toro hits the nail on the head.
Now that we've established that the film is beautiful, it's a bit narratively shallow. There doesn't seem to be a clear message or theme here, perhaps that the world contains unexpected evils? But then again, I don't want to give the film more credit than it deserves. I think it's more concerned with creating a spooky, silly, fun time. There's also some plot holes. They're apparent and you might catch them but they're not that distracting.
Crimson Peak is a good time and I enjoyed myself. It's breathtakingly gorgeous and visually striking. It's romantic, passionate, creepy, and probably best of all, fun. Just don't go in expecting hardcore scares.
FINAL GRADE: B
MPAA RATING: R for bloody violence, some sexual content and brief strong language
Guillermo del Toro, director of films such as Pan's Labyrinth and more recently Pacific Rim, returns to the director's helm with this gothic romance/horror. Though, Crimson Peak is more romance than it is horror. It's being mismarketed and it's a shame because audiences will expect a scary horror film and Crimson Peak just isn't that. To be more accurate, it should be called a gothic romance with creepy imagery.
That being said, there are a few genuinely tense and creepy scenes in the film. The scares could get a bit repetitive in how they go about their scaring but Guillermo del Toro takes the time to build tension and it's refreshing when today's horror films are all shaky cam and jump scares.
All of the performances here are captivating. They won't be nominated for any Oscars but they're all so charismatic and entertaining. Jessica Chastain takes a delightfully spooky turn as Lucille, the sister of Thomas, who's welcoming in a fake way and seems always on-edge. Mia Wasikowska is frightened the whole time but she's not a foolish girl. Wasikowska embodies Edith's intelligence and practicality very well. Tom Hiddleston gives a believable and engaging performance also.
And now let's talk about Guillermo del Toro a little bit. His vision is apparent throughout and feels clearly realized. His eye for the look of a film is fantastic, as Crimson Peak is gorgeous. He brings the gothic time period to life beautifully. No other director could have envisioned this film the way he does. Del Toro hits the nail on the head.
Now that we've established that the film is beautiful, it's a bit narratively shallow. There doesn't seem to be a clear message or theme here, perhaps that the world contains unexpected evils? But then again, I don't want to give the film more credit than it deserves. I think it's more concerned with creating a spooky, silly, fun time. There's also some plot holes. They're apparent and you might catch them but they're not that distracting.
Crimson Peak is a good time and I enjoyed myself. It's breathtakingly gorgeous and visually striking. It's romantic, passionate, creepy, and probably best of all, fun. Just don't go in expecting hardcore scares.
FINAL GRADE: B
MPAA RATING: R for bloody violence, some sexual content and brief strong language