Review of Crimson Peak (2015) by Quincytheodore — 15 Oct 2015

The bleeding snow and gothic ambiance produce a good horror spectacle, but the haunting simply follows lady in creepy dress formula.

Comparison is bound to made with Pan's Labyrinth, since Crimson Peak has Del Toro's trademark twisted fairy tale feel and desolated last century setting. It is a peculiarly and aesthetically pleasing horror, but the clash between romance and thriller is neither as bold nor magical as previous incursion. The simplistic nature works more like The Woman in Black, although Del Toro's presentation does separate it from other entities.

The plot revolves around Edith (Mia Wasikowska) who is charmed by Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) in the first act. After she's drawn to their lives, she discovers that Sharpe siblings might just hide some ominous secrets. It's a straightforward deceit and debauchery story with a few rather daunting apparitions thrown into the mix.

The first noticeable edge Crimson Peak has is the flamboyant style of visual. Those who have watched Hellboy 2 or Pan's Labyrinth should be familiar with this graphical flair. The colors are splendidly painted, nearly every scenes have bleak backdrop yet glossy golden or scarlet undertone. Either it's from outlandish outfits or clever use of vista, the scenes where these characters interact appear nearly surreal.

Tom Hiddleston creates a suave gentleman persona who also seems secretive and distant at times. Jessica Chastain as Lucille, the sister, is very unnerving. She's almost oozing sinister air, which is complimented well by her typical dark dress, and also a good contender for Disney lady villain. Compared to the two, Mia Wasikowska as the female lead is rather timid. She's not entirely bad, but some of her expressions don't convey the necessary dread.

This also translates to the horror. Crimson Peak has one of the creepiest apparitions on romance themed movies, a couple of its scenes might just surpass full-fledged horror movies in recent times. However, the reaction from Edith is shockingly dull, almost seemingly lacking self-preservation instinct despite visited by constant nocturnal phantoms.

I don't care how suave Tom Hiddleston can make excuses, the mansion has hole on the roof. While it's good for panoramic shots for falling leaves or snow, it’s a clear sign of hazard. There are also patches of blood-stained dirt that seeps through the living room. Those anomalies coupled with strange occurrences and screams of night terror, Edith should realize the danger sooner, but in too many scenes she's too oblivious, partially for the sake of plot.

Crimson Peak is a strange marriage of romance and horror. Both aspects have glimpses of brilliance, yet they never culminate in conclusion beyond what other ghost stories have told. Having benefit of classy presentation and eerie atmosphere, it's still a highly presentable horror flick. However, for those looking for another grand tale or magical journey from Del Toro, Crimson Peak might not reach such zenith.