Review of Crimson Peak (2015) by Dcedmonds — 19 Oct 2015

"Crimson Peak" 10 Scale Rating: 5.5 (Mediocre) ...

The Good: As expected, the film was excellent visually. The tone and setting was also well done and for the first 30-45 minutes you have all the makings of a fantastic gothic ghost story. The ghosts themselves, when they do appear, were great and sufficiently creepy. I already had high expectations for the cast going into the film, and was not disappointed. Wasikowska, Chastain, Hunnam, and Hiddleston all turned in good to great performances as well as Jim Beaver, of Supernatural fame, in a small role. Hiddleston especially stood out and seemed to really get into his role, showing a lot of range.

The Bad: The film is billed as a ghost/horror story, but it isn't. The ghosts, in fact, are an afterthought and we've seen a majority of their scenes in the film's trailer. Aside from the lead character being able to see ghosts, the film itself isn't about ghosts at all and they don't really turn up all that often nor do they have much to do with the film's plot. This was disappointing, especially with such a solid initial build up. The story itself unravels halfway through, becoming mundane and uninteresting. You pretty much guess what is going on VERY early into the film and while you sit hoping there is more to it, ultimately there isn't.