Of all the films to be released in 2015, there were few I was as excited for as Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak; from the fantastic Hellboy series to the loads-of-fun Pacific Rim, del Toro has become one of my favorite directors, displaying a sheer knack for paying tribute to the films and aesthetics of bygone eras presented in his own unique style. Still the question remains, did Crimson Peak match the standards set by my excitement? The answer is yes, though most definitely not in the way I had expected.
The film concerns young Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), an aspiring author and daughter of a well-off industrialist (Jim Beaver). After falling in love with the mysterious Baronet Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston), Edith finds herself married and whisked away to England, living in the Sharpe family home of Allerdale Hall with Thomas and his shrewd sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain). Once Edith arrives, however, a number of mysterious happenings suggest that all is not what it seems, uncovering the grisly secrets which lie within the walls of the decrepit estate.
It is very important to note, I feel, that this is by no means a ghost movie. This is a movie which happens to contain ghosts; it is not a Conjuring or a Poultergeist, where the characters are terrorized by supernatural forces. If anything, I would say that the film is most clearly influenced by The Shining moreso than anything else (an influence that I felt became increasingly evident during the stellar final act). The spirits found in this movie look and act appropriately terrifying (thankfully appearing as grisly practical effects, subtly touched-up and enhanced through the use of CGI), but they are not the primary focus of the film. Anyone entering the theater expecting a fast-paced horror film that will make them jump and shriek will surely be disappointed; the director himself has referred to the movie as a "Gothic romance" rather than a horror film. It's a classification I find to be wholly accurate; it's got excellent tension, atmosphere, and scenery, but a creepy, jumpy ghost flick it is most certainly not.
The cast here is all-around excellent, though I would be lying if I didn't say that Jessica Chastain's Lucille Sharpe didn't completely steal the show. The character is played with such an intense air of mystery; she's a complete blank slate, impossible to read or predict. For the majority of the runtime, she remains the lone wild card in the cast, her motivations, history, and actions constantly in question. That's not to say that the rest of the cast is composed of open books; this is a very mysterious film after all, but Chastain plays the part perfectly. To say much more would delve into blatant spoiler territory, so I will simply say that Chastain provided one of my absolute favorite performances out of all of 2015.
As much as I enjoyed Lucille, however, my favorite character in the film by far was the setting of Allerdale Hall itself. With its cavernous hallways and ancient service elevator, it's a strong contender for "most evil-looking house ever committed to film". This is a movie that is positively dripping with character; the set design is worth the price of admission alone. If anyone was ever not convinced that del Toro possessed a distinct talent for visual design and aesthetic (which would be somewhat baffling, considering he made Pan's Labyrinth), this is the film that will convince them. It's simply a gorgeous movie, a picture with a distinct and iconic look to it that will surely be remembered for decades to come. The set design, contrasting colors, and gorgeous score all work in tandem to create a magnificent tone; it is this tone that makes this movie work. Strip away the atmosphere and you've got a handful of strong performances at play within an intriguing mystery, but the aesthetic that this film possesses is what makes Crimson Peak into the movie that it is.
While I wouldn't exactly call it a horrifying thrill-ride, Crimson Peak most definitely won me over with its stellar cast, engaging plot, and superb atmosphere. It's a respectable throwback to the Gothic horror films of the past, drawing the audience into its world of macabre and mystery without ever once resorting to a single jump-scare. If you're looking for something a little more chilling than thrilling this Halloween season, I highly recommend you head to the theater and take a visit to Crimson Peak.
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