Movie Monday - Crimson Peak
Crimson Peak is a good old fashioned ghost story, so if that’s what you’re looking for you will not be disappointed. Guillermo Del Toro makes his directorial return to horror in a way that fans of Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark have been waiting for. Don’t get me wrong, I was a huge fan of Pacific Rim, but I couldn’t wait to get my hands on PT and flipped the collective table alongside the rest of the internet when Konami cancelled Silent Hills, simply because they brought back the promise of Del Toro’s unique stylistic take on paranormal and supernatural entities such as demons, monsters, and ghosts. Crimson Peak was the first bit of good news that we got on that front and overall the excitement that followed lead to overall satisfaction.
The story, set in the late-1800s, begins in America and focuses on Edith, the daughter of a self-made steel baron, who begins the tale by telling us that she has always been able to see ghosts. The first ghost that she saw was that of her recently-deceeased mother, who gave her the cryptic warning to “beware of Crimson Peak.” Edith (Mia Wasikowska) grows up to forget the warning, and thus we have our story. Edith is introduced to an English Baronette named Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) who quickly becomes fond of her. Thomas’s sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain), is wary of Thomas’s interest in Edith, and Edith’s father (Jim Beaver) vehemently refuses to allow Thomas to court her since the local doctor (Charlie Hunnam) is his suitor of choice for her. Events transpire and we’re thrust into the main setting of the film, Thomas and Lucille’s mansion back in England.
Legendary Pictures
It takes some time, but this is where things get interesting. Before changing from America to England, we are dazzled by the Victorian costume designs, a glimpse or two at the ghost of Edith’s mother, and little else. Once the shift to the Sharpe’s estate, Allerdale Hall, is made, the color filter changes from sepia to rich and vivid, and we’re given a tour of a unique and unsettling old English mansion that literally breathes, bleeds, and remembers. The land on which the Sharpe Family built their home is rich in a thick red clay that seeps up through the ground and, consequentially, into the walls and floorboards of the house. This bizarre geological feature is apparently a lucrative natural resource, but difficult to extract. Without spoiling the fun, I will simply say that when you watch this film you should keep your eyes open for the little details in every scene henceforth. The eerie nature of the building and the story surrounding it, both told and hidden by Thomas and his sister, are what make Crimson Peak worth watching.
Legendary Pictures
Del Toro’s art direction and amazing visuals make even the most gruesome images look beautiful in a twisted way. Make no mistake; Crimson Peak earns its R rating almost right away in a way that will remind fans of Del Toro’s work of a particularly memorable moment from Pan’s Labyrinth, and then keep on rolling to bigger, bloodier things. The good news for the squeamish is that the bloodiness is more reminiscent of Sleepy Hollow in that it is clearly cimematic for the sake of style in most (but not all) cases. The mixture of practical and digital effects, another of Del Toro’s signature traits, lends well to the overall visual appeal and is immersive rather than distracting.
Legendary Pictures
The story itself is pretty simple. The mysteries involved come together somewhat predictably but that’s not the point; it’s visual storytelling first, plot second. The camera work, editing, music, and physical acting are all more important than the spoken lines and one could argue that there could have been no dialogue at all and we still would have ended up satisfied with the end result. That isn’t to say that the acting talent of A-List stars like Hiddleston and Chastain went un-tapped. The dynamic between the brother and sister was superb with Hiddleston the charming, elegant gentleman while Chastain is a colder, more calculated lady of sophistication. They keep you guessing at the power dynamic in the familial relationship despite the that, him being the son, he would hold the power of the family seat given the culture of the time. Mia’s involvement convolutes things and Wasikowska plays a fantastic intelligent (naïve) young woman caught in a drama older than she would care to imagine.
Legendary Pictures
There were a few points that disappointed me at the conclusion, specifically regarding plot. Another minor complaint is that we weren’t given more time to explore the world laid out before us and to really soak up the details. This, however, makes it worth repeat viewings. As a horror film, Crimson Peak offers more than jumps scares and does a great job at keeping the viewer on edge throughout. The thematic elements carry Del Toro’s signature all over the place, which is what brings most of us to the table. In the end, I highly suggest watching alone or with a small group of people. Sit back, relax, and let Crimson Peak play with your feels.