So, yeah, this is the crossover I was talking about. I am combining my typical current film review series with Masterpiece, for this feature, Crimson Peak. I admit, this is not the sort of film I'd normally watch. While I do enjoy the Gothic aesthetic, it really doesn't excite me as much as it does for other people. However, I watched this because of the director: Guillermo del Toro. For the uninitiated, he is the director of works like Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim, and Hellboy. I don't bring this up often, but Pan Labyrinth is one of my favorite films. It is the only film I have ever seen that doesn't have a single flaw with it. It is a perfect film. Nothing can add or take away from it. Everything in it is done with complete perfection, from the screenplay, to the acting, to the cinematography. And I really like Pacific Rim and Hellboy (I'll talk more about the later in the second part of this double feature). So, I saw this primarily because of the director's pedigree. And, it actually may be one of his best.
In 1887, when Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) was young, the ghost of her deceased mother (Doug Jones) visited her, and warned her of "Crimson Peeak" (I think I have that right). Years later, in 1901, she is a aspiring writer, hoping to one day become the next Mary Shelley. Her father,Carter Cushing (Jim Beaver), is a prominent steel tycoon, one of the new money capitalists of the Guilded Age. She is also friends with Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam) Edith meets Sir Thomas Sharpe, Baronet (Tom Huddleston), an English lord with a decreasing budget, who hopes to acquire some capital from Mr. Cushing to fund a clay mining machine. Cushing is skeptical, especially since he has disdain for Sharpe's aristocratic background (having slowly acquired his wealth with hard work). However, Sharpe takes a liking to Edith, especially after they dance at a party. Also at said party is Sharpe's sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain, who is in everything now, apparently. Not that I'm complaining). After the party, the ghost of Edith's mother returns, and gives the very same warning about Crimson Peeak, though once again, she can't decipher the meaning. As Sharpe and Edith become close, Cushing hires a PI to dig up some info on the Sharpes. The PI returns with some incriminating files, and Cushing bribes them to leave New York at once, while Sharpe has to break Edith's heart.However, the day after, Cushing is murdered by a mysterious assailant, while Edith pursues Sharpe, and learns the truth, AND later her father's death. A few months later, Edith and Sharpe are married, and they move to the Sharpe estate in Allerdale Hall, where they will live with Lucille. However, there is a number of strange occurances around the house, and, also, Lucille's behavior is increasingly suspicious, as is Thomas'. Eventually, she begins to see a succession of increasingly grotesque ghosts. She is understandably horrified at first, but she slowly begins to investigate the history of the Sharpe family, especially after learning that the name of the hill the estate is on is called ....Crimson Peak (duh, duh, dummm.) As she delves into the mystery, dark and ugly secrets begin to rear their heads....
First, the acting is really, really good, particularly from Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain. I note how well del Toro writes women. Seriously, he has a long line of very strong female characters in his films. And this film is sort of the prime example this. Both Edith and Lucille (who, spoiler, is the main villain) are both well-written, and well acted. I suppose you could use any del Toro film as a guide to write good female protagonists and antagonists. Also, although it is not a horror film per se, it is scary at times, and the atmosphere is very creepy and dark. The sets are beautiful. My eyes were stuck on the sheer detail placed on everything. It also gets... icky towards the end. No, seriously, there is a twist, which, while well foreshadowed, is just.. eww. Not, like eye balls sticking out, but more of a societal taboo. It still works, despite that, and the actions are committed by.. Okay that will spoil the film, but point is, it is icky, but it works in the context of the film.
I could discern some flaws with this. The pacing is a little slow. There is actually more than I just described, but it isn't consequential. Somethings are unresolved, like why a little dog was at Crimson Peak. The ghosts, while interesting, kind of lose their importance after the entire mystery has been solved. I wouldn't call them unimportant, as they do initiate Edth's investigation, but I assumed they would play a big role in the climax. Okay, one does, but not that big. A hallucination could have served the same purpose.
They shouldn't have marketed this as a horror film. It is a dark Gothic fantasy. The ghosts are scary, but they slowly become less scary, as we learn about their backstory. Some of the backlash towards this film is the fact that it isn't scary, but it wasn't meant to be that scary. It is a romance and thriller at heart, with ghosts in a prominent role. If you are interested in that, you'll love this. It has enough scares (and horrifying implications) to be a good Halloween feature, so you could watch it in that capacity too. Don't go in expecting a typical horror film, because it really isn't. Thanks for reading, and next, we delve into another de Toro film,Hellboy.
In 1887, when Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) was young, the ghost of her deceased mother (Doug Jones) visited her, and warned her of "Crimson Peeak" (I think I have that right). Years later, in 1901, she is a aspiring writer, hoping to one day become the next Mary Shelley. Her father,Carter Cushing (Jim Beaver), is a prominent steel tycoon, one of the new money capitalists of the Guilded Age. She is also friends with Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam) Edith meets Sir Thomas Sharpe, Baronet (Tom Huddleston), an English lord with a decreasing budget, who hopes to acquire some capital from Mr. Cushing to fund a clay mining machine. Cushing is skeptical, especially since he has disdain for Sharpe's aristocratic background (having slowly acquired his wealth with hard work). However, Sharpe takes a liking to Edith, especially after they dance at a party. Also at said party is Sharpe's sister, Lucille (Jessica Chastain, who is in everything now, apparently. Not that I'm complaining). After the party, the ghost of Edith's mother returns, and gives the very same warning about Crimson Peeak, though once again, she can't decipher the meaning. As Sharpe and Edith become close, Cushing hires a PI to dig up some info on the Sharpes. The PI returns with some incriminating files, and Cushing bribes them to leave New York at once, while Sharpe has to break Edith's heart.However, the day after, Cushing is murdered by a mysterious assailant, while Edith pursues Sharpe, and learns the truth, AND later her father's death. A few months later, Edith and Sharpe are married, and they move to the Sharpe estate in Allerdale Hall, where they will live with Lucille. However, there is a number of strange occurances around the house, and, also, Lucille's behavior is increasingly suspicious, as is Thomas'. Eventually, she begins to see a succession of increasingly grotesque ghosts. She is understandably horrified at first, but she slowly begins to investigate the history of the Sharpe family, especially after learning that the name of the hill the estate is on is called ....Crimson Peak (duh, duh, dummm.) As she delves into the mystery, dark and ugly secrets begin to rear their heads....
First, the acting is really, really good, particularly from Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain. I note how well del Toro writes women. Seriously, he has a long line of very strong female characters in his films. And this film is sort of the prime example this. Both Edith and Lucille (who, spoiler, is the main villain) are both well-written, and well acted. I suppose you could use any del Toro film as a guide to write good female protagonists and antagonists. Also, although it is not a horror film per se, it is scary at times, and the atmosphere is very creepy and dark. The sets are beautiful. My eyes were stuck on the sheer detail placed on everything. It also gets... icky towards the end. No, seriously, there is a twist, which, while well foreshadowed, is just.. eww. Not, like eye balls sticking out, but more of a societal taboo. It still works, despite that, and the actions are committed by.. Okay that will spoil the film, but point is, it is icky, but it works in the context of the film.
I could discern some flaws with this. The pacing is a little slow. There is actually more than I just described, but it isn't consequential. Somethings are unresolved, like why a little dog was at Crimson Peak. The ghosts, while interesting, kind of lose their importance after the entire mystery has been solved. I wouldn't call them unimportant, as they do initiate Edth's investigation, but I assumed they would play a big role in the climax. Okay, one does, but not that big. A hallucination could have served the same purpose.
They shouldn't have marketed this as a horror film. It is a dark Gothic fantasy. The ghosts are scary, but they slowly become less scary, as we learn about their backstory. Some of the backlash towards this film is the fact that it isn't scary, but it wasn't meant to be that scary. It is a romance and thriller at heart, with ghosts in a prominent role. If you are interested in that, you'll love this. It has enough scares (and horrifying implications) to be a good Halloween feature, so you could watch it in that capacity too. Don't go in expecting a typical horror film, because it really isn't. Thanks for reading, and next, we delve into another de Toro film,Hellboy.
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