October 30th: Crimson Peak
Crimson Peak
Released: 2015
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, Jim Beaver
How about we make a movie that combines the gothic horror of Mary Shelley with the 19th century romance of Jane Austen? Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Nah. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter? Seen it. It was fine. Sense and Sensibility and Werewolves? I don’t think that exists. Crimson Peak is a romance between a strong-willed woman and a baronet desperate to have capital to support his inventive idea of how to mine the red clay around his family home.
Thomas Sharpe lives with his pianist sister, Lucille, and they have the bearing of Victorian England old money looking for American new money. They come to America seeking support for their mining concern and invention to make mining easier. Specifically one of the rich men they appeal to is Carter Cushing. Cushing’s daughter, Edith, wants to be an author in the style of Mary Shelley due to her own supernatural experiences after the death of her mother, specifically warning her of something called “Crimson Peak”. Edith has a good friend in young Dr. Alan McMichael who also is interested in detective fiction like Sherlock Holmes. Edith attracts the attention and amorous intentions of Thomas. Carter, mistrusting the high-class nature of the Sharpes, offers to pay them to leave, specifically demanding that they stay away from Edith. Mysteriously, Carter dies in a bathroom “accident”. And while inheriting her father’s wealth, Edith again receives Thomas’ romantic intentions including a proposal for marriage. Now Edith is by herself in England at the Sharpes’ creepy and haunted old home, which she finds is called “Crimson Peak” because of how the red clay interacts with the snow. Uh oh.
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Guillermo del Toro knows how to create films with atmosphere. The sets, the costumes, the music…they all feed into the gorgeous look and feel of this movie. The ghosts look like living statues made of blood. The writing is fine, not the best. The performances are done very well, especially Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain. The story is ok, a little melodramatic. I think it could have used a few more scares rather than just atmospheric creepiness, but overall it fits the vibe very well.
Small Observations:
- Mia Wasikowska is fine as Edith. There are times where, in comparison to Jessica Chastain’s Lucille, she seems to wilt. I think that while that seems purposeful for the situation, it makes her almost a shrinking violet. I wish the script would give her more of an opportunity to show wit and clever mind, but the focus is on her mounting anxiety.
- Jim Beaver is an awesome choice as Carter. He is a beloved character actor who played Bobby on Supernatural so he’s used to being around ghosts and weirdness. I wonder how the Winchester boys would have handled slimy red ghosts. Probably with baseball bats.
- The ghost effects are really good. They look so creepy with their wet, almost liquid appearance. I wish they were in the movie more to be honest.
- MCU actors: 1 plus 1 from an X-Men movie and 1 from a Fantastic Four movie
Overall Rank: A
Atmosphere, setting and mood rule the day in this film. It’s creepy and foreboding throughout. It is anchored by some great performances from Hiddleston and Chastain. Recommended.
