Crimson Peak (2015)

"Ghosts are real, this much I know", 12 July 2018

I hate skipping plot summaries when I write one of these, but I think it’s probably best when discussing Crimson Peak.  The plot here isn’t all that important. Crimson Peak is one of those “style over substance” movies. The plot takes a backseat to the cinematography, lighting, costumes, sets, special effects, and just about anything else you can list that makes a movie look good.  And what plot there is in Crimson Peak is so filled with holes, I fear that dwelling on it will only make me like the movie less. I’ll just say that the plot left me with more questions than it answered.

If films are art, Crimson Peak belongs next to the Mona Lisa.  It is one of the most stunning pieces of film I’ve ever seen. Every frame looks like a painting.  I’m not sure I’ve seen a film this beautiful since I watched House of Flying Daggers over ten years ago.  The colors, the shadows, the lights - gorgeous. My absolute favorite image (and I’m not alone based on what I’ve read across the internet) is the ceiling-less grand hall in the rotting great house.  It’s amazing. Another element that really helps the images come alive is the atmosphere. I may not care for Guillermo del Toro’s plot, but there’s not denying his skill as a director. He mastfully fills the film with atmosphere so thick, you could cut it with a knife.  Combine the atmosphere with the visuals and you end up with a movie I’m going to enjoy on some level despite its other flaws.

The acting in Crimson Peak is hit or miss.  Normally, I feel that Tom Hiddleston outshines his co-stars,  Here, however, he’s completely over-shadowed by Jessica Chastain.  She acts circles around everyone else in the film. Her role is the smallest of the three main characters, but she dominates everything - even the scenes she’s not in.  

Overall, if you’re a fan of gothic romance/horror/mystery (although the horror elements don’t come to much and the solution to the mystery is all too obvious) you owe it to yourself to check out his gorgeous film.

6/10