Crimson Peak [Review]

Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) is an aspiring writer that fancies herself more like a Mary Shelley than a Jane Austen.  She wants nothing more than to have her manuscript published, but insists that it’s a story with ghosts in it rather than a ghost story.  Her description of her manuscript is true to the premise as well.  Crimson Peak isn’t a ghost story, but rather a gothic romance with ghosts.  Tragedy, mystery, horror, and the supernatural set against the backdrop of a dark, haunted mansion.

Edith finds herself being wooed by English gentleman Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) when he arrives in town to seek funding for mining the crimson clay beneath his grandiose home. His sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) and Edith’s father (Jim Beaver) disapprove of the pairing, as does Edith’s long-time friend Dr. Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam).  None can sway the budding lovebirds, and before long Edith is swept off her feet and across the threshold of the Sharpe estate.

Due to the large deposit of clay underneath, however, this gothic style mansion is dilapidated, cold, and dark.  The clay has seeped into every aspect of the land.  It bleeds up through the ground in winter.  The faucets run crimson red until they’re cleared.  It even runs down the walls.  Because of this, parts of the house are deemed unsafe and off limits for Edith.  The house has other designs for her, though, and she finds that she must uncover the past if she wants to survive her increasingly precarious position.

The production value is nothing short of amazing.  Guillermo del Toro’s meticulous attention to detail stretches the budget far, making the film look far more luxurious than its true budget. He insisted upon building the house, both for a better aesthetic as well as a means to support his actors.  This was an important choice, as the setting in a gothic romance really is one of the main characters.  It sets the tone and creates much of the atmosphere.  Guillermo del Toro isn’t going for scares, but he is going for a slow sense of dread that builds into taut tension.

That’s not to say that there aren’t any scares, as any encounter with the ghosts will leave you with goosebumps, but the driving force is the mystery of the Sharpe estate.  Many of you will likely solve the puzzle long before the pieces click into place, but that doesn’t make the ride any less thrilling or enjoyable.  Even if you can put the clues together, the climax is a whole new level of brutal insanity that is impossible to see coming.

Guillermo del Toro is a fan of contrast, and he juxtaposes delicate beauty against ruthless violence here.  Edith is the epitome of light and truth, but the death that surrounds her is shocking and harsh. He uses imagery, particularly in nature, as metaphors for the story and characters but it enhances the tone rather than come across as heavy handed. Fans will find this film thematically similar to his previous works, and I suspect he intended this as a companion piece to The Devil’s Backbone.

While the production value and cinematography would be enough to demonstrate a very capable director, del Toro proves himself a master by tying it all together with an emotional journey for well-developed characters anchored by the mesmerizing performances of a very exceptional cast.  The women, however, outshine the men in spades.  Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain steal the show as capable, intelligent women.  Their ranged, confident portrayals of their characters almost relegate the men to supporting plot devices.  It’s rare that the Academy thinks to consider horror for awards, but if they did then Jessica Chastain would surely be deserving of an Oscar nomination.

The marketing is misleading, opting to indicate that this is a period ghost story.  It’s not, but the marketers had a tough job on their hands.  How do you sell the masses on a gothic romance with a female lead and an R-rating?  It’s much more than that, though.  Crimson Peak is a visually stunning gothic tale with some of the most unexpectedly brutal deaths.  This is not about ghosts, but its ghosts will terrify you.  Though the overall mystery may be predictable, the performances and emotional gut punches make up for that. Equal parts tragic, horrific, and beautiful; Crimson Peak is an emotionally fulfilling story as well as a feast for the eyes.