Crimson Peak — Review

Sumptuous, macabre and lavishly baroque, Guillermo del Toro’s horrifically mis-marketed CRIMSON PEAK is a deliciously dark waltz into romantic Gothicism. Sharing distinct commonality with Hammer horror and 19th-century Gothic literature, Del Toro’s “story with a ghost in it” isn’t the spookfest it was billed as; instead, it’s a rousing tale of love and death, set against the seductive backdrop of an ornate mansion coming apart at the seams. Wrapped in stunning Victorian-era costuming and bathed in gloomy candlelight, CRIMSON PEAK is a ravishing production with an underlying presence of mystery and swirling dread.

CRIMSON PEAK is led by a trio of captivating performances: Mia Wasikowska as Edith, the waifish picture of innocence; Tom Hiddleston as Thomas, a handsome charmer battling to preserve his veneer of nobility; and Jessica Chastain as Lucille, a calculating woman who conceals her coldness with composure and elegance. Each character contributes to the rich, emotionally charged tapestry that Del Toro weaves, steeped in romance, violence and tragedy. CRIMSON PEAK satiates our thirst for haunting imagery but stops short of becoming garishly frightening, instead presenting itself as an extravagant and visually electrifying mood piece to marvel at.