Crimson Peak
The latest offering from Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) is a gothic twist on the romance genre formula where girl meets boy, they fall in love and live happily ever after.
When the handsome, mysterious stranger Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) rides into town, aspiring writer Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) falls hard and fast for him. However upon getting married and moving back to his castle in England with his less-than-welcoming sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain), she soon discovers that the siblings and their house are haunted with secrets.
Bloody apparitions start popping up from the floorboards and from behind closed doors. As to be expected with a del Toro project, Crimson Peak is a visual feast with beautifully constructed sets and exquisite costumes.
There are some holes though––the dénouement is a tad predictable and the stories of the ghosts could have been delved into more. That said, in addition to the stunning aesthetics, Wasikowska, Hiddleston and Chastain are brilliant and there is an excellent dynamic between the three characters. This is what makes Crimson Peak so enjoyable to watch––and with the jumpy thrills and gore, it has arrived perfectly in time for Halloween. (ASim)
****
BY ALICIA SIM
