Crimson Peak (2015) Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston. IMDB says: “In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds – and remembers.”

After months of anticipation the release of Crimson Peak is finally upon us. Now, before you go and see this movie there is something to keep in mind. All the marketing and tv spots out there would have you to believe this film is a straight up horror, and that’s not the case. After seeing the movie if I could describe it I would say it’s a creepy Gothic romance/thriller. The film takes inspiration from The Innocents, Wuthering Heights and even classic Corman and Hammer titles.

Anyone who has been a fan of Del Toro knows that he has dabbled in thriller/horror before despite his most recent directorial ventures. I’m sad to say that I have yet to see his first acclaimed film, Cronos, but I have seen a majority of his other works. My first dip into the Guillermo pool was many years ago when I first saw 1997’s Mimic during my early highschool years. I remember thinking the movie was extremely scary at the time, since as of that time I was just starting to dabble in the horror genre. Guillermo’s next film, The Devil’s Backbone, is the closest thing he has done to the atmosphere of Crimson, as it also was a story involving ghosts. Del Toro kept with the genre as he went on to make Blade II and then briefly switched genres to make Hellboy, and then switched right back to make the utterly creepy Pan’s Labyrinth before going back for Hellboy II. Del Toro’s biggest picture to date was yet to come when he released Pacific Rim a mere two years ago.

After the kind of films he has been putting out over the last few years I find it kind of surprising that he was able to talk a studio into letting him make Crimson Peak. The movie seems like a passion project that he had been wanting to make to pay tribute to the classics he loved, which might account for how the studio decided to market the feature. Advertising the movie as a horror film is much more likely to get viewers into the seats than if they let it be known that you were going to see a melodramatic creepshow. At the same time the budget for this film was around 55 million which compared to most big studio films is really nothing. What Del Toro was able to accomplish with this budget is actually quite amazing when you look at the movie.

Visually, the movie is absolutely stunning. Attention to detail can be seen throughout the movie whether it be the set pieces, wardrobe or atmosphere. With this budget Del Toro was able to have amazingly detailed wardrobes as well as building a mansion in full scale that lies at Crimson Peak, which is quite impressive. Even the visual choices including scene transitions helped give the movie that “classic” feel that compliments what you are seeing on screen. The special effects are amazing as well which really bring the world as well as the ghosts to life.

When it comes to the cast and characters they play, everyone did a fantastic job. Mia plays Edith, a young writer who has a novel she has written and is trying to get published. In the film she described her story saying it’s “not a ghost story, it’s a story with ghosts in it,” which is very true about the film itself. This film is not about the ghosts, it’s about the characters. In the movie Edith even comes out and says she favors herself more of a Mary Shelly than a Jane Austen, which compliments her character to an extent. In the first act she is against being a part of the upper class and falling into the societal tropes, but quickly abandons these beliefs for the sake of love which seemed a little strange. Her character’s last name is Cushing as well, which is cool but kind of felt like a forced reference to gothic horror actor Peter Cushing. Then we have Hiddleston who plays Thomas Sharpe, the damaged hero of sorts. Despite being sinister at times his character ends up transforming into a more heroic character in the end despite what fate awaits him. The most villainous character in the film is Lucille Sharpe played by Jessica Chastain. She did an amazing job and was pure evil in this film to say the least, which you can see for yourself when you go check this film out in theatres. The least crucial of the main cast is Dr. Alan, played by Charlie Hunnam who is in love with Edith.

The ghosts in the film are really secondary characters in the film as a whole. They provide more of a helpful and warning role as compared to some of their human counterparts. The ghosts are the least of your worries in the film. Visually the ghosts are creepy and provide several jump scares, but aren’t what you have to worry about. This movie most reminded me of Devil’s Backbone in response to tone and story compared to what Del toro has done.

One thing about this movie that actually surprised me the most was the amount of violence and gore, especially since it’s more of a gothic romance. There is one violent scene during the first act and that I didn’t see coming, I’d say equal to the flashlight beating scene in Pan’s Labyrinth. The final act is full of much more violence and gives the film a brutal and bloody conclusion.

When it comes to the story, I found the film quite entertaining. Everything seemed to move swiftly and I never really found the film to be dragging in anyway, which is good because a period piece that drags can become unbearable. Also with this film the audience is always aware of much more than our damsel, always keeping the viewer several steps ahead.

This weekend if you are looking for something to check out I would say this wouldn’t be a bad choice. It’s entertaining and takes the viewer to another time and a much creepier place, here just in time for the Halloween season.