Film review: Crimson Peak

For this week's film review I am doing a slightly different film, the Gothic romance Crimson Peak released in 2015. Directer by Guillermo Del Toro and starring Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam, and Jim Beaver.

Before I go further I will say that there will be spoilers, so if you intend to watch the film and don't like spoilers wait to see the film first.

In Buffalo, New York, 1887, a young Edith Cushing,is visited by her mother's black, disfigured ghost who warns her, "Beware of Crimson Peak."

In 1901 Edith (Mia Wasikowski), now a budding author meets Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) from England seeking investors for their clay-mining invention, Mr. Cushing (Jim Beaver) is unimpressed and refuses. When Edith becomes romantically involved with Thomas both her father and childhood friend Dr Alan McMichael (Charlie Hunnam) disapprove. Mr Cushing hires a private investigator who uncovers unsavory facts about the Sharpes, which he uses to bribe them to leave. Before they do Thomas sends Edith a letter explaining everything and proposing to her.

After her father is brutally murdered, Edith and Thomas marry then return to Allerdale Hall, the Sharpes dilapidated mansion in Cumberland, England which is steadily sinking into the red clay mine below it. To her confusion Edith finds Lucille cold toward her while Thomas is physically distant, their marriage unconsummated, she is constantly given tea and convinced to obtain her father's fortune. Gruesome red ghosts start appearing to Edith scaring her and worrying the Sharpes, leading Thomas to take her for a trip to the post office for fresh air they are snowed in and finally make love. When Lucille discovers this she is angry and lashes out, while distracted Edith steals on of her many keys. Thomas reveals that the estate is referred to as "Crimson Peak" due to the red clay seeping through the snow, however Edith is growing weak and coughing up blood.

Edith explores the mansion piecing clues together and discovers Thomas has been married to three other wealthy women who were poisoned for their inheritance, Edith realises she has also been poisoned. She then discovers the Sharpes incestuous relationship, for which Lucille murdered their mother at fourteen when she found out. They explain that the estate is no longer profitable and they needed money so started the marriage and murder scheme to support themselves and Thomas's inventions, Lucille then pushes Edith off a balcony aiming to kill her but only breaks her leg. Meanwhile in the US Alans learns what Mr. Cushing did and travels to England, arriving to find Edith bedridden. Lucille demands Thomas kills Alan but he inflicts a non-fatal stab wound and hides him. Lucille forces Edith to sign her inheritance over to the Sharpes and proudly confesses to killing Edith's father. Edith stabs Lucille and flees, Thomas begs his sister to leave with him and Edith so they can all be together, Lucille realises he has fallen in love with Edith and kills him in a jealous rage then pursues Edith. Aided by Thomas's ghost Edith kills Lucille and leaves with Alan, while Lucille becomes a black ghost doomed to remain alone and trapped forever.

Well this was an interesting and strange film, very evidently from the mind of Guillermo Del Toro, who I have enjoyed many films by, he is definitely a visionary. I quite enjoyed this film with the eerie setting of the old, decrepit mansion with all the creaking and groaning that comes with it, including the creepy ghosts which were quite different to the ghosts you usually see in films. The story line, while containing elements that aren't new, is intriguing and keeps you gripped while trying to guess what the secrets are and what might happen next. It was all brought together really well with enough tension to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout, with each plot point well brought out and explained when necessary. The characters helped the plot along really well also, with Edith initially being fairly naive but having an inquisitive flare which made her keep digging into the Sharpe's past. While the Sharpes themselves were very opposite to each other Thomas being compassionate and regretful and Lucille being cold and brutal, coming together they made the right team for their tasks and keeping secrets well.

The acting in this film was also a highlight with all bringing their characters to life brilliantly, the stand out performance easily from Jessica Chastain as Lucille. She mastered the cold emotionless personality with the outbursts of anger and violence being so striking that you can't help but hate her, meaning she pulled of her job perfectly, especially with the evil smile that came out on occasions. I have seen Jessica in several films and I feel this is one of her best performances while also being quite different to other roles she has had. I already knew Tom Hiddleston was a great actor and this just continued that trend, capturing and displaying all the feelings that Thomas needed to display perfectly making you really feel sorry for him in the end. Mia Wasikowski and Charlie Hunnum I haven't seen in many films so this was a situation of them helping form my opinion of their skills and they performed well showing they are both quite skilled actors and I look forward to seeing them in other films in the future.

Overall then this is a film I will revisit and see if I can notice anything else another time, definitely an enjoyable watch if you want something darker.

My rating for Crimson Peak is 7.5/10