Movie Reviews: Crimson Peak
Aspiring young writer Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) falls for the mysterious Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) and the pair are soon wed. Sir Thomas brings his new bride back to his ancestral home, Allerdale Hall, where he resides with his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain). However, it soon becomes apparent that Sir Thomas is not what he appears to be.
It is a pity that this film wasn't more successful. It could be argued that this was down to the advertising as the trailers made it out that the movie was going to be a straight horror as apposed to a gothic romance that just happened to involve ghosts.
This is a Guillermo del Toro picture, so you know that it will be a feast for the eyes if nothing else. Del Toro isn't the sort of director to just churn out any sort of nonsense. He always takes great care to design his movies right down to the tiniest detail and it shows. Allerdale Hall is one of the creepiest places I have seen in movies and to think it was all a practical set.
The acting was pretty strong throughout. Mia Wasikowska does wide-eyed fear pretty well and Tom Hiddleston is will make you swoon, but special note must go to Jessica Chastain. Lucille Sharpe will stay in your mind long after movie has finished.
The movie was a little gruesome in places (it wouldn't be a Guillermo del Toro production otherwise), so perhaps not for those of you that scare easily. There were a couple of moments near the end that genuinely made me wince. Not the face!
Three pointy hats.
Next time: Arabian Adventure