IMDb rating: 7/10
***Spoilers ahead
To be honest, I'll watch anything with Tom Hiddleston in it,
but that's just my immature fangirl showing. I really do love the work of all
three of the main actors, so that was really what drew me to the film.
The storyline of Crimson
Peak is not very original, but that did not make the movie any less
interesting or suspenseful. I think Guillermo del Toro’s work is fascinating. I
did have to remind myself that I was watching a del Toro film and I was going
to see some weird stuff. Like extreme close ups of bugs, for instance. But you
also get all the wonderful and magical aspects of a del Toro film as well.
I liked how the color red was a theme throughout the film,
from the blood to the clay to the creatures of the house. I think I saw
somewhere that it's supposed to represent the comparison between fear/violence
and sexuality. I could just be making that up, but if I am than I think it's a
good point anyway.
I thought it was cool how each ghost had a different look.
Edith's mother was black and skeletal, since she died of Black Plague (I think,
or else another illness). The murdered mother or murdered wife (I forget which)
was red since she was killed in the house. I'm not sure why Thomas turned into
a steampunk-looking ghost, but I loved the look. If you're going to be a ghost,
at least be a cool ghost.
I knew the Sharpe siblings were going to be creepy but I
really thought this was going to be a story about a malignant ghost or creature
in the house. But it turned out to be about how the humans are the monsters,
not the spirits. That is what I loved about Pan’s Labyrinth. I also somehow knew it would be revealed that Thomas and Lucille
had an incestuous relationship. Maybe I watch too much Game of Thrones. Or it's
the fact that Hollywood can't seem to make a brother and sister live alone
together without them secretly fondling each other.
The spirits are actually helpful, which brings up the common
confusion I have with horror stories: if the ghosts are trying to help, why are
they grabbing people and doing jump-scares and terrorizing them?!?! It doesn't
make sense. And why can't they be more specific? Instead of just "Get
out" the red ghost could have told Edith, "Get out because your
husband and sister-in-law are going to kill you." See, much more helpful.
I really don't know how I would categorize this one. It
feels like horror, but the first half gives off a period romance feel. Which
truly does make it a gothic horror, I suppose, which was del Toro’s intention.
Anyway, I think everyone could get something out of it that they enjoy. Whether
that it’s the horror, mystery, romance, beautiful cinematography, or top-notch
acting. I wasn't bored, that's for sure.
