A bizarre romp through the mind of one of the most creative filmmakers going.
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In answer to those questioning the creativity in Hollywood comes the latest feature from visionary director Guillermo del Toro.
Mia Wasikowska stars as Edith, an aspiring author swept off her feet by the charming Thomas Sharp (Tom Hiddleston) and away to the titular household, a great mansion that seems to have a life of its own and dark secrets to tell. In typical del Toro fashion, all is not as it seems, both in the sense of plot and reality, as we soon find Edith being approached by skeletal ghosts, drenched in the red clay of the house’s foundation.
The film plays out as a fantasy Rebecca, with each moment being lavishly portrayed on the screen, either through the incredibly detailed production design (Thomas E. Sanders) or through Guillermo’s adoring modern reappropriation of classic horror and silent film, from Nosferatu to The Phantom Carriage. Crimson Peak works as a cinematic fairy tale, opening on a Disney-esqe hardback, and closing out its chapters with iris transitions and passing fade outs. While as a whole it may not be for everyone its individual aspects are worthy of admiration.
Crimson Peak (2015), directed by Guillermo del Toro, is released in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray disc by Universal Pictures. Certificate 15.
