Review: ‘Crimson Peak’ has unique visuals, but story doesn’t survive reveals

Posted on October 23, 2015

By MARK VIOLA

When I heard Guillermo del Toro’s latest project, “Crimson Peak,” was a return to his horror roots, I was both intrigued and apprehensive: the former because I will go see anything he makes and the former because, as I’ve said many times, I’m not a particular fan of the horror genre.

Having seen the movie, I can say that while “Crimson Peak” possesses the typical unique visuals and settings we’ve come to expect from del Toro, a rather pedestrian script severely dulls the film’s overall impact, both as a horror film as well as a memorable movie.

The story follows Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska, “Alice in Wonderland”), an aspiring writer who becomes enamored with the Englishman Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston, “Thor”). Not everyone is who they first appear, however, as Thomas and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain, “The Martian”) are hiding plenty of secrets, while Edith has a big one of her own, namely that she can see ghosts.

Early on in the movie, a potential publisher describes Edith’s book as a ghost story, and she replies that it is a story with ghosts. The came could be said for “Crimson Peak,” as the supernatural elements are important to the eventual conclusion but not really tied to the main story like one might expect. The primary focus is on the Sharpes’ secrets, and while the script allows the audience’s minds to wander in all sort of directions, the eventual reveal seems mundane by comparison, hurting the film’s overall impact.

“Crimson Peak” has great visuals, strong performances from all three leads and a very unique setting, but the story doesn’t really hold up after the final secrets are revealed.

The film is rated R for bloody violence, some sexual content and brief strong language.

(This is a shortened version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

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