I only heard about this movie because I really like Tom Hiddleston and I’ve never been disappointed by a movie he has done. So, I encouraged myself to watch this even though the previews were freaking me out already plus the fact that Stephen King himself said he found this movie “Gorgeous and just f—- terrifying.” I’m not a horror type of gal, but boy am I glad I saw it!
Trailer
In this gothic romance set at the turn of the 20th century, a mysterious stranger named Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) woos young aspiring author Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) and brings her as his bride to his mansion atop a clay mountain in Cumbria, England. There, Edith meets Sharpe’s strange and secretive sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain), and learns that her new home holds many disturbing secrets that will force her to fight for her sanity and her very life.
Crimson Peak trailers make it seem like it’s a haunted house movie but don’t be mistaken! There are a few scares, yes, but this movie is not horror, it’s gothic romance. It’s about love, betrayal, darkness and ultimate life choices.
“I think people are getting used to horror subjects done as found footage or B-value budgets. I wanted this to feel like a throwback.” – Del Toro
This is my first Guillermo movie and I’m very impressed by his ability to mix horror and beauty. The movie was mostly produced in Ontario, Canada and that mansion you see there?! It was built just for this movie! It took seven months to build and he put an incredible amount of detail into it. And everything worked! The elevator, the fireplaces… the only thing that wasn’t real, was the hole in the ceiling because the house was built inside a studio. Both del Toro and Hiddleston have said it’s the largest set they’ve ever worked on.
It’s a stunning movie. The imagery truly makes it, I applaud Guillermo for his talent. The scene where Edith finally meets Allerdale Hall, is both beautiful and forewarning.
This movie is full of hidden secrets, a google search might uncover some but if you want to get more in detail about the behind the scenes of things then I recommend this book.
Have you seen it? Will you?
XO,
